Zermatt is setting new standards in digitalization: as the first destination in Switzerland, Zermatt Bergbahnen, the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn / Gornergrat Bahn, and Zermatt Tourism are making fully mobile access to the ski area possible—using a smartphone as a digital ticket.
Since November 2024, new Skidata access readers have been in use at the Matterhorn Paradise. These modernized gates not only feature a redesigned look with improved accessibility, but also advanced sensors and communication technologies. Thanks to integrated readers for digital tickets, ski passes can be purchased online and used directly as smartphone tickets instead of being loaded onto a keycard. This new technology opens up numerous possibilities for even more convenient access to the Matterhorn Paradise. There is no longer any need for a physical keycard: the entire purchase and access process can—if desired—be carried out entirely digitally. This new solution avoids long queues at ticket counters and enables a seamless digital customer experience right up to the start of outdoor activities. Patricia Huber, Head of Marketing and Sales at Zermatt Bergbahnen, explains: ”The smartphone ticket can be purchased easily online or at a sales point in Zermatt. Before the first use, it is loaded into the Matterhorn app under the ‘Smartphone Ticket’ menu and activated with a single tap on the day of use. The smartphone then communicates via Bluetooth Low Energy with the gate, which opens without needing to take the phone out of your pocket.” The Matterhorn app of the Zermatt – Matterhorn destination is thus enhanced with a new feature thanks to the “Smartphone Ticket”. Selina Gull, Head of Marketing at Zermatt Tourism, says: “The smartphone ticket in the Matterhorn app makes accessing the Matterhorn Ski Paradise easier, faster, and more digital—a great advantage for our guests and an important step in our digitalization strategy.” In addition to optimized live data on lifts, slopes, webcams, and weather, the Matterhorn app has, since last winter, also offered the ability to track your ski day. You can create your own friend groups and upload and share your favorite memory photos from the Matterhorn Paradise. A must-have for every Zermatt fan.
Smart access to the mountain experience
The additional battery consumption due to 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 cooperation with Skidata, the system has been extensively tested in recent 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 proud of,” emphasizes Sara Gertsch, Head of Sales at Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn. Starting in mid-December 2025, cross-border use will also be possible: Cervino S.p.A. will install one Skidata access gate with the latest generation of sensors and signage at each lift. This will enable a seamless digital user experience throughout the Matterhorn Ski Paradise. The smartphone, already always at hand, thus becomes a practical access medium. A simple, convenient, and forward-looking solution for all lovers of the mountains and winter sports.
