Tourism industry does not want to swallow cuts in state advertising
The importance of strong national tourism marketing and government support for innovation in Swiss tourism were the central themes of this year’s Tourism Industry Day, held Wednesday in Bern.
The importance of strong national tourism marketing and state support for innovation for Swiss tourism were the central themes of this year's Tourism Industry Day on Wednesday in Bern. In order to promote growth, marketing must be expanded - and not cut back as planned by the Federal Council. The Federal Council is currently proposing to Parliament a budget of CHF 186 million for the financing of Switzerland Tourism for the years 2008 to 2011, which effectively means a cut. The tourism side is demanding a minimum of CHF 195 million.
However, the organization wants parliament to increase its budget even further - to CHF 207 million for the years 2008-2011. The number of overnight stays and guests in the current financing period has risen sharply, said Switzerland Tourism Director Jürg Schmid. This shows that investments in Switzerland Tourism promote growth.
The tourism industry uses a measurement to back up its claims. This confirms the economic importance of international tourism marketing and underlines the benefits of federal investment in Switzerland Tourism. With the CHF 46 million invested by the Confederation, Switzerland Tourism generates a direct turnover of CHF 2.26 billion. This turnover in turn returns CHF 318 million in taxes and duties to the Confederation, the cantons and the communes.
The planned reduction in the InnoTour innovation program from 28 to 21 million francs will not simply be accepted. The tourism industry will campaign for the planned reduction for 2008 to 2011 to be reversed.
The fact that the Federal Council has halted plans to set up a company to promote the country has been met with extraordinary regret by the presidents of the most important Swiss tourism organizations. They would like to see a ?powerful? national advertising.
Klaus Künzli, Central President of GastroSuisse, told the Sda news agency that it was incomprehensible that the project could not be presented to parliament quickly for reasons of prestige and responsibility. The parliamentarians should take up this issue.
Climate change poses major challenges for tourism, as Franz Steinegger, President of the Swiss Tourism Association, said. Numerous low-lying winter sports resorts must therefore already consider today how they want to attract tourists tomorrow. This is another reason why tourism is dependent on government support for innovation.
However, the organization wants parliament to increase its budget even further - to CHF 207 million for the years 2008-2011. The number of overnight stays and guests in the current financing period has risen sharply, said Switzerland Tourism Director Jürg Schmid. This shows that investments in Switzerland Tourism promote growth.
The tourism industry uses a measurement to back up its claims. This confirms the economic importance of international tourism marketing and underlines the benefits of federal investment in Switzerland Tourism. With the CHF 46 million invested by the Confederation, Switzerland Tourism generates a direct turnover of CHF 2.26 billion. This turnover in turn returns CHF 318 million in taxes and duties to the Confederation, the cantons and the communes.
The planned reduction in the InnoTour innovation program from 28 to 21 million francs will not simply be accepted. The tourism industry will campaign for the planned reduction for 2008 to 2011 to be reversed.
The fact that the Federal Council has halted plans to set up a company to promote the country has been met with extraordinary regret by the presidents of the most important Swiss tourism organizations. They would like to see a ?powerful? national advertising.
Klaus Künzli, Central President of GastroSuisse, told the Sda news agency that it was incomprehensible that the project could not be presented to parliament quickly for reasons of prestige and responsibility. The parliamentarians should take up this issue.
Climate change poses major challenges for tourism, as Franz Steinegger, President of the Swiss Tourism Association, said. Numerous low-lying winter sports resorts must therefore already consider today how they want to attract tourists tomorrow. This is another reason why tourism is dependent on government support for innovation.
