Travelers seeking to visit Switzerland can apply for visas through VFS Global in Jeddah from April 1.

At a press conference on Sunday, Hans Stalder, the Swiss consul general, said: “Travelers must obtain the (Schengen) visa from that country in which the main purpose of their visit exists.”

He said visas would be canceled if travelers make fake hotel reservations. These are checked by travel agents, he said.

Switzerland is a favorite destination for Saudi and Gulf travelers. In 2013, 205,736 Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) tourists visited the country, a 22.7 percent increase from the previous year. Each tourist spent on average $550 a day.

Stalder said Switzerland has many attractive destinations including Geneva, Zurich and Berne. He said there are also many journeys with spectacular natural scenery.

Matthias Albrecht, director of Switzerland Tourism in the GCC, said Switzerland receives most visits from Saudis, followed by travelers from the United Arab Emirates.

During the press conference, representatives of Switzerland Tourism gave insights into their new campaign, with comprehensive information on tourist attractions and services offered in different regions of the country.

Switzerland Tourism has launched a website www.switzerland.com/ar with 2,400 pages of Arabic content for easy train and hotel reservations.