Slight recovery in hotel overnight stays in July (cross-border guide)

Image of a hotel in Ticino with an increase in overnight stays in July 2026

The number of overnight stays increased by 0.3% on an annual basis, according to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on the occasion of an initial experimental estimate.

Context

In a nutshell

  • The number of overnight stays increased by 0.3% on an annual basis.
  • The recovery came from the domestic market, with an increase of 3.8% in the presence of residents in the Confederation.
  • Foreign visitors, on the other hand, decreased by 2.6%.

Key facts

  • What: increase in overnight stays.
  • When: July 2026.
  • Where: Ticino.
  • Who: Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
  • Amount: 0.3%.

The number of overnight stays increased by 0.3% on an annual basis, according to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on the occasion of an initial experimental estimate. The recovery came from the domestic market, with a 3.8% increase in the presence of residents in the Confederation. Foreign visitors, on the other hand, decreased by 2.6%.

This trend has been observed mainly in the most popular tourist areas of the Canton, such as Locarno, Bellinzona and Lugano. According to estimates by the Federal Statistical Office, the number of overnight stays increased by about 5,000 units compared to the same period last year.

Interestingly, this increase in overnight stays was made possible by the increased demand for accommodation by residents in the Confederation. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, residents in the Confederation increased their presence by about 15,000 units compared to the same period last year.

On the other hand, foreign visitors decreased by about 8,000 units

Operational details

The resumption of hotel overnight stays in Ticino is positive news for the tourism sector. The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) reported a first experimental estimate that the number of overnight stays increased by 0.3% on an annual basis. The recovery came from the domestic market, with a 3.8% increase in the presence of residents in the Confederation. Foreign visitors, on the other hand, decreased by 2.6%. This increase in overnight stays could have a positive impact on the local economy.

According to estimates by the Federal Statistical Office, the number of overnight stays in Ticino was around 1.3 million in July, compared to 1.3 million the previous month. This increase was mainly due to the increase in the presence of residents in the Confederation, which increased by 3.8% compared to the same period of the previous year.

However, the number of foreign visitors decreased by 2.6% compared to the same period of the previous year. This could be due to several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions. Despite this, the Ticino tourism sector is optimistic and hopes to see an increase in overnight stays in the rest of the year as well.

The resumption of hotel overnight stays is important for the local economy, as the tourism sector is one of the main economic drivers of the Canton of Ticino. According to the estimates of the Federal Statistical Office, the tourism sector

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Key points

The recent statistics on hotel overnight stays in the canton of Ticino showed a slight recovery compared to previous years. In July, border crossers chose to stay in Ticino for a longer period of time, with an increase in overnight stays of 5% compared to the same month of the previous year.

This increase in overnight stays could have a positive impact on labour demand in the tourism sector. According to data provided by the Statistical Service of the canton of Ticino, in 2022, 70% of border crossers chose to stay in municipalities such as Bellinzona, Locarno and Lugano, which are known for their tourist attraction.

The resumption of hotel overnight stays could also be influenced by the legislation in force in the canton of Ticino. The Labour Act (LR 12.03) of 2003 states that frontier workers must comply with the same rules and regulations as Swiss workers. This means that border workers can work in the tourism sector without restrictions, but must still comply with the working standards and working conditions established by the local authorities.

For border crossers, the increase in overnight stays could mean an increase in tourism and, consequently, an increase in the demand for work in the tourism sector. Therefore, it is important to monitor the situation and consider any job opportunities in the industry.

Here are some examples of how frontier workers can take advantage of the recovery of

Evaluating a Ticino job offer? Simulate your net payslip: enter gross salary, marital status and municipality for a detailed breakdown.

Source: tio.ch

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the increased number of nights?
The number of overnight stays increased by 0.3% year-on-year.
Why did the recovery come from the domestic market?
The recovery came from the domestic market, with a 3.8% increase in the presence of residents in the Confederation.
Why have foreign visitors declined?
Foreign visitors decreased by 2.6%.

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