Nestled in the majestic Alps of southwestern Switzerland, the village of Albinen is making headlines for a unique program to revitalize its community. Faced with a declining and aging population, the local government has come up with an attractive financial offer to attract new residents.
Albinen’s program is aimed at inviting individuals and families to live permanently, for at least 10 years. Accordingly, each adult who moves in will receive a support of 24,000 USD. In particular, families with young children will receive an additional 12,000 USD per child, a move to encourage young families to settle down in this peaceful land.
Albinen Village is willing to spend 24,000 USD to invite adult guests to stay long-term, if they bring children they will be given an additional 10,000 USD
However, to qualify for the support, applicants must meet a number of strict criteria. Applicants must be under 45 years of age and commit to making a significant investment in the locality, specifically purchasing a property worth at least $480,000 in the village. Another important requirement is that the person moving to Albinen must actually spend the majority of their time in the area, not just as a second holiday home.
The government has offered to pay people willing to move there permanently, for at least 10 years, to address the declining and aging population.
Albinen is not only a place of stunning scenery and fresh air, but also has a rich history, dating back to 100 BC. The village has seen development over the centuries, with the first church built in 1861, the post office opened in 1895 and the first grocery store opened in 1906, testament to a community with a long tradition.
However, to receive this support, applicants must meet many conditions such as being under 45 years old and investing at least 480,000 USD to buy a house.
The trend of encouraging people to move to rural or sparsely populated areas is spreading across Europe. In Italy, for example, the government of Sardinia is implementing a $51 million support package, which includes $17,000 for those who move to rural areas and renovate their homes. However, this program requires participants to settle in towns with a population of less than 3,000 and stay for at least 18 months.
Not only Switzerland, some other European countries are also implementing programs to encourage residents to come and live there.
There have been mixed opinions about the news from Albinen. Some people think that the "price" of settling in Switzerland seems more expensive than similar programs in other countries such as Italy. On the contrary, many others emphasize that Switzerland is famous for being one of the countries with a high standard of living, but also has a top quality of life in the world. "If I meet the conditions, I still want to live here," a tourist shared, showing that the attraction of Albinen and Switzerland is still very large for those looking for a high quality of life in the heart of nature.
