Seco expects tourism sales to decline by up to 35 percent
Tourism in Switzerland is suffering a massive slump due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to the previous year, revenue is down by as much as 95 percent. According to the federal government, the decline in revenue for the full year amounts to up to 35 percent. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) is now reviewing stimulus programs.
Erik Jakob, Head of the Location Promotion Directorate at Seco, at Monday's Point de Presse.
"First it's about survival, then it's about investment," Erik Jakob, head of the location promotion directorate at Seco, told the Federal Palace media on Monday. The tourism industry has been particularly hard hit by the Corona crisis, he said. There are real "waves of cancellations", while new bookings are almost completely absent.
The slump is unprecedented, said Jakob. Neither the challenges posed by the strong franc nor the second-home initiative can be compared to this. The pandemic affects everyone: business tourism and leisure tourism - in the city as well as in the countryside.
Slow recovery expected
Seco expects a "hesitant" recovery in the second half of the year and a "gradual" recovery next year. Globally, there will probably not be a complete easing of the situation until 2022. The psychological factor also plays a role: Travel will only resume once the uncertainty regarding health risks has been overcome, Jakob said.
In order to support tourism, the federal government is currently waiving the payment of a loan for hotel investments in the amount of CHF 5.5 million. Further measures are planned with the implementation of the New Regional Policy (NRP).
Advertising offensive for Switzerland vacations
At the same time, the federal government is examining other options for strengthening tourism. Switzerland Tourism has put forward a CHF 40 million stimulus program. Both Seco and the parliamentary committees are now discussing this.
According to Jakob, one thing is clear: A tourism aid program would have to target domestic tourism in an initial phase. "The promotion of Switzerland vacations plays a priority role." Finding the right time for a promotional offensive, however, would be something of a challenge.
Complex protection concepts
"It takes trust, confidence and experience that protection concepts work," Jakob said. The federal government is in the process of drawing up basic protection concepts for individual categories of activity. After that, the work of the industry representatives is needed to "break these down" to tourism.
There is no point in opening a mountain restaurant if access via the cable car is not regulated, Jakob said. "It needs concepts that mesh." (SDA)
