The Arab fairy tales in Switzerland is over

In the summer when it is hot, people flee the Gulf region to cooler places in Europe. To the objectives of the preferred trip to Switzerland, ever since. In the past few years, the number of Overnight stays of the Arab guests climbed rapidly to the top. With almost a Million hotel nights, the Arabs come in to the statistics, in the meantime, almost to the Italians.

But now the tide seems to turn. While the Swiss economy up to September, total overnight Stays growth of 1.5 percent, the Figures are from the Gulf States to decline – significantly. 12 percent is the Minus for the summer. For the full year, Switzerland is expected to tourism a decline in the number of overnight stays of travellers from the Gulf countries of up to 10 percent, because the main season of this target group is now over.

It was the largest decline in ten years would be. Because with a few exceptions, the curve of the Gulf States in the last few years, always showed a steep upwards. From 2012 to 2015, the market grew by more than 20 percent. Suddenly, the Arab guests were not only in Geneva in a clearly visible, but also other places in Switzerland: Zurich, Luzern, Interlaken.

Now, however, the statistics has got a Dent: All five top targets are currently in the Minus. Best of Geneva of which comes with a decline of 5 percent. Montreux and Lucerne have proportionally lost the most.

longing for The colder regions

The reasons for this development are complex. The most amazing is a weather phenomenon: The reporting on the heat of the summer in Europe will not let the tourists from the Gulf regions apparently untouched. Even if it is still significantly cooler than in Qatar, Dubai or Riyadh, the guests from the desert States, apparently under the impression that you would not be here found in summer, the desired climatic conditions.

"We have observed that the tourists from the Emirates and other countries are to be avoided this summer in the hope of cooling increased on the Northern Germany and in the area of Chamonix in France," is it at Geneva tourism. Also in the case of Switzerland tourism, it confirms the Trend. "The heat wave in Central Europe has been discussed widely in the Gulf States. This has upset the guests", says spokesman André Aschwanden.

Political developments and changes in behavior

Also of political developments that have influenced the travel behaviour. Since Qatar is boycotted in the train of the Qatar-crisis, other Arab States, no longer flies to Qatar Airways from Saudi Arabia. Thus, the rise in the flight deal for the Saudis clearly, what has particularly hit the middle class, which consists to a major part of Indian Expats. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates is the largest group of guests from the Region, followed by Kuwait.

In the case of Switzerland tourism and Geneva, but also changes in the behaviour of tourists from the Gulf. You appear to be using increasingly Airbnb apartments while you were focused up to now on the Five and four star hotels. "Guests are increasingly looking for Apartments with hotel service," confirmed Adrien Serious, the head of Geneva tourism.

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Created: 10.11.2019, 11:21 PM