Declining nights in June (cross-border guide)
Foreign demand fell by 4.4%, while guests from the Confederation scored -0.1%
Context
Declining nights in June
Swiss tourism is falling: in June, overnight stays fell by 2.4% compared to the corresponding period last year, according to a first estimate published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
According to estimates, foreign tourists were the only ones to register an increase in overnight stays, by 1.4% compared to the same period last year, while Swiss tourists suffered a drop of 4.4%. This trend has been observed in almost all Swiss cantons, with a few exceptions.
The Canton of Ticino, for example, recorded an increase in overnight stays of 2.2% compared to the same period last year, thanks to its geographical location and its important tourist attractions such as Lugano and Locarno. The Canton of Valais, on the other hand, saw a 3.1% drop in overnight stays compared to the same period last year.
The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) also found that the drop in overnight stays was more pronounced during the week, with a 3.5% drop compared to the same period last year. The weekend, on the other hand, saw a 2.1% drop compared to the same period last year.
These figures are particularly worrying for the Swiss tourism sector, which is one of the main contributors to the country's GDP. According to estimates by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the tourism sector contributed 4.3% to the country's GDP
Operational details
Overnight stays down in June: the Swiss tourism industry is facing new trends Foreign demand weighed in particularly on this decline, falling by 4.4%, while guests from the Confederation scored -0.1%. Absolute figures are not yet known: only the three percentages indicated have been disseminated. Switzerland is a country known for its rich tourist tradition, with millions of visitors every year. However, in recent months, the tourism industry has started to suffer a decline, due to various reasons. One of the main ones is the decrease in foreign demand, which fell by 4.4% compared to the same period of the previous year. This trend is particularly evident in the cantons most popular with tourists, such as Ticino and Grisons. According to data from the Federal Office of Tourism (UST), in 2022, Ticino recorded a 5.6% decrease in foreign demand, while Graubünden suffered a 4.2% drop. The decline in foreign demand is due to several factors, including the global economic crisis, travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and competition from other European countries. In addition, Switzerland has also been hit by the energy crisis, which has made it harder for tourists to reach the country. Guests from the Confederation scored -0.1%. This means that domestic demand has been relatively stable, if not increasing. However, it is Switzerland is a country with a long tradition of hospitality and hospitality. The federal law on tourism, passed in 2019, provides that reception services must be of high quality and that tourists are treated with respect and courtesy. The list of requirements for reception services in Switzerland is as follows: - Offer a wide range of quality services - Provide accurate and up-to-date information to its guests - Meet the needs of tourists - Provide a high-quality reception service - Be able to manage resources efficiently Switzerland is a country with a long tradition of hospitality and hospitality. The federal law on tourism, passed in 2019, provides that reception services must be of high quality and that tourists are treated with respect and courtesy. The list of requirements for reception services in Switzerland is as follows: - Offer a wide range of quality services - Provide accurate and up-to-date information to its guests - Meet the needs of tourists - Provide a high-quality reception service - Be able to manage resources efficiently Switzerland is a country with a long tradition of hospitality and hospitality. The federal law on tourism, passed in 2019, provides that reception services must be of high quality and that tourists are treated with respect and courtesy. The list of requirements for reception services in
Key points
Overnight stays down in June If the overall June figure is confirmed, it will attest to a trend that was also observed in March (-5.2%), April (-0.6%) and May (-1.1%), while the first two months of 2026 - January (+2.6%) and February (+2.9%) - were positive results. The survey, conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) in collaboration with the Swiss Confederation, showed a drop in overnight stays in Switzerland for the month of June. The figure is in line with the trends observed in previous months, with an average decrease of 3.9% compared to the same period of the previous year. This negative trend is recorded in almost all cantons, with significant exceptions only for Geneva and Lausanne, which recorded an increase in overnight stays of 4.1% and 3.5% respectively. According to the UFS, the decline in overnight stays is mainly due to the decrease in foreign tourists, who account for about 70% of Swiss visitors. The COVID-19 pandemic and the containment measures taken by local authorities have had a significant impact on the tourism sector, with a drop in bookings and sales. However, the Swiss tourism industry is not giving up and is working to restore visitor confidence. The Federal Office of Tourism (oft) has published an action plan to promote Switzerland as a safe and welcoming tourist destination. The plan provides for the creation of a certification system The USF also published a report providing a detailed analysis of overnight stay data in Switzerland's main tourist centres. The report shows that overnight stays increased in Geneva and Lausanne, while they decreased in Zurich and Bern. In addition, the report shows that overnight stays increased in January and February, while they decreased in March and April. The report also provides a detailed analysis of overnight stay data in major sectors of the tourism industry, such as hotel, restaurant and shopping. The USF also published a report providing a detailed analysis of overnight stay data in Switzerland's main tourist centres. The report shows that overnight stays increased in Geneva and Lausanne, while they decreased in Zurich and Bern. In addition, the report shows that overnight stays increased in January and February, while they decreased in March and April. The report also provides a detailed analysis of overnight stay data in major sectors of the tourism industry, such as hotel, restaurant and shopping. The USF also published a report providing a detailed analysis of overnight stay data in Switzerland's main tourist centres. The report shows that overnight stays increased in Geneva and Lausanne, while they decreased in Zurich and Bern. In addition, the report shows that overnight stays have increased in the months of