Tourists Ignore ‘No Access’ Signs and Fence for Selfies in Grindelwald, Switzerland, as Video Goes Viral

A video showing tourists crawling under a fence and past a ‘no access’ signs to take photos of the Swiss Alps has gone viral and sparked outrage and widespread criticism online. In the video, several tourists can be seen ignoring multiple warning signs and barrier tape to enter a fenced-off alpine pasture for photos. The tourists are seeking unobstructed views of the iconic Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks, with several people crossing the clearly marked boundary despite signs indicating that entering the pasture is prohibited.

The footage has gone viral across European websites and social media, and has prompted widespread criticism, with viewers accusing the tourists of prioritizing the perfect photograph over local rules and the protection of the alpine landscape.

• Related: Overtourism in South Tyrol, Italy, is Sparking Drastic Consequences

The video, shared on TikTok by user @emeliaroe, shows tourists approaching the restricted area and stepping around the barriers to reach the pasture. The warning signs at the First mountain station use prominent and very easy-to-interpret pictograms to indicate that visitors are not permitted to enter the pasture. The area is not simply closed for visitor convenience. According to Jungfrau Railways, the pasture is used by local farms as a source of food for livestock and should remain as undisturbed as possible. “Pasture land is used by the farms and should therefore remain as unharmed as possible,” Jungfrau Railways spokeswoman Annette Fuhrer told Swiss media. Visitors walking through the grass can damage plants and potentially affect the growth of vegetation that will later be used as animal feed.

@emeliaroe Am I being dumb pls help 😭 #travel #tourist #tourists #switzerland #traveltok ♬ original sound – gshock-ona.lazyday

The issue of tourists disrespecting land used by local farmers and trampling meadows used for livestock has increasingly caused tensions between tourism and agriculture across the Alps. In South Tyrol, Italy, disgruntled farmers erected a pay-gate in a bid to get some compensation for the upkeep and cleaning of pathways and meadows. Many visitors would damage the vegetation used for cattle and leave garbage behind. Many popular Alpine destinations have become overrun with tourists and are struggling to cope with over-tourism during the summer months. Some have sought to limit the number of gondola or cable car tickets sold or restrict parking permits for popular destinations.

Some argue that personnel should enforce the observation of rules on mountains, however, Jungfrau Railways says maintaining permanent control personnel in the alpine environment would be difficult. “Control personnel can only be deployed to a very limited extent in the alpine terrain,” Fuhrer said, adding that fines could only be issued by the relevant authorities. Instead, the company relies largely on information, awareness and personal responsibility from visitors. “Our experience shows that the majority behaves correctly when the rules are clearly communicated,” Fuhrer said.

For visitors heading into the Alps, the message from local authorities is straightforward: if an area is fenced off and marked with prohibition signs, there is a reason to stay out — even if the view would make a great selfie.