(MENAFN- Swissinfo) The Swiss hotel sector registered a 40% drop in overnight stays in 2020 compared with 2019. Foreign demand fell by 66% as tourists stayed away due to the pandemic, latest statistics show.
This content was published on February 19, 2021 - 12:21 February 19, 2021 - 12:21 Switzerland Tourism/Federal Statistical Office/SWI swissinfo.ch/ilj
'The exceptional context of Covid–19 explains this unprecedented fall at a level not seen since the end of the 1950s,' said the Swiss Federal Statistical Office in a statement on FridayExternal link .
Swiss demand fell less drastically (–8.6%) to 16.4 million overnight stays. Overall, the sector recorded 23.7 million overnight stays for 2020.
Switzerland Tourism, the country's national tourism organisation, called 2020 its 'Annus Horribilis'. 'The year will stay in the tourism sector's mind as the biggest challenge since the Second World War,' it said in a statementExternal link to accompany its media conference on the situation on Friday.
It said the industry had endured months-long closures of businesses, very few European guests (6 million/-51%), and hardly any overseas tourists. The number of Swiss residents on staycation – the summer months were particularly popular in the mountains - was not able to counter this, it added.
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