Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The hotel and restaurant industry in Switzerland is under pressure from the Swiss Federal Department of Finance to conform to newly published federal ordinance that covers room and food advertising and pricing. The ministry argues that transparent prices and the ability to compare prices are two essential ingredients in a market economy. Tourism is one of the country’s largest industries, with domestic and foreign tourists spending nearly CHF 21 billion (2004, latest figures).
The pricing regulations (pdf, Fre) include such details as ice cream with cream as an option: the cream should be priced separately. For lodging, the ordinance gives hotels this example: