Business booming for Swiss hotel industry

Swiss hotels enjoyed record bookings in February Keystone

Swiss hotels are continuing to enjoy an excellent start to the year. In February, more than 3.1 million overnight stays were recorded, according to figures released on Tuesday.

Estimates published by the federal statistical office in Neuchâtel point to February’s figures as the best since the record results achieved in February 1988.

Compared to February last year, the new figures show an increase of 201,000 overnight stays or 6.9 per cent.

Commenting on the figures, Jean Fluckiger from the tourism section of the statistical office described them as “a very, very good result”. However, apart from the month’s sunny weather, he could not cite any particular reasons for the increase.

The statistical office said that foreign visitors were the main reason for the achievement.

The largest increases were recorded in overnight stays from Belgians (+40 per cent) Germans, (+16 per cent), United States tourists (+12 per cent) and British visitors (+10 per cent). However, the number recorded by Japanese went down by 7.5 per cent.

swissinfo with agencies