Stats Locals guests save half-yearly figures

The Swiss hotel industry recorded significant losses from the European market in the first half of 2015: 3.8% fewer Germans; 13.3% fewer Spaniards and 29.1% fewer Russians stayed in Switzerland. All in all, the half-yearly figures are better than predicted. The deficit is only 0.6 %. The reason for this is that overseas markets and local guests could compensate for the dent created by the lack of European visitors. Swiss hotels recorded 33.2% more Chinese tourists (an increase from 409,000 to 540,000 overnights) and a solid growth from the USA, The Gulf countries, India, Brazil and Southeast Asia. Additionally, 0.9% more Swiss spent their holiday in Switzerland. Bookings made before the Euro decoupling of January 16 may be one reason for this; substantial discounts and promotions from hotels another. The hotels which reacted to the currency shock with special offers are now enjoying a win. Zurich is leading overall Unlike Graubünden with a decline of 4.4%, the Zurich region has grown by 4.3%. In the first half of 2015, 106,000 overnight stays were registered – more than in the same period last year. The rise is thanks to the Chinese and Swiss. Andreas Züllig, president of the Swiss Hotel Association, tells Handelzeitung: "Many Swiss hotels in the countryside have reached their limit. They cannot reduce their price. They have already passed their pain threshold. "

For Swiss only to offer flights, the starting position is an advantage when compared to tour operators. Since March 2013, the national carrier has presented the mobile site in responsive design and all features are available on the smart phone. Meanwhile, about 20 percent of the online traffic is generated on smart phones. Mobile users are mainly looking for information about the airport or current offers. In addition, special services such as check in can be made using a mobile phone. The smart phone trend illustrates the continued efforts of Swiss: the airline wants to develop the app and the website as a personal travel companion.

TUI Suisse is particularly advanced on this point. A year ago, the app "My TUI" was launched. Those who use this service can retrieve all the information about the upcoming trip directly on the app – from the hotel description to departure times and baggage regulations. The app is also useful during the trip, allowing users to book excursions, contact the travel agent or access information up to ten minutes before the transfer bus departs. The carpet for new developments has been rolled out.