⏱ 2 min read
Background
The war against Iran severely disrupted air traffic in 2026. Fewer and more expensive flights held back tourists from Asia and the Gulf states. At the end of October, BAK Economics had already reported the first decline in summer overnight stays since the pandemic, down 0.8% year on year. Switzerland Tourism has now published its forecasts for the full year and for 2027.
The key points
Switzerland Tourism forecasts a 1.0% fall in hotel overnight stays for 2026, to 41.1 million. The sharpest declines concern South-East Asia, India and the Gulf states. The main European markets are also slightly down.
Swiss guests, who account for more than half of demand, limit the decline. The Americas are also growing. The effects vary between cantons: from January to August, Geneva lost 12.6% of overnight stays by visitors from the Gulf, while Graubünden gained as many.
For 2027, Switzerland Tourism expects almost stable demand. Kerosene prices, geopolitical instability and concerns about air safety continue to weigh on travel.
Key figures
- 41.1 million : hotel overnight stays forecast for 2026, i.e. -1,0 %
- -19,0 % : South-East Asia; -18,4 % : India; -15,9 % : Gulf states
- +0,6 % : Swiss domestic market in 2026
- -0,3 % : overnight stays forecast for 2027
- 20 to 30% : expected rise in China–Europe air fares in 2027, according to Chinese online travel agencies
What it means for businesses
- Geneva hotels : overnight stays by visitors from the Gulf down 12.6% from January to August
- Mountain destinations : Graubünden gained 12.6% in overnight stays by Gulf visitors over the same period
What's next
- Switzerland Tourism expects a 6% rise in Asian overnight stays in 2027, which would partly offset the declines of 2026
Further reading
Sources
- SWI swissinfo.ch (Keystone-ATS) – Swiss tourism resilient despite the Middle East crisis
- Allnews – Swiss tourism: slight recovery after a mixed summer
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