Switzerland to open SE Asia tourism office
Seeing bright prospects for visitor arrivals from Southeast Asia, the Switzerland Tourist Board will open a representative office in Singapore on June 1. The office will be responsible for marketing and sales activities in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia a
According to Swiss tourism statistics, the number of visitors from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia increased significantly in 2011. Compared |to the previous year, the Swiss |hotel industry reported 40 per cent more overnight visitors from Indonesia, 17 per cent more from Thailand, 13 per cent more from Malaysia and 7 per cent more from Singapore.
The main role of the new Swiss tourism representative will be to strengthen the relationships with the local travel trade, adding new Switzerland itineraries to tour operators’ programmes, educating travel agents and planning joint promotions with the local travel industry. Also on the media side, the Switzerland Tourist Board plans to extend its activities, inviting travel writers and media representatives to Switzerland and sending out media releases with news about the alpine country.
A strong emphasis will be placed on e-marketing and social media platforms. In addition, the new office will co-ordinate the activities of Swiss suppliers in these four markets.
Among the highlights, the Jungfrau Railway is celebrating its centenary this year and has a lot of activities planned. The SnowpenAir concert at the Kleine Scheidegg in the mountainous Jungfrau region and the grand opening of the Alpine Sensation – a 250-metre-long subway – will be held on March 31. Rock stars such as Bryan Adams and Kim Wilde are scheduled to appear at the concert, along with two Swiss musicians, Polo Hofer and Daniel Kandlbauer.
One system – a thousand surprises.Whether travelling from an arrival airport to a holiday destination, from city to city, or heading for the heights – in Switzerland, trains, buses and boats are ready and waiting to take visitors to many destinations. All they have to do is to get an all-inclusive ticket. During several months of 2012, the Swiss Travel System is offering the Swiss Pass (4-day Saver / 4-day Saver Flexi) at a 2-for-1 rate.
Zurich Airport is offering a free app for all iPhone users with information for passengers, those meeting them, and visitors to the airport about flights, services and getting to and from the airport.
