Switzerland Tourism (ST) Philippines held its spring media briefing at the Residence of the Swiss Ambassador in Manila last March 7. ST announced the remarkable recovery of overnight stays from Southeast Asia to Switzerland in 2022, reaching 96.4% of 2019 before the pandemic. The growth is forecast to sustain in the upcoming years. ST introduced its strategy to attract more Southeast Asian families to discover Switzerland by public transport on the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland.
With 623,646 overnight stays from Southeast Asia in 2022, Southeast Asia (Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines) is the best-recovering market in the Asia Pacific Region. Within Southeast Asia, Singapore (+26.5%) and Malaysia (+13.8%) recovered quickly, with yearly results already overperforming year 2019. Thailand (-26.5%) and Indonesia (-13.5%) were still impacted by travel restrictions during the high season in Spring 2022, but recovered growth in the second half of the year.
Finally, the Philippines, where ST opened a new antenna last year, followed a similar trend but at a different pace. January to July still generated 48% fewer overnights compared to 2019. However, a strong growth of +21% was observed from August to December.
The Ambassador of Switzerland to the Philippines, His Excellency Alain Gaschen, expressed his satisfaction. “I am impressed to see the quick recovery of the Philippine market for the Swiss tourism industry. Switzerland has much to offer Filipinos, from its natural landscapes to its rich cultural heritage. We look forward to welcoming more visitors and families in the coming years.”
According to ST’s and Oxford Economics‘ forecast, overnights from Southeast Asia will continue their strong growth in 2023, with a 19% increase compared to 2022.
“We are confident that Switzerland will continue to be a preferred travel destination for Southeast Asian travellers,” said Batiste Pilet, Director of Southeast Asia for ST. “We have been working hard since the reopening to ensure that Switzerland remains top of mind and is perceived as a safe and sustainable destination. We are thrilled to see that our efforts are paying off. In spring this year, we concentrate on tapping into the family travel segment and promoting extended stays in Switzerland.”