Swiss tourism continued rising in 2024 as Swiss resorts welcomed extra friends than ever. In keeping with the Federal Statistical Workplace (FSO), in a single day stays elevated by 2.6 p.c, reaching 42.8 million final yr. This surpassed the earlier document of 41.8 million in a single day stays set in 2023.
The pattern in direction of greater occupancy charges was already evident on the finish of the earlier yr. Information for in a single day stays have been established throughout each the winter season of 2023/24 and the summer time season of 2024. December noticed agency bookings, with a rise of seven.0 p.c. In 2024, all months confirmed a rise in comparison with the identical month within the earlier yr, apart from April, which noticed a decline of three.2 p.c, and September, which skilled a slight lower of 1.1 p.c.
Individuals Guarantee Development
The rise in international guests over the previous yr was important, with demand rising by 5.1 p.c to achieve 22.0 million in a single day stays, the very best stage in 50 years.
Whereas European demand weakened because of the robust Swiss franc and a sluggish economic system, long-distance markets emerged as the first development drivers.
The US contributed essentially the most important absolute enhance amongst all supply markets; over three-quarters of the extra in a single day stays have been from American friends. Individuals additionally more and more contributed to winter tourism.
Demand from Asia, notably from China and India, additionally noticed a pointy enhance of seven.4 p.c. Nevertheless, such demand has not but returned to pre-COVID ranges, remaining 18.4 p.c beneath 2019 figures. This discrepancy was particularly notable amongst friends from China, whose numbers have been down by 47.9 p.c.
In distinction, home demand remained regular in comparison with the earlier yr, totaling 20.9 million in a single day stays, representing a slight enhance of 0.1 p.c.
Virtually All Swiss Areas Report an Improve
In 2024, 9 of Switzerland’s 13 tourism areas noticed an increase in visitor numbers. In comparison with 2023, essentially the most important enhance was within the Zurich area, which skilled development of 4.9%. Geneva adopted carefully with an increase of 6.6%.
Bern, Lucerne, and Graubünden additionally noticed important will increase in guests. Notably, six of the 13 tourism areas, together with Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, and Geneva, recorded the very best variety of in a single day stays in over 30 years.
Switzerland Tourism expressed its pleasure with the current figures. Nevertheless, the advertising group acknowledged that Switzerland should intensify its efforts to stay aggressive within the international market as competitors grows.
Moreover, Switzerland Tourism goals to keep away from merely chasing “frequencies” in its advertising methods. This warning is partly because of suggestions from sure areas regarding the overcrowding of vacationers at particular occasions.
