The Swiss take around four weeks a year of holiday, with French-speakers taking the longest vacations, according to a study.

The report, issued by environment group WWF Switzerland, found that French-speakers were, however, the most eco-friendly as they tended to stay at home. It wants more people to follow their example.

French-speakers took a week more than their fellow countrymen and women at 4.6 weeks, followed by German-speakers (3.6 weeks) and Italian-speakers (3.1 weeks). This was despite the financial crisis, noted WWF Switzerland.

Half of vacations were spent abroad, mostly in Europe, but a third in more exotic locations.

This has effects on the climate, said WWF Switzerland. Calculations show that popular trips such as an all-inclusive stay in Thailand, a Caribbean cruise or travelling the United States by mobile home each cause up to 4.3 tons of CO2.

Other problems caused by tourism abroad include water scarcity or use of local land resources. WWF Switzerland is therefore calling for people to follow the French-speakers’ example.

“Holidays in Switzerland and just over the border do well in climate terms,” said WWF Switzerland lifestyle expert Damian Oettli in a statement. “A Mediterranean cruise can also be envisaged, if the journey there is by train.”

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