Council of States increases budget for Switzerland Tourism

 From 2008 to 2011, the Council of States intends to spend a total of around 297 million on marketing Switzerland abroad. 195 million will be allocated to Switzerland Tourism, 9 million more than approved by the National Council and requested by the Federal Council. According to a report by SDA, the majority of the Committee for Economic Affairs and Taxation (WAK) wanted to increase the federal contribution from CHF 186 million to CHF 195 million to compensate for inflation. The minority would have preferred to go along with the National Council, but withdrew its proposal during the debate. After the National Council, the Council of States also approved CHF 68 million for export promotion in the years 2008 to 2011. 13.6 million is earmarked for the promotion of Location Switzerland. A further CHF 21 million is earmarked for the promotion of innovations in the tourism sector (innotour). With the six-part bill, economic promotion will be consolidated in the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA) at the beginning of 2008. In addition, the federal government will receive a new legal basis for location marketing abroad.