Swiss feel the pinch in their travels

The Swiss have cut down on travelling as a result of the difficult financial climate, figures published on Tuesday indicate.

The Federal Statistics Office said in a study that Swiss residents were less keen on travelling within Switzerland for short stays, but continued to go on longer “classic” holidays abroad.

The study found that journeys with overnight stays fell from 20 million in 2008 to 17 million in 2009. From 2003 to 2008 the number of journeys involving overnight stays rose by 2.2 million.

While the Swiss went on their travels an average 3.2 times in 2008, the figure in 2009 fell to 2.7.

The study noted that people between the ages of 25 and 44 were less keen to travel than those in other age groups.

The Swiss saved their money in particular on travels with up to three overnight stays, but holidays with four to seven overnight stays shot up by 17 per cent.