Geneva airport to introduce facial recognition; The Citizens' Assembly wants to impose ‘sugar tax’; Fewer Swiss want to travel to America

News for 22 April 2025

Geneva International Airport would like to use facial recognition to improve passenger flow and security. The project is awaiting the green light from the federal government. “The passenger’s face would become his boarding pass,” airport technical director Massimo Gentile said. “When a passenger arrives at the airport, he will have a first point of contact in front of which he will have to check in,” Gentile explained.

“The data is very reliable, more reliable than human recognition. This can actually help to increase security”. Gentile points out that the airport now has the appropriate equipment. But biometrics has not yet been activated, and will not be, until we have the authorisation to do so, he emphasised

According to RTS, all airports in the country share this project. The revision of the Civil Aviation Act is not expected before the end of 2026.

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The Citizens' Assembly — 100 people selected at random from across Switzerland to reflect the country’s linguistic, regional, and demographic diversity — support the introduction of taxes on sugary foods and drinks. This measure is one of six health-promoting reforms adopted by the Assembly.

The proposals "reflect the reforms that the population considers most urgent to promote health and, in the long term, reduce healthcare costs," the Citizens' Assembly announced.

This body also wants to increase existing taxes on alcohol and tobacco and aims to "strengthen health literacy at all stages of life," implement a national health law, as well as develop national information campaigns on health issues. The assembly’s final report will be submitted to the Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider on May 20th.

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Though the United States have traditionally been among the most popular long-haul destinations for tourists from Switzerland, that is no longer the case. At least that is what emerges from a new large-scale survey carried out by Tamedia media group among 35,132 Swiss residents,

It found that more than three-quarters (77 percent) of respondents would give up or hesitate to travel to the US because of the Trump administration, while 22 percent said they will continue to do so.

Among the latter group, 40 percent those between 18 and 34 years of age are more inclined to travel to the United States, while only 8 percent of those aged 65 and up would do so.