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The Chinese tourist wave rolls over Switzerland

And then roll you. The Chinese. Shortly before ten o'clock, the first bus shows up on the large gravel square in front of the Lucerne's exhibition site. "Fir

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The Chinese tourist wave rolls over Switzerland

And then roll you. The Chinese. Shortly before ten o'clock, the first bus shows up on the large gravel square in front of the Lucerne's exhibition site. "First wave", is on a sign behind the windshield. 99 more buses to follow. The comers will be forwarded by Securitas employees, to immediately in the joint-buses of the local transport companies. The Chinese tour guide, he is called Peter, goes ahead, clearly visible, he holds a red flag in the air. As of 2000, the Chinese will be conducted in the morning and 2000 in the afternoon of the Allmend the city centre. The concept, previously of the police, transport companies and tourism office concocted, is to lead the Chinese shaft arranged in the city.

The small group of people gathered this Morning at the Lucerne outskirts of the city, belongs to the vanguard of a group that includes over 12'000 participants, it is not, it has 14'000 are just. In any case: a record. Never a group of this magnitude was a guest here. Liên Burkard from Switzerland tourism says that years ago, a 3000-member group. "But this is an extreme Peak." You put into perspective immediately. "It's not all of them, at the same time. There will be three weeks, three waves, each with 4000 people."

The Touristikerin white, of course, that such record messages when the Locals provide mixed feelings. Masses of people move. Especially a stranger. In Lucerne, the season runs in the summer high hot, you may be ambivalent in relation to the group from the far East. All know that the local industry benefits enormously. This Trip will leave a deep two-digit million amount in Swiss coffers, say experts. The price of this business are but masses of tourists, the constraints in groups through the streets. "And that is definitely not the direction we want", as stated by the local tourism office.

next stop: shopping

The direction for the group, which is sitting now in the Bus to the Lucerne transport companies, could not be clearer: downtown. There is the touristic standard program with a trip around the lake, chapel bridge, lion monument is waiting for the around 30 tourists. Mood: focused. Just typed in the Smartphones. On WeChat, the Chinese Whatsapp, here are all with the families back home. Tour guide Peter explains: "It's now about what must be purchased for gifts." A cuckoo clock is heard often. The Lucerne took the kitschy things from the black forest years ago to the range. The demand was simply too big and too resistant.

pictures: thousands of Chinese travel to Switzerland

Good margin also promises a luxury watch. For this Ivo Scala is available from Bucherer. In the four-storey, watches and jewelry, on the Central Swan square, 150 employees are in the service, about a third of them speaks Chinese. "All available forces are deployed," he says. The effort should be worth it. The Shop is buzzing. More and more groups, led by tour guides like Peter, currents in the Load. Meanwhile, a mood, such as an Asian market is addressed to: disciplined scrum, the view on the expenses. Calculator are used to the Swiss francs to convert into Chinese RMB. And no one is left alone. Shopping as a Social Event.

Video: thousands of Chinese in Lucerne "Everything here is clean and fresh": a tourist from China in Lucerne. Video: Tamedia

From experience know Scala, which is a little off and satisfied on the Goings-on looks that now about ten percent will buy something. "A Swiss watch in Switzerland, purchased, in China is an absolute matter of Prestige. In addition, the watches are also cheaper."

Later, Ivo Scala is report of a great day of sale. Many of the watches in the medium price segment are left. The fits. Because the visiting Chinese, who are accompanied for days from all the media closely, they are not particularly high net worth individuals. The majority are people who have ascended with hard work in the middle class. You have helped that the US company could earn through a controversial sales system sales in the Billions with cosmetic products (see Box). And you all have exceeded their targets.

ambition

What exactly this means, tried previously to translate the tour guide Peter underestimated. A young woman from Hong Kong had told me that she was able to sell Jeunesse products at a value of about 30'000 US-Dollar. Over what period of time, remained unclear. Not want to help the press office of the company. In spite of repeated follow up they left all the questions unanswered. But it is certain that the company is expected initially, with only about 3000 people, which would earn a trip to Switzerland. It would be equal to four times as much, suggests that the Americans have underestimated the Asian ambition.

the Titlis, Rhine falls, Aare gorge. Within six days of the tour guide, Peter has led his troops through Switzerland. In the evening a gala evening in Lucerne's exhibition building to see the glamorous end of the trip.

The intention of the US company is clear: The seller should be motivated to further achievements. Jeunesse is not the only company to do so. Particularly in Asia, reward trips, in the industry, Incentive travel, becoming more and more popular. This is also felt here. According to Switzerland tourism, the proportion of Incentive trips has increased in the last five years by 62 percent. "An interesting market", such as Liên Burkard says. Interesting above all: be a part of it but the potential for individual tourism. "Anyone who has visited the country once in a group, often has the self-confidence to be alone or not to return."

An indication that this is not just a hope, according to Burkard, in the increased sales of the Swiss-Travel-pass. So in the last year, 2018, sales growth of almost 15 per cent in guests from the Greater China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan).

A part of Peters group is likely to come back to a couple, perhaps with children. It is the dream of the tourism industry: spending, discrete guests. Way to go, but still far. And noisy. Like the Lucerne city centre this windy Monday. (Editorial Tamedia)

Created: 13.05.2019, 20:10 PM

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