Zermatt Is First Destination In Switzerland To Introduce Smartphone Ticketing
Zermatt is setting new standards in terms of digitalization: As the first destination in Switzerland, Zermatt Bergbahnen, the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn / Gornergrat Bahn and Zermatt Tourism are enabling fully mobile access to the ski area – with the smartphone as a digital ticket.
Since November 2024, new access readers from Skidata have been in operation at Matterhorn Paradise. These modernized gates not only feature a new look with improved accessibility, but also advanced sensor and communication technologies. Integrated readers for digital tickets allow ski passes to be purchased online and used as smartphone tickets instead of on a keycard. This new technology opens up numerous possibilities for even more convenient access to Matterhorn Paradise. The need for a physical keycard is eliminated, and the entire purchase and access process can be completed digitally, if desired. This new system avoids long queues at the ticket office and enables a seamless digital customer experience right up to the start of the outdoor activity.
Patricia Huber, Head of Marketing & Sales at Zermatt Bergbahnen, explains: “The smartphone ticket can be conveniently purchased online or at a sales point in Zermatt. Before first use, it is scanned into the Matterhorn app under the ‘Smartphone Ticket’ menu item and activated with the touch of a button on the day of use. Afterwards, thanks to Bluetooth Low Energy, the smartphone communicates directly with the access gate and opens it without having to take the smartphone out of your pocket.” The Matterhorn app for the Zermatt – Matterhorn destination is enhanced with an exciting new feature: the ‘Smartphone Ticket’ functionality. Selina Gull, Head of Marketing at Zermatt Tourism, says: “The smartphone ticket on the Matterhorn app makes access to the Matterhorn Ski Paradise easier, faster, and more digital – a benefit for our guests and an important step in our digitalization strategy.” In addition to optimized live data displays for lifts, slopes, webcams, and weather, the Matterhorn app has also offered the option to track your ski day since last winter. Users can create their own friend groups, including uploading and sharing their most beautiful souvenir photos from Matterhorn Paradise. A must-have for every Zermatt lover.
Smarter access to the mountain experience
The additional battery consumption for the smartphone ticket is around 10% per day on modern devices. Only Bluetooth and GPS are used. Mobile data is not required, meaning the smartphone ticket even works in airplane mode. "In close collaboration with Skidata, the system has been extensively tested over the past few months to ensure stable, secure, and user-friendly operation. The smartphone ticket has been available in the Zermatt area since August 2025, which we are very pleased about," emphasizes Sara Gertsch, Head of Sales at the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway. From mid-December 2025, cross-border use will also be possible: Cervino SpA is installing a state-of-the-art Skidata access gate with corresponding sensors and signage at each lift. This will enable a seamless, digital user experience throughout the entire Matterhorn Ski Paradise. The smartphone, which is always readily available anyway, thus becomes the practical access medium. A simple, convenient, and future-proof solution for all winter sports and mountain enthusiasts.
