Switzerland seeks larger influx of Indian tourists

With the economic downturn taking a toll on the tourism sector, Switzerland is looking at increasing tourists inflow from India as it aims to make the sub-continent among the top ten markets for its tourism industry by 2011.

Currently, India is ranked 12th among the countries, whose tourists flock the Alpine country, with 1.5-1.8 lakh Indians tourists visiting Switzerland in 2008. Swiss tourism industry is now targeting more tourists from India as well as their longer stay in the country.

"Our target was to have a 10-15 per cent growth in tourists arrivals from India in 2009.

However, we are now thinking of looking at the figures afresh around June as the economic situation means such high growth would be difficult to achieve, at least this year," Switzerland Tourism Country Manager (India) Ritu Sharma told reporters here.

She, however, said efforts were on to increase the number of outbound tourists from India to Switzerland with attractive packages being offered by various agencies.

"Indian tourists in Switzerland consumed 2.85 lakh room nights in 2006, 3.37 lakh room nights in 2007 and 3.5 lakh till October of 2008. We are looking at a figure of 6 lakh room nights by 2011," she said.

Room nights are the number of nights spent by tourists in a particular country. She said that India figured at number 12 spot among all tourists arrivals into Switzerland during 2008 and the aim is now to have the Indian outbound tourist market among the top ten by 2011.

However, Switzerland Tourism, the European nation's apex tourism body, expects tourists figures from India to be at the same level in 2009 vis-a-vis 2008 due to the ongoing global downturn and slowdown of the Indian economy.

Although the Swiss government do not count the exact number of tourists arrivals in the country, Sharma said around 1.5-1.8 lakh Indians visited the country last year.

Sharma added that Indian tourists arrivals in Switzerland have seen a year-to-year growth of 10-15 per cent during last few years.

"In 2008 also, the figures were nearly the same as the downturn took shape only late in the year while majority of the tourists from India visit Switzerland during May-July period," she said.

Switzerland's accession into the 25 nation Schengen passport free zone in December 2008 means any visitor to the country need not secure a separate Swiss visa.

Switzerland Tourism has taken up a series of measures to promote the country in India. Swisstours, a subsidiary of the Swiss International Airlines, has launched a Rs 50,000 five-day tour of the country which includes return tickets, hotel stay and visit to top destinations.

The Swiss cities of Zurich, Basel and Geneva have announced special packages for Indian tourists.

In addition, special schemes are also on offer from managements of other tourist destinations, including the Matterhorn Glacier, Interlaken, Swissminiatur, Luzerne's Glacier 3000 and the Europe's highest altitude railway station Junfraujoch.