JEDDAH, 14 July 2004 — Summer education camps in Switzerland have proven attractive to Saudi students this summer. “It’s difficult to say how many are headed there, as Saudis with a Schengen visa qualify for getting Swiss entry visas on arrival at its airports,” Swiss Consul General Urs Baderstcher told Arab News.
For expats of some nationalities, the Swiss mission offers a same-day visa service. “As far as visitors to Switzerland are concerned, there are no statistics for Saudi residents, but we have statistical data about visitors from the Gulf,” he said.
The number of overnight stays in Swiss hotels by Gulf nationals was 248,674 in 2003. This is 40,000 (or 14 percent) less than the year before. “In fact, we had a difficult year in 2003 with a decline of visitors from most foreign countries, especially from Asia. Main factors were most probably the war in Iraq, terrorism in general and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS),” the consul general added.
Courses offered at the summer camps last between three weeks and a month of duration. They include basic and intensive English, French, German and other languages, as well as higher academic and professional skills and sport.
In addition to seeking admissions in best-known institutions in the hospitality industry, Saudi and other students from the region have been visiting the country for bachelor and master programs in business administration, and media and communication. Summer holiday courses offered by University Preparatory Boarding School in Territet-Montreux are said to be among the preferred institutions this season.
There are day classes for high school graduates, evening programs for junior managers, full-time or evening programs for working professionals and Saturday programs for executives. International University in Geneva is among the Swiss universities offering a wide spectrum of courses.
Walking and cycling amid mountain scenery is this year’s summer focus in Switzerland. Cultural and culinary delights extend memorable summer mountain holidays long into autumn. In Mountains, its global summer campaign, Switzerland Tourism runs its guests through the gamut of experiences on offer.
For walkers, Switzerland boasts a 60,000 km of trails, theme routes such as the cheese and Chutzelweg, spectacular Nordic walking and GPS hikes in the National Park.
The countless mountain events, culinary highlights such as uplifting cable-car diners, and mountain-hut adventures for the whole family are among other attractions.
Switzerland is also a cycling country. Some 3,300 km of signposted national routes, now joined by 5,000 km of regional routes, are ideal for more leisurely cycling. Mountain bikers have a choice between easy, tough, steep and fast tours.
“Incorporating a trip by bus, rail or boat can enhance each tour. The perfect Swiss transport system draws together, links and facilitates a host of summer experiences while cutting distances,” said Baderstcher.
Swiss trade relations with the Kingdom continue to expand. While Swiss exports to the Kingdom mainly include food and pharmaceuticals, the country is eyeing expanding its base in many other sectors. “Switzerland’s infrastructure is highly developed, reliable and prepared for expansion,” Badertscher said, adding that the country will continue to explore offering its expertise in services like training young Saudis in the ongoing Saudization program.
Agricultural products, chemicals, plastic and rubber textiles and garments, precious metals and jewelry, electronics and machinery, and watches are among the other major items the country exports to the Kingdom.
Bilateral trade statistics show that no energy products (crude oil, fuel) are on the list. “In fact, Switzerland does not import significant quantities of crude from Saudi Arabia. Swiss importers buy refined products in Europe. However, we have to assume that part of these refined products originate in the Kingdom,” Badertscher said.
