Switzerland on your bucket list

The pent-up demand for travel especially in the GCC has been growing for the past few months, the moment borders open, they are the first to travel. Switzerland Tourism Board is on a drive to welcome travellers and Martin Nydegger, CEO, Switzerland Tourism, shares more details with us.

Shehara Rizly

Q How important is the GCC market for Switzerland Tourism?

The GCC market is quite important to us and during the pre-pandemic year we had roughly almost a million overnights in the market and that’s significant for us but it is not only the numbers but the fact that we can have people from other cultures, different backgrounds, that we can receive people in different areas of Switzerland and also in particular in different seasons of Switzerland, so it’s just like a whole package that we are really happy about.

Q Which time of the year do you recommend the GCC travellers to visit the destination?

We are all aware that school holidays are the predominant factor but besides that I would recommend two very diverse seasons; one is the winter season just because it is spectacularly white and Switzerland is actually the original winter destination of the world, this is where winter sports started. Also, something else that can be very interesting is spring with flowers in bloom. It’s so diverse with all the colours and the smells as that is when Switzerland wakes up for the summer season.

Q What is the update about the border opening?

I think it’s now just a matter of few weeks before we can actually open, I’m sure you have read about it, I can confirm to you that we are working on opening borders and to cut down on traveller restrictions, we are working very closely with EU for the EU COVID Digital Passport which would allow people to travel once they are either vaccinated or tested, so we are actually looking at opening in the summer season. We have heard that the EU is looking at opening either in mid-June or end of June and there might be some adjustments so we are thinking that by July or August it will be open to GCC travellers.

Q Could you share about the new campaign launched worldwide by Switzerland Tourism?

We have a spectacular campaign coming up with our main ambassador Roger Federer. We have just released a beautiful clip with Roger Federer and Robert De Niro called ‘No drama’, the title of the clip in Switzerland because after all this hectic time what we now want is a time without drama and that’s what you find in Switzerland. People are talking about it and it is now available over YouTube (YouTube.com/myswitzerland). It is the most successful clip that we have ever had in the history of Switzerland Tourism and as of today it has almost 40 million viewers, we never had a clip that had so many viewers. It is basically a conversation between Roger Federer and Robert De Niro, Roger Federer asks Robert De Niro whether he wants to come to Switzerland and make a beautiful movie because everything is so beautiful and spectacular, so carefree. Robert De Niro is a bit grumpy and he is for action and drama, and he says no, Switzerland is too perfect, I cannot come, everything works, you guys are too nice, I’m sorry I have to say no.