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Switzerland hosts hit road show

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Nature calls... Aelplisee Lake in Graubuenden

A DELEGATION of Switzerland Tourism and representatives of over 40 tourism destinations, companies and famous Swiss hotels travelled through the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states from February 5 to 11, visiting Jeddah, Dammam, Riyadh, Al Qassim, Bahrain, Doha, Muscat, Kuwait, Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

During the road show ‘Switzerland Travel Experience’, organised and hosted by Switzerland Tourism, the delegates met up with around 1,300 travel representatives and tourism agencies from the GCC and shared insights into more than 700 unique nature experiences.
Switzerland Tourism announced that within the GCC countries, Saudi Arabia clocked in most number of visitors, followed by the UAE. During January and November 2016, 327,551 GCC tourists visited Switzerland, resulting in an increase of 2.9 per cent visitors when compared to 2015. Spending CHF430 ($425) per day on average for 920,398 overnights, the GCC visitors are first in terms of daily tourist expenditure worldwide.
After a successful 2016 with around 3 per cent more visitors than the year before, Switzerland aims for one million overnights this year, with a focus on ‘back to nature’. Nature is the number one attraction for Arabs, Emiratis, Saudis and Kuwaitis travelling to Switzerland. And the newly launched Happiness Guide provides GCC travellers with inspiring experiences and attractions in the lap of unspoilt nature.

Switzerland undertakes special efforts into the three segments ‘Attraction tourer’, ‘lifestyle traveller’ and ‘families’.

Attraction tourer
The Grand Tour of Switzerland launched in spring 2015, addressing the worldwide growth market of attraction tourers (travellers who tour from one highlight to the next), was a great success, especially in the GCC. Hundred thousand GCC guests travelled independently through Switzerland on the 1,600 km long route. The spectacular route takes the traveller through four linguistic regions, over five Alpine passes, to eleven Unesco World Heritage Sites, two Biosphere Reserves and along 22 lakes. In short, an experience to the country’s most scenic and cultural highlights, strung together like pearls on a necklace.

Nevertheless, it is not necessary to drive in order to discover the country’s gems: the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland links the country’s finest panoramic routes via many of its most attractive cities and resorts. The Grand Train Tour can be started from any point, at any time of the year with no prescribed travel direction or duration. And best of all, the entire tour can be experienced with a single all-in-one ticket – the Swiss Travel Pass.

Lifestyle traveller
Swiss luxury and lifestyle offers are an excellent opportunity for young honeymooners who want to enjoy a romantic and cosy atmosphere, surrounded by beautiful landscape and green nature. During the year, world-famous annual events and festivals take place, such as the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Lucerne Festival, the Art Basel, the Geneva Festival, the X-cat powerboat series in Lugano, the White Turf St. Moritz or the European Golf Open in Crans Montana.

Families
Switzerland is one giant playground for families. Tailor-made for family adventures such as summer tobogganing, paragliding or speed boating, this nation enchants children, parents and grandparents alike. Apart from the outstanding hotels on offer, there are many serviced hotel apartments, offering a private environment while enjoying hotel amenities.

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GCC visitors

2.9pc Increase in GCC visitors y-o-y
1mn Overnights projected for 2017
$430 Average daily spend

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