JEDDAH, 5 April 2004 — Mountains, lakes and cuckoo clocks, watches, snow and chocolate: These are just some of the attractions drawing Saudi and other Gulf visitors to Switzerland.
According to a top executive of Switzerland Tourism, Gulf tourists spend a total of $100 million a year in Switzerland. Arabs have also been investing in Swiss tourist infrastructure, especially the increasingly popular furnished apartments.
Switzerland is also seen as one of the safest places in the world, said Michel Ferla, vice president of Switzerland Tourism.
Terrorism has not weakened the pull the country exerts. “On the contrary, the tourist inflow has increased, with the number of visitors exceeding 17 million last year, accounting for 68 million overnight stays,” Ferla said here yesterday.
Ferla is leading a 21-member delegation comprising 18 representatives of the travel trade — plus three musicians playing traditional Swiss instruments. He said 80,000 people from the Middle East visited Switzerland last year. Numbers from the Middle East have doubled since 1999, and the figure is expected to top 300,000 by the end of 2004, up 15 percent on last year.
Arab-oriented services are growing, including Arabic speaking assistance and halal meat.
“The country represents four cultures and four languages, united by a common bond of friendliness and zero stress,” he said. “We have a secure environment and neutral stand on world issues,” he said.
Saudis, who hold multiple European Union Schengen visas do not need a visa to enter Switzerland, Ferla said. “Saudis who come without the Schengen visas are given the Swiss visa within 24 or 48 hours,” according to Jakob Fehr of the Consulate General of Switzerland.
