The inhabitants of the Trient valley have often had to adapt and diversify their activities. In the golden age of tourism, mountain farmers became hotel owners, porters, launderers, coach drivers, guides and shopkeepers. At that time, the population of the valley increased due to the flourishing activity of the tourist industry.
In 1920 the population increased once more. This rise coincided with the start of work on the Barberine dam.
In 1970, the population rose from 12 incomers to 254. These Italian immigrants came to build the Emosson dam.
In 2010, for work on the Nant de Drance, the number of foreigners increased to around 400. In 2015 construction work will come to an end and the population of Finhaut will fall once again.
Since 2010 the commune has been looking ahead to its future.
On 22 December 2009 and 22 January 2010 the district council of the Commune of Finhaut presented a development project based on the construction of a SPA and thermal baths, together with hotel and accommodation structures with a capacity of approximately 400 beds.
This development project caught the attention of the Commune’s citizens and paved the way for reflections of a more general nature. A number of them decided to set up a think-tank to consider this proposal as well as additional or alternative developments which would best meet the needs of the population. To this end, they suggested that local residents should attend a meeting to make known their own views and ideas concerning the type of development they would like to see in their Commune.
FURTHER INFORMATION
WEB SITES
> Les alpes en musique
> Alpine eco-tourism in Switzerland
> Generic Regional Development Strategies from Local Stakeholders’ Scenarios - an Alpine Village Experience
> My Switzerland, Customs and Traditions
WRITTEN & GRAPHIC DOCUMENTS
> Upland Communities: Environment, Population and Social Structure in the Alps ... von Pier Paolo Viazzo
> Finhaut synthesis report, la boîte à idées
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