Switzerland expects surge in tourists after Lok Sabha polls

With no growth in the number of Indian tourists in the past two years, Switzerland is expecting a ten per cent increase this year once the Lok Sabha elections are over.
"From our experience, we have noticed that election years usually have a boom in travel after the elections get over. We are expecting a huge surge in numbers from the third week of May," Switzerland Tourism director Stephan Heuberger told reporters here.
He said after the elections were over, more people would have the time for a holiday in Europe.
Their experience of the last parliament polls in 2009 showed that there was a double digit growth after the elections, he said.

"We don't have any explanation for why it happened that way, but we hope that this year too will be good for us after the polls," the tourism director said.
Between 2012 and 2014, the number of tourists from India to Switzerland remained flat at 5,00,000 annual visitors.

Now, in 2014, they were expecting a ten per cent jump in tourists, he said.
"May-June is a peak period for us as a lot of people travel during that time as the summers set in. Besides, schools have holidays," Heuberger said, adding that last year's devaluation of rupee also acted as a deterrent for many travellers.

Switzerland Tourism has announced 2014 as the year of "Views" as the European country offers some of the most magnificent landscapes and scenic beauty in the world.
Many such spots in Switzerland like Gstaad and the breathtaking views of Alpine peaks have been made famous in a number of Yashraj Films like 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge'.
As more and more Indians travel to Switzerland for a longer period and also with friends and family, they prefer to use apartments as they are cheap and convenient.
Heuberger said there were around 50-60 apartments there which had been customised to suit Indian tastes.

"We have Indian pressure cookers there, Indian spices and food so that the family can cook also if they want to," the official said.