Basel – A traveler’s check to scare away beggars

Bâle - Un chèque de voyage pour faire filer les mendiants

The city of Basel provides Europe travel vouchers for Rhine commuters and those who allow them not to return.

The city of Basel offers a travel voucher to a European destination to people who beg in the Rhine city and who undertake not to return.

The city of Basel offers a travel voucher to a European destination to people who beg in the Rhine city and who undertake not to return.

Basel is trying to reduce the number of beggars on its streets.

The Basel Travel Service offers a Train Check as well as a grant of 20 francs for each beggar who requests it. This voucher for this journey offers a free train journey to Europe. But, as Toprak Yergu, spokesperson for the Basel Ministry of Justice confirms, “beneficiaries must agree in writing not to return to Switzerland – at least for a fixed period. If they are checked again, they risk being expelled from our country. “

A total of 31 people identified: 14 from Romania, 7 from Belgium, 7 from Germany, 2 from Italy and one from France.

An alternative: the plane

For Romanians, the offer may be cheaper than Basel. In fact, the airline offers flights of 60 francs all between Basel and Bucharest, explains Roger Berberat, of Travelpoint, “Basler Zeitung” He said he has already made several reservations for Romanian customers and even several times. Indicates that the same person showed up…but not the same identity.

“I even received an identity card valid for 60 years! What the government offers, commented the travel agent. But the reservation system of Wizzair (which controls the flight) has no problem with this, it accepts dates until 2077. Compulsory PCR test, they will do it in France, in Saint-Louis, 33 francs.