(22.11.2023) After the trauma of the pandemic, the Swiss tourism sector is continuing its upward trend. While the summer season ended with record numbers, the winter season 2023-2024 is expected to see a growth of +0.4%, according to the forecasts from BAK Economics and SECO.
In 2023, the number of registered overnight stays is expected to break all records and surpass 40 million overnight stays, thanks to a particularly prosperous summer (23.5 million overnight stays).
This winter, despite a decline in domestic demand on an annual basis (estimated at -2.2% / -208,000 overnight stays), experts hope for a slight overall increase of 66,000 overnight stays (+0.4%). This growth is expected to be fueled by the return of tourists from European countries (+2.2% / +115,000). Distant markets, including China, are also expected to support demand this winter, with a growth of 5.4% (+159,000).
For the summer of 2024, experts expect a 0.7% growth in hotel occupancy, reaching 23.7 million overnight stays (+166,000). The report anticipates a strong influx of visitors from distant markets (+13.5%), stimulating the overall growth of the sector. Conversely, it is expected that domestic demand (-2.2%), as well as the number of tourists from Europe (-4.6%), will contract.
After a period of strong uncertainties following successive health confinements, business tourism seems to be finally rebounding, supported by the rise of exchange and networking events. However, experts note that individual business trips, primarily for information exchange, are struggling to recover. Their volume is expected to remain permanently between -5% and -10% lower than pre-COVID levels.
Last modification 22.11.2023
