Tourism booms in 2007
Foreign tourists spent more money in Switzerland last year than Swiss holidaymakers abroad, resulting in a surplus for the Swiss economy of SFr2.3 billion ($2.27 billion).
In total, foreign visitors forked out SFr14.6 billion in 2007 – SFr1.1 billion more than the previous year, the Federal Statistics Office said on Thursday.
Swiss holidaymakers spent SFr12.3 billion on their vacations abroad, which was a rise of 6.4 per cent.
The Statistics Office said the strong global economy and strength of the euro compared with the Swiss franc were key drivers of the increases.
Foreign visitors spent SFr7.8 billion – a rise of more than 12 per cent – on accommodation, which was good news for Swiss hotels as well as youth hostels, campgrounds and holiday homes.
European destinations remained top of the list of Swiss holidaymakers. However, the Swiss apparently made fewer shopping trips across the border, spending SFr154 million less on purchases.
This may have been due to rising petrol costs, the Statistics Office said.
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