(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Switzerland is fast becoming a favourite holiday destination for tourists from Qatar and other Gulf countries, going by the latest statistics.
In 2014, five times as many tourists from the GCC states (Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain) visited Switzerland as in 1999. Overnight stays by GCC tourists rose to 770,725 in 2014 from 623,205 in 2013. From January to April this year, overnight stays by them touched 12,5574 compared to 11,8732 in the corresponding period last year.
Tourists spent 16bn francs (QR61bn) in Switzerland last year, according to a study, with most of it coming from GCC, Japanese and Chinese visitors. Based on 2013 figures, the study said tourists from Gulf countries spent on average 430 francs (about QR1,650) per day in Switzerland. That dwarfs visitors from India spending 240 francs (about QR915) per day or Russians at 230 francs (about QR280). Germans spent 140 francs (about QR530) and the Dutch 130 francs (about QR500).
Switzerland is seeking to attract more visitors from the GCC countries through various tourism strategies and a new campaign dubbed as "Vistas".
"Swiss Tourism holds regular roadshows in Doha and other GCC states," says Matthias Albrecht, Switzerland Tourism's director for GCC.
Albrecht expects the GCC to be one of the top five strategic growth markets for Swiss tourism in the coming years.
"Switzerland is on way to become the most favourite holiday destination for GCC travelleres," he forecasts.
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