The Swiss tourism to come in the words of Guy Parmelin
As part of the fifth summit of the vacation and leisure industry, the President of the Swiss Confederation informed the operators of the strategies for 2022
On May 5, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, welcomed representatives of the tourism industry to the fifth Tourism Summit and informed them about the strategic orientations that Switzerland intends to give to its tourism policy from 2022 onwards.
One of the key points will be the management of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President plans to implement a package of recovery measures to boost tourism demand and maintain the innovative activity of companies in the sector, while taking stock of the past winter season.
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Suffering towns, ski slopes OK in high season
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, ski resorts were able to stay open during the peak season. In the cities, however, the picture is far less rosy.
The negative trend of 2020 remained unchanged at the beginning of 2021. Thanks to the improvement of the pandemic situation, however, a gradual normalization of tourism activities can be expected during the rest of the year, although the great differences already noted between one region and another will probably be confirmed.
CHF 3 billion for restaurants, hotels and accommodation
The Federal Council is implementing far-reaching measures to support the economy, from which tourism also benefits.
Since the beginning of the crisis, the hotel and catering industry has received a total of around two billion Swiss francs in short-time work allowances.
In addition to the aid for hardship cases, half of this – around one billion francs – has gone to the accommodation sector as well as to the catering industry.
The demands of the employees: three different “freedoms to travel”
At the summit, industry representatives expressed their demands on the issue of freedom to travel, which can be summarized into three main ones:
firstly, the freedom to travel between countries with a similar level of risk of infection;
Secondly, the introduction of a “Covid Free” certificate, which would allow people who are vaccinated, cured of the virus or negative for a recent COVID-19 test to cross the border and enter and leave a country freely;
and, finally, the guarantee that these certificates are digitized, standardized and internationally recognized.
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SECO report in November in the wake of 2017
President Guy Parmelin briefed industry representatives on the development of the Swiss Confederation’s tourism policy and the recovery measures planned.
The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) is preparing a report on the current strategy, which it will present to the Federal Council in November and in which the strategic basis for the period from 2022 will also be incorporated.
The current strategy, launched in 2017, has certainly proven its worth.
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However, as of next year, the Swiss Confederation intends to focus more on the aspect of sustainable development and on the complete revision of the legal basis for the promotion of the hotel industry through the Swiss Hotel Credit Association (SCA), to be carried out by 2024.
In the context of the aforementioned report, which is expected in late autumn, the President of Switzerland also intends to propose recovery measures for tourism to the Federal Council.
These measures should help to revive tourism demand and keep intact the innovative activity of companies in the sector, a key aspect of Switzerland’s competitiveness as a tourist destination.
