Swiss tour operators fear a Greta-effect

at the International tourism exchange in Berlin, the most important trade fair in the industry, the big tour operators concerned about the deep booking vacation time for the primary in the summer. The beginning of March. A few weeks later, it sounds much better. "We are seeing a booking jam, we are not able to explain to us all," says Dieter Zümpel, chief of THE tourism Suisse, among others, the Kuoni and Helvetic Tours brands.

In the case of TUI, and Hotelplan Switzerland, it sounds similar. One speaks of "restrained business". The summer holidays are of the greatest importance for the tour operator, and normally, the bookings for this time period in January, but no later than in February, as families make their plans for the long term.

the Exact details are not want to make hotel plan and co., are talking about Numbers that are "almost" under or on level with the previous year. THE tourist Suisse confirmed that it was still "clearly", in order to achieve the ambitious growth targets. The company must find 2019 in the black.

Even the Globetrotter Group does not take up to date of the desired travel.

The Swiss travel Association confirms the decline. The managing Director of the industry Association, Walter Kunz, estimates that sales lagged behind the year-on-year between 7 and 10 per cent afterwards. "If it would only be a booking jam, would cause me Worry. The there are always changes. The industry is puzzled about it, whether or not in addition to the warm last summer, the climate debate plays a role," says Kunz. Even he as a professional had recently been on a weekend trip to Spain is a different feeling than usual. "The current discussions will not let you untouched, and we need to find a good travel Agency to answer it."

a similar analysis of THE-tourism-Suisse-in-chief Zümpel: "Such restraint in the past from time to time, then the bookings will come later. It is more difficult when a paradigm shift would influence the behavior of the customer in the long term, the climate debate is about." In the travel industry is already talking of "Greta-effect", but you can't understand the development.

Even the Globetrotter Group, which is not aligned such as Kuoni or hotel plan on the mass market, will not take up to date of the desired travel. Chef André Lüthi is the turnover of 3 to 7 per cent, in the residue, depending on the brand. Last year was a top year for him. "There are various reasons for the development. The growing share of the online portals is one, but it is clear that the climate strikes a brake on the reservation desire," said Lüthi.

rail travel currently winning popularity

An indication of the development to travel by the train. Globo train, for example, one of Luthi's specialised brands, is currently very good. The company wants to expand. Also in the case of the rail tour, which belongs to THE tourist Suisse, the demand. "We had in the last few weeks, in fact, an increase in rail travel bookings," said a squad man by rail tour this week, the trade journal "travel inside".

The big players are strong> under pressure

The booking jam comes to the industry at an inopportune time. The large players are heavily under pressure. THE tourist Suisse is catching up for lost market share, market leaders, Hotelplan Suisse was 2018, nearly in the red and must make up for the ground. First price identify the reductions already. The reluctance of customers persists, threatens to be a real price war going on in the money. That would be bad for all Involved. "The important thing is that now none of the actors will lose the nerves and a price war starts," says Kuoni-Switzerland-in-chief Zümpel.

(Sunday newspaper)

Created: 07.04.2019, 00:28 PM