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Press, 17 October 1978, Page 6

By

NORRIS WILLATT

Switzei-land’s tourist industry is booming despite the strong position of the Swiss franc against other international currencies. Hotels in the popular ski resorts were virtually sold out during the Christmas holiday period, and the boom continued during the peak winter month of February. It certainly is remarkable that in 1977, the year in which the Swiss franc soared in relation to such other key international currencies as the United States dollar, the pound sterling and the French franc, and even made headway against the German Mark and the Dutch guilder, tourism showed an upsurge, reversing a decline that set in in 1972. What’s the explanation? The Swiss would say that price is not the only consideration when it comes to spending cm a vacation. Equally important are, for example, comfort, service, peace of mind, for which many holiday makers are willing to pay a premium. Official statistics show that for the first nine months of last year, the number of overnight stays in Swiss hotels, at some 27 million, were up by 5.7 per cent compared with the same period of 1976. More surprising was that stays by foreigners were up by 7 per cent to 16.5 million. The winter season seems to promise even better results. A survey by the Union Bank of Switzerland in January showed that of 30 leading winter sports resorts checked, only one expected fewer overnight stays by foreigners this year than last. Of the rest, 15 foresaw no change, and the remaining 14 expected to welcome more guests. The figures are all the more surprising because Switzerland has become one of the most expensive places in the world in which to spend a holiday. It is more expensive than a year ago (not to mention five years ago) for most people, if only because of the devaluation of their own currency over the past 12 months in relation to the Swiss franc. The American visitor who changes dollars this year finds he gets less than two francs apiece, compared with around 2.50 a year ago. The Englishman receives only about 3.75 francs for every pound, instead of well ever four. Even a German gets only 96 centimes for his Deutschemark, instead of 1.05 francs. The Swiss report that the increase in the number of overnight stays in their hotels by foreigners is coming mainly through the arrival of more guests from such countries as the United States and Canada (whose dollar has depreciated even more sharply than the United States one); and from

West Germany and the Netherlands (whose guilder has dropped even more than the Mark). Why do these and other people choose Switzerland for a holiday, especially during a period of recession when many people are less well off? The Swiss have been investigating the phenomenon, and they have come up with what they think are explanations. One, and an important one, they feel, is that though their prices tend to be high, they are also stable in Swiss franc terms. Many hotels have not increased their rates for up to three years. Visitors to other countries often find rates rising year by year, with a general inflation. In Switzerland, inflation is almost zero. Second, many hotels and othertourists facilities offer special discounts from published prices, especially during the off season, and often combined with packages quoting reduced rates for, say, ski-lifts and cable cars in winter; and funiculars, lake steamers, chairlifts, in summer. They try to tailor such concessions to individual needs, rather than encourage the mass tourism, which inevitably becomes more impersonal, promoted by some competitor countries. Like other countries, too, Switzerland is increasing its facilities for guests who wish to economise by using what are called parahotel accommodation, for example holiday chalets, self-catering apartments, caravan and camping sites. These alternatives now make up the majority of all types of accommodation in the country. In 1977, they offered a total of 764,000 beds, compared with only 276,000 in the country’s 8000 or so hotels. But, above all, the Swiss pride themselves on their standards of service, which they traditionally have stressed, and which they profess ta be maintaining, in spite of the difficulty of getting suitable staff — mainly as a result of the tight restrictions on granting residence and work permits to foreigners, who constitute the majority of all waiters, porters, receptionists, chambermaids in Swiss resorts. Some estimates indicate a shortage of such personnel of some 10,000. In spite of this, the Swiss try not to let their standards lapse and, on the whole, are quite successful, partly because their key managerial personnel are still nationals, and run things with typical national efficiency and vigilance. Above all — and the Swiss consider this is a big plus for them at the present time — the environment is peaceful. The unrest and violence which is part of the scene in so many traditional vacation lands, and which the visitor cannot ignore even if he tries, recoils when it comes up against the Swiss frontier. Even when on holiday, it seems, some people are willing to pay something extra for a superior quality of life. —O.F.N.S., copyright.