Foreign guests boost tourist figures
Hotels in Switzerland recorded 36.4 million overnight stays in 2007 – the best result in 15 years.
The Federal Statistics Office said the 4.4 per cent increase was mainly due to more foreign tourists – 58 per cent of all stays - the comparatively weak Swiss franc and the favourable economic situation.
Germans accounted for the largest number of overnight stays by foreigners, ahead of guests from Britain and the United States, according to a statement released on Wednesday.
The alpine Graubünden region, including resorts like Davos and St. Moritz, as well as Zurich and canton Valais were the most popular destinations.
In another move, the national tourist board has launched a campaign to convince football fans to extend their stay in Switzerland after the European football championships in June.
Switzerland Tourism said it expected about 500,000 additional overnight stays, mainly people from Germany, France, Spain, Belgium the Netherlands and Italy.
Switzerland and neighbouring Austria are co-hosting Euro 08.
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