The government of Switzerland lacks the funds to send its own officials to the prestigious annual gathering in Davos organized by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Consequently, they are requesting high-ranking dignitaries to share hotel accommodations, according to the reports from Swiss media.

Davos, a picturesque town in the Alps, serves as the venue for politicians, business leaders, and renowned personalities to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.

This gathering provides a platform for similar-minded, predominantly progressive, influential individuals to connect, exchange ideas, and deliberate on various controversial initiatives such as phasing out fossil fuels, promoting diversity and equity, and preparing for potential pandemics.

The surge of wealthy individuals is causing the prices for housing in Davos to skyrocket, and the Swiss government is also experiencing financial strain, as reported by a official audit mentioned.

Last year, the World Economic Forum (WEF) provided 25 hotel rooms to the Swiss federal government. Out of these, 20 were located within the tightly secured security zone and had a price of 1,269.90 francs ($1,472) per night. The remaining five rooms, situated outside the security zone, incurred a cost of 599.90 francs ($705) each to the Swiss taxpayers.

Based on the audit findings, the prices were determined through intricate discussions between the WEF and nearby hotels, and were regarded as advantageous rates.

Swiss government officials are permitted to spend a maximum of 180 francs ($211) per night according to federal expense regulations, with a slightly higher limit of 250 francs ($293) in justified exceptional situations.

According to Economy Minister Guy Parmelin, Swiss government is reducing expenses this year as much as possible, considering that the accommodations prices are nearly ten times higher than the government ‘allowance’. Parmelin stated that the delegation for this year’s forum will be kept as small as possible and some members will be staying in Chur, a town located 50 kilometers away from the WEF Davos site.

The government has successfully obtained hotel accommodations in Chur at a relatively affordable rate of 190 francs per night, the minister said. However, in certain instances, delegates will still need to share rooms, including those at the higher levels of the hierarchy, Parmelin added.

Last week, the Swiss Defense Ministry announced that around 5,000 Swiss soldiers will be present nationwide during the WEF event. A significant number of these servicemen will be accommodated away from the town and will not have to adhere to the same spending restrictions as the government delegation. The soldiers who were on duty during the previous summit had an even more favorable arrangement, staying directly at the resort.