“It’s a dream come true,” mentioned Filipina vacationer Isabel Palijon, staring in marvel at a wood pier framed by the turquoise waters of a Swiss lake and the towering Alps behind.
And she just isn’t alone. Ever because the vastly widespread South Korean sequence “Crash Landing on You” aired a romantic scene shot on this very spot, the picturesque village of Iseltwald has been overrun by Asian vacationers.
The Netflix hit tells the unlikely story of a South Korean billionaire heiress who by chance paraglides into the peninsula’s demilitarised zone, crashing touchdown onto a chivalrous military officer serving North Korean chief Kim Jong Un.
Several flashbacks within the present happen in Switzerland, together with a riveting romantic scene on Iseltwald’s wood pier, the place the male lead performs a lovely piano melody that echoes throughout the water because the woman he’ll later fall in love with arrives by ferry from Interlaken.
“I wish someday someone would do that for me,” mentioned Jiah Hni Gwee, a 35-year-old from Malaysia, wanting longingly on the spot on the pier the place the piano stood. “It would be amazing and romantic.”
She was amongst dozens of vacationers milling across the lakeside on a sunny day final week, as a big steamboat bearing an enormous Swiss flag pulled as much as the close by dock, teeming with guests.
The breathtaking surroundings and the romantic setting have made the pier a must-see for so-called “CLOY” followers who make it to Europe.
The 16-part sequence began airing simply as Covid-19 started and it grew to become a must-watch in a lot of Asia throughout pandemic lockdowns.
A South Korean tradition ministry survey discovered that CLOY was the second-most widespread Okay-drama present amongst overseas viewers in 2021 after “Squid Game”.
But its success has induced an sudden headache for Iseltwald, particularly since final yr when journey restrictions have been lifted throughout a lot of Asia.
“The numbers have exploded,” native tourism workplace supervisor Titia Weiland advised AFP.
She mentioned it was troublesome to calculate what number of CLOY vacationers had come however estimated that “for every local person living here, it’s been 1,000 visitors”.
She pressured that “almost everybody in Iseltwald — population 400 — is happy to have many tourists,” however acknowledged “it has been quite overwhelming”.
Last summer season, as much as 20 coaches started arriving every day, clogging site visitors and typically blocking entry to the village.
And locals complain that CLOY followers sometimes rush to the pier for an image earlier than shifting on, typically leaving a multitude however little cash.
In a bid to take care of the inflow, the municipality final month introduced solely pre-booked coaches that pay for reserved parking spots can be let in.
And it put in a turnstile on the pier, which vacationers can cross for a “selfie fee” of 5 Swiss francs ($5.50).
Sonja Hornung, the supervisor of the Strand Hotel that overlooks the pier, mentioned the measures had made a distinction and her restaurant provides clients a turnstile token.
“Last year, it was terrible, (but) it has gotten much better,” she mentioned, hailing the slot system that has dramatically decreased the variety of coaches.
Some vacationers, nevertheless, have been a bit dismayed by the turnstile — and the worth.
“Oh, five francs!” Florita Lichtensteiger, a 64-year-old Filipina dwelling in Switzerland, exclaimed as she confirmed up with a number of visiting relations.
She grudgingly paid for them to undergo, however didn’t comply with, saying she had been right here not less than 10 occasions earlier than. “All my guests want to see this place.”
“It’s not worth it,” mentioned Nayeon Park, a 21-year-old from South Korea.
Weiland insisted that the fee was wanted for the maintenance of the pier, which had seen the variety of individuals strolling on it skyrocket. “It has to be safe.”
Iseltwald “is like paradise on Earth,” she mentioned. “We want to really try to keep it that way.”
© 2023 AFP