Overnight stays in Switzerland recorded a 3.8 percent increase in the first half of 2018 (representing a gain of 670,000 room nights compared to the same period last year), to reach a total of 18.4 million room nights between January and June 2018.
Visits by foreign tourists increased by 4.6 percent (+444,000 room nights) to 10 million room nights. For Swiss tourists visiting other cantons, there were 8.4 million overnight stays, an increase of 2.8 percent (+226,000).
These figures come from the provisional results of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Europe
European visitors, profiting from a strong Euro, registered an increase of 224,000 overnight stays (up 3.8 percent). At the top of the list is Germany with +73,000 room nights (up 3.9 percent), the largest absolute gain for all foreign visitors, followed by the United Kingdom (+ 27,000 room nights, a 3.3 percent increase) and France (+24,000, a 4 percent increase).
India and China
Visitors from Asia were up by 6.6 percent (143,000 extra room nights). Visitors from India posted the strongest growth with 42,000 additional room nights (+10 percent).
Bollywood productions have played an important role in promoting Switzerland. More than 170 films have been shot (at least partly) here. In 2017 and 2018 Switzerland Tourism with the collaboration of the Indian actor, Ranveer Singh, produced two promotional videos, one in German-speaking Switzerland two years ago, and the other in the canton of Vaud this year. In addition, new offers are helping to promote the country, especially in winter, such as the First Ski Experience and the International Ice Cricket Tournament in St. Moritz. Switzerland Tourism estimates that hotel overnight stays for Indian tourists will grow by 17 percent by 2021.
China (excluding Hong Kong) is in second place with an increase of 5.5 percent overnight stays (+30,000). The Chinese market is a priority for Switzerland Tourism and the promotion of Switzerland as a tourist destination for Chinese customers began long ago. The signing in 2004 between Switzerland and China of the Approved Destination Status (ADP) was a decisive factor. Thanks to the ADS, Chinese tourists can come to Switzerland in small groups without official permission from their government. Additionally, Switzerland Tourism was the first European tourist organization with its own office in China (Beijing), which opened in 1998.
The rest of the world
Visits from The Gulf countries saw an increase of 9 percent (+21,000 room nights). On the other hand, the number of Japanese visitors decreased by 2.2 percent.
St Moritz
Demand from the American continent increased by 5.3 percent (67,000 overnight stays). The United States had the largest increase with 48,000 room nights (+5.2 percent).
Visitors from Oceania increased by 4.9 percent (7,700 overnight stays) while those from the African continent was up by 1.4 percent.
At regional level, twelve out of thirteen Swiss regions recorded a rise in overnight stays. The Zurich Region posted the largest increase of 171,000 room nights (+6.2 percent). Then come Graubünden (+135,000 / +5.4 percent), Valais (+112,000 / +5.6 percent), the Bern Region (+103,000 / +4.4 percent) and Lucerne / Lac des Quatre -cantons (+92,000 / +5.5 percent).
The only region showing a decrease is Ticino (-69,000 room nights, -6,9 percent).
Romandy
In Romandy, Valais experienced a growth of 5.6 percent, followed by Geneva (+ 4.6 percent), Jura and Trois-Lacs (+ 3.7 percent), and the Fribourg region (+ 0.5 percent), the Lake Geneva region (+ 0.3 percent).
Thierry Lavalley -President of the Société des hôteliers de Genève
According to Thierry Lavalley, President of the Société des hôteliers de Genève and General Manager of the Grand Hotel Kempinski, the start of the year was encouraging but he is less optimistic for the rest of the year. The coming year's bookings are mostly from businesses and for international shows. The most important growth in the future will be Swiss tourists exploring their own country, followed by the British and Americans. The Chinese and Indian markets (both priority markets for Geneva and Switzerland in general, given the volume) are also growing. The Middle East as well remains a vital market because it has the highest added value and it is essential not only for the hotel industry but for the tertiary sector as well.
A special thanks to Lucie Gerber at the Geneva Tourism and Nina Villars at Swiss Tourism for their input.
Sources:
https://www.stv-fst.ch/fr/articles/99119/hebergement-touristique-au-premier-semestre-2018
https://www.stv-fst.ch/sites/default/files/2018-08/2018-0089-f.pdf
http://www.bilan.ch/economie/nuitees-lhotellerie-suisse-progressent-premier-semestre
https://www.lacote.ch/articles/suisse/hotellerie-les-nuitees-en-suisse-en-legere-progression-774972
Photos: Efthymia Efthymiou
