Tourist numbers drop as Swiss currency strengthens

"The strength of the Swiss franc over the euro has caused a near nine-percent-drop in European tourist numbers to Switzerland during the first seven months of this year," said Federico Sommaruga, head of the emerging markets unit at Switzerland Tourism, the national tourist board.

The Swiss currency gained 11% against the euro in the first nine months last year, forcing the Swiss central bank to intervene with a pledge to buy unlimited amounts of the European common currency to ensure one euro would buy a minimum of 1.20 Swiss francs.

But despite the strictly-enforced floor, Europeans still view Switzerland as an expensive, luxury destination that few can afford.

In August this year, bookings by European visitors fell by 9.5%, with an 18% drop in the number of Dutch guests, according to the Swiss Hotel Association.

To entice visitors, rail operator SBB launched a 15-day unlimited travel offer throughout Switzerland -- also including boats and buses -- for 199 francs (€164).

Initially aiming to snag 20,000 customers before the offer runs out in November, the rail operator says it has sold 60,000 holiday passports since the launch a few weeks ago.

Another initiative requires more of holidaymakers than catching a train.

"Holidays don't just have to be about getting a suntan. You can also do a little sport," said Ruedi Jaisli, founder of SwissTrails, one of a new generation of tour operators offering mountain-bike excursions, electric bike tours, rollerblading, canoeing and hiking.

"It's a very popular formula with families. We pick them up at the station or airport and take their bags to their stop-off points during their stay," added Jaisli.

So far this year, some 5,000 people have travelled in Switzerland with SwissTrails, spending on average of six days in the country.

Among the options, guests can stay at rural farms and guesthouses or can opt to sleep on a bed of hay big enough for up to 10 people.

At the Corn Hotel in Soleure canton, in the central-west of the country, visitors can sleep in a comfortable bed placed in the middle of an immense corn field with a simple canopy for shelter.

Meanwhile, many ski resorts have announced a freeze on ski-pass prices, conscious of the expected drop in bookings from other European countries.

According to the Swiss weekly Der Sonntag, more than half of resorts contacted said their ski-pass prices were unchanged, whereas last year 80% increased their prices.

Several resorts even announced price cuts for a day on the slopes, including Saas-Fee, in the southern Valais canton, and Engelberg-Brunni, in central Switzerland.

"We are preparing for another difficult winter, thanks to the strong Swiss franc," said Andreas Keller, spokesman for Swiss mountain lift company SBS.

Last winter saw the number of skier days fall to 24.7m, from 26m the previous year, Keller said.

"We struggled last year because of the strong franc, and because of several days of storms which affected the New Year celebrations," he added.

Big resorts such as Zermatt, in the canton of Valais, and St Moritz in Grisons -- often the preserve of well-heeled jet-setters -- have come down to earth with a bump.

Hotels in these resorts now offer sweeteners for guests: anyone booking in for at least two nights in in the Engadine region, for instance, is entitled to a ski-pass for around 25 francs a day, a fraction of the usual rate.

At the Arosa resort, ski-ing lessons are free for children up to 12.

Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge