Schengen – boon or bust for tourist industry?
The tourist industry could be one of the big winners if parliament ratifies a bilateral treaty on open borders with the European Union.
Tourism officials say being party to the Schengen accord is key to tapping into the huge potential represented by the Chinese, Indian and Russian markets.
The Schengen accord on cross-border travel includes measures to increase security among member states.
The open-border policy means that Asian and Russian visitors require only one visa to travel among EU countries. But a Chinese tourist, for example, needs an additional visa if he hopes to see the Swiss Alps in between stops in Paris and Rome.
The national tourist board, Switzerland Tourism (ST), says this handicaps its efforts to market Switzerland in Asia and Russia.
These regions are seen as vital to growth in an industry hit hard by waning interest from traditional markets such as Germany and the Benelux countries.
The Swiss consulate in Hong Kong is “efficient [in granting visas] and open to tour operators”, says Wenjia Zhang of ST’s office in Beijing.
Lost in mail
However, she says obtaining Swiss visas elsewhere in China is time consuming and applications “often get lost in the mail”.
She adds that agents without an office in Hong Kong often leave Switzerland out of their European itineraries to avoid the hassle of acquiring a second visa for their clients.
The visa issue is the last major stumbling block that could prevent ST from reaching its goal of trebling the number of nights Chinese guests spend in Swiss hotels by 2007. If the goal is realised, the Chinese would be second only to the Japanese among Asian travellers.
Indian tourists are not far behind, drawn to the alpine scenery often depicted in Bollywood films.
Go elsewhere
“Most operators cannot afford to leave out Switzerland, due to its central location and its popularity in India,” says Ritu Sharma, head of ST marketing in India.
“However there are smaller agents who have started asking their customers to go elsewhere since we had a problem getting visas from the Swiss embassy in Delhi.”
Maria Makarova of the Moscow office says the Swiss embassy implemented new rules for obtaining visas earlier this year which have “extremely complicated the visa process”.
Surveys conducted earlier this year show that a majority of the Swiss support joining Schengen, yet the rightwing Swiss People’s Party is still threatening to call a nationwide vote on the issue if parliament approves the accord.
The People’s Party says the accord would trigger an influx of foreign criminals and undermine the country’s sovereignty.
In a recent statement, the party said joining Schengen would open Swiss borders to “criminals, arms dealers and illegal immigrants”.
Tourists welcome
On the other hand, “tourists have always been welcome in Switzerland”, says People’s Party spokesman Roman Jäggi. As long as they have a visa.
“Visitors from China, India and Russia should have to meet the same conditions as Swiss travellers to their countries,” Jäggi told swissinfo.
“Switzerland has seen a large increase in visitors from these countries so evidently there is a wide acceptance of the current regulations.”
People’s Party member Adrian Amstutz – who represents the Bernese Oberland where tourism is the main industry – has acknowledged the negative consequences for the sector.
He suggests that the Swiss government move unilaterally to recognise visas from Schengen countries.
Half-baked solution
But even if Bern were to agree to recognise Schengen visas, tourists would have to apply for the harder to obtain “multiple entry” visa.
This would enable them to enter Switzerland from a member state like France, and to exit Switzerland for Italy, Germany or Austria.
The head of the Swiss Tourism Association, Judith Renner-Bach – also a member of the People’s Party – has called this a “half-baked solution”.
She told a Swiss hotel and tourism trade magazine last week that the complicated procedure acts like a “hurdle in people’s minds” and could keep tour operators from including Switzerland in their European itineraries.
Whatever happens, the People’s Party does not think the tourist industry will suffer.
“There will be no financial loss,” says Jäggi. “Switzerland is a unique case and that’s what sets it apart from the usual EU mish-mash, and makes it even more attractive for tourists.”
swissinfo, Dale Bechtel
Travellers from about 90 countries require a visa for the EU, and a separate one for Switzerland.
Visitors from China, India and Russia represent the largest growth area for the Swiss tourist industry.
The Chinese are expected to spend 300,000 nights annually in Swiss hotels by 2007.
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