Switzerland eyes 10 per cent more Indian visitors in 2014

Switzerland Tourism said on Friday that it is targeting a growth of 10 per cent in overnight visitors from India, taking the number above 550,000 in 2014.

"We are having a target growth of 10 per cent this year which would take our overnight numbers beyond 550,000 mark," Swiss Tourism India Deputy Director Ritu Sharma said.

To achieve the target, federal public corporation Switzerland Tourism is aggressively promoting packages bundled with incentives and targeting youths which has increased spending capabilities and affluent class from 20 Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

"A special focus would be given to the young class which has money to spend. We will be targeting schools, college and youth between 12 to 24 for special promotion," she said, adding that these age group are very influential in the selection of destinations for family holidays.

Switzerland Tourism is attracting two types of travellers, one is the family group, travelling along with children, grandparents and some time with the extended members and second is youths who travel on their own and explore new destinations and adventures.

It would also continue to focus on MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) traveller group.

"We would continue our promotions in the tier 2 and tier 3 cities in 2014. We would also target small agents from those place and train them," Ms Sharma further said.

According to Switzerland Tourism India director Stephen Heuberger, demand is coming from all over India, and that the department is going to have road show in Kolkata and Bangalore very soon.

"Demand is coming from all over India, it is even coming from the small towns," he said, adding that the Switzerland Tourism was targeting 20 20 cities this year in India.

However, Ms Sharma also added that from last two years the number of Indian visitors were not very encouraging and hoped that it would pick up this summer after the general elections.

India is placed among the four strategic markets of Switzerland, while the other three are China, Brazil and GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries.

Switzerland has a population of 8 million and had received around 18 million visitors last year and tourism had contributed around seven per cent of its GDP.

Switzerland Tourism is a federal public corporation financed by the Swiss government and tourism industry partners to promote the holidays in the country and is operating in India since 1997.