Tourism expected to fall this year due to the war
Keystone-SDA
The war in the Middle East will lead to a “moderate decline” in overnight hotel stays this year, warns Switzerland Tourism.
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However, the industry’s promotional organisation is expecting stable demand during the summer period.
The marked slowdown recorded by the Swiss hotel industry in March (-5.2% year-on-year), the first full month to be marked by the outbreak of war, is not attributable solely to the war, but rather to calendar effects, Switzerland Tourism said.
Among these effects is the fact that the winter holidays ended in February in all regions this year, whereas in several major regions, notably Germany, they extended into March last year.
However, many industry players are confident about the summer, anticipating stable demand, particularly from domestic customers and those from neighbouring countries, in line with the trend towards ‘nearshoring’ – the preference for closer, more accessible destinations.
As for the “surprising” rebound in visitors from the Gulf States (+7.9%), this is also due to a calendar effect, since in March 2025 Ramadan fell, a period during which few people travel.
The war in the Middle East will inevitably leave its mark. For 2026, the organisation anticipates a 2-3% drop in overnight stays, describing the current situation as an “adjustment” that bears no comparison with the pandemic. “Back then, demand collapsed everywhere, whereas today it’s a question of postponements in certain markets.”
Only establishments dependent on the markets concerned are likely to feel the repercussions, but the industry as a whole should hold up well.
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Adapted from French by AI/mga
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