JEDDAH: With Switzerland joining the Schengen group, Saudis and expatriates from the Kingdom will now be able to visit the country with a Schengen visa, a senior Swiss diplomat said yesterday.
“Barring England and Ireland, the Schengen visa covers most of Europe and the Swiss-Schengen visa will be valid to enter the territories of all Schengen member states,” said Alain Roh, head of the consular section at the Consulate General of Switzerland, during a presentation by a 19-member Switzerland Tourism delegation.
The Schengen visa is valid for Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and now Switzerland. Saudis and foreign residents with a valid Schengen visa issued by any of the Schengen member states would be able to enter the Swiss territory without an additional Swiss visa, Roh said.
“It takes at least 10 days for a Schengen member country to issue a visa,” he added.
Jorg P. Krebs, leader of the delegation and Switzerland Tourism’s marketing director for India and the Gulf, said 400,000 GCC visitors toured Switzerland in 2008, 18 percent more than 2007.
“Eighty percent of them were from the Kingdom,” he said, adding that it was difficult to estimate how many would visit the country from the Kingdom and elsewhere in the GCC during 2009 in the context of the global financial meltdown.
During the presentation various delegates gave an overview of their products and services. Krebs said as of March 29 there would be no more passport controls at Zurich Airport when arriving from a Schengen country.
“With Gartencity, Zurich transforms itself into a huge ‘Garden of Eden’ from May 18 to Sept. 19. Some 300 plants will blossom and grow in the city. Geneva Festival will be held from July 30-Aug. 9, and Air Festival from Sept. 4-6 in Vessy, Geneva,” Krebs said listing some of the year’s tourist attractions.
The delegates representing the hospitality sector spoke about the expansion of existing hotels and opening of new luxury properties and resorts in Zurich, Lucerne, Geneva and other cities. Hugo Furrer, incoming head and director of Swiss Travel System, explained the system’s “all-in-one ticket” for discovering Switzerland by train, bus and boat.
