Switzerland is the Top destination for Muslims

For Arisha from Malaysia has it in Switzerland, too much Smoke: "the Outside is not smoked anywhere, which we found with our children very comfortable." The view from the Jungfraujoch, but it was not for this reason, "breathtaking". The mountains were the main reason why the young family to Switzerland as a holiday destination has been decided.

In comparison with other countries, they found Switzerland to be particularly pleasant: As devout Muslims, would you have felt in your journey through Interlaken, Lucerne and Zurich. "Spain and especially the Czech Republic, I felt as a Muslim less friendly."

Switzerland is in the case of Muslim travelers increasingly popular since 2013, the number of hotel stays rose by guests from the Gulf States with above average by 52 per cent to 950'000. Compared to 2007, and the Plus is even in more than 160 percent. Switzerland tourism, speaks of a "rapidly growing market".

Better than the United States

The Trend continues to point upwards. According to a new study by the travel consultant, Crescent Rating and the credit card company Mastercard, Switzerland for tourists from Muslim countries to attractiveness.

The Global Muslim Travel Index by Crescent Rating is a kind of travel recommendation, and shows how attractive holiday destinations for devout Muslims. On the ranking list of Switzerland lands in the latest report on place 11 of 82-Muslim countries.

This means: it is for Halal tourists, like Crescent Rating announced, better suited than, for example, Spain or the USA. The United States have disappeared from the Top 20. In the past year, they were still there, Switzerland was, however, at the time, not even among the first twenty. The strong improvement also has to do with the study to take into account new evaluation criteria, such as the transport infrastructure.

In Geneva, does the hotel staff speak Arabic

The analysts relied on information from governments, the UN, and on travel websites such as Booking.com. As important criteria, the social and the political climate and the service culture of a country. Popular destinations such as Geneva, Zurich and Interlaken are also on Muslim tourists and their specific needs.

"Almost all the five star hotels in Geneva, have Arabic-speaking staff," says Lucie Gerber, spokesperson of Geneva tourism. With more than 250'000 overnight Stays in the past year, the Region is the number-one tourists from the Middle East. Muslim countries are a focus at the Geneva Marketing, the Website is in Arabic.

Also in the Zurich area, the number of Muslim tourists has increased significantly in recent years. The overnight Stays from the Gulf region in 2010, 75'200. In the past year, there were 167'300 more than twice as many. The city had to absorb in this period, the withdrawal of the Entourage of the deceased Emir of Qatar, which was quartered in Zurich Hotels such as the Dolder Grand. According to Zurich tourism, around 30'000 Nights were lost as a result.

Zurich is the number two on the popularity scale of the Arabs. Asian Muslims come more and more to Zurich. The number of overnight stays from Indonesia, for example, have increased since 2010 and a seven-fold to 41'000.

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While in the cities, Shopping is on the agenda, find Muslim travelers in Interlaken, there is the cliché of Switzerland. However, mountains, lakes, green forests and meadows alone are not enough to such a collapse.

For Hoteliers and innkeepers performs Interlaken therefore, specific intercultural Workshops. The tips are intended to facilitate communication with tourists from the Gulf. About: "men greet one another with a light handshake." In the case of persons of the other sex, you should wait until the Person give a sign of whether you would like to enter the Hand or not.

spend more money than other groups of tourists

With special Offers of Hotels in Halal can points-travelers. Dates for the Welcome, a prayer carpet in the room or a limousine Service with a Chauffeur. According to the recommendations, there are also absolute taboos. "The Koran never heard in the drawer, but on a clean shelf at chest height."

That is not in the tourism industry, so a lot of effort to make it the traveler's right. A Tourist from the Gulf States, is per day with an average of 420 Swiss francs more money than all the other groups of tourists. For comparison: In the case of German tourists, there are 130 francs, and US tourists 380.

For guests from the Gulf States is, according to Switzerland tourism, a lot of getting used to. "Residents of the Gulf region are accustomed to from morning to midnight shopping – even on Sundays and holidays," says spokesman Markus Berger. "The comparison of relatively short Swiss opening Hours are criticised so often."

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special requirements, the believers have guests from Muslim countries, with regard to the food. This must be according to the Koran, halal, this means: animals must be slaughtered in a special way. In addition, the consumption of pork is forbidden. Switzerland tourism has compiled a list of the popular destinations in a brochure Restaurants with Halal food.

This is not yet arrived anywhere. Khalifa and Salama in Dubai have visited during your stay in Lucerne, Zug and Zurich, especially Indian Restaurants and vegetarian eating. "We have just found a good Halal Restaurant, and that was very expensive," says Khalifa. The Breakfast you have cooked yourself. In Switzerland you want to return to see more.

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(Sunday newspaper)

Created: 28.04.2019, 14:59 PM