2 Tourist accommodation statistics

2.1 Tourist accommodation in Switzerland

2.1.1 Demand in tourist accommodation

In 2017, tourist accommodation in Switzerland – that includes the hotel sector and supplementary accommodation – counted a total of 53.3 million overnight stays (G2.1.1). This corresponds to a rise of 5.7% compared with the demand from 2016. The hotel sector represents the largest share of the demand with just over 70% of overnight stays recorded.

2.1.2 Swiss and foreign demand

Swiss clientele accounted for 52.1% of the overnight stays recorded in Swiss tourist accommodation in 2017 (G2.1.2a). In terms of foreign demand, European visitors generated the most overnight stays with just over 30% of the total demand. Demand for supplementary accommodation mainly came from Swiss visitors (more than 65%) (G2.1.2b), while in the hotel sector, Swiss demand was less substantial (45.2%) (G2.1.2c).

2.1.3 Breakdown for monthly demand

In tourist accommodation in Switzerland in 2017, the greatest number of overnight stays was recorded in the months of July and August (G2.1.3). 13.7 million overnight stays were counted in these months alone, i.e. 25.7% of the annual demand.

2.1.4 Change in demand in the countries neighbouring Switzerland

In comparison with the European results (EU28), Swiss tourist accommodation in 2017 showed an analogue but nonetheless more marked development in overnight stays (G 2.1.4) with an increase of 5.7% (versus 4.7% in the EU28) in relation to 2016. ­Increases were also observed in neighbouring countries ­(Germany, France, Italy and Austria).

In 2017 at European level, the number of overnight stays generated by both non-residents and residents grew (+4.8% and +4.5% respectively, compared with 2016). This trend has been also observed for all countries neighbouring Switzerland. For ­Switzerland, the scenario was virtually identical: overnight stays showed an increase both by residents (+5.3%) and non-residents (+6.2%).

2.2 Hotel sector results

2.2.1 Supply in 2017

In 2017, there were, on annual average, 4369 open hotels and health establishments in Switzerland, corresponding to 130 053 rooms and 250 990 beds available (G2.2.1a). The distribution of the establishments differed according to the tourist regions. Graubünden had the largest proportion (14.0%), followed by the Bern Region (13.1%). The national average capacity of a hotel establishment was 57 available beds (G 2.2.1b).

2.2.2 General change in supply

In 2017, a total of 4878 establishments and 141 404 rooms were surveyed in the hotel sector in Switzerland. The number of establishments decreased in comparison with 2016 (–71 establishments/–1.4%) (G2.2.2a), whereas the number of rooms increased (+1074 rooms/+0.8%). Among the tourist regions, the supply, in terms of establishments, also declined in 10 in 13 ­regions between 2016 and 2017. As far as the number of rooms was concerned, 8 in 13 tourist regions followed the same trend as that observed at national level.

Over a comparative period of 10 years (G2.2.2b), the number of surveyed establishments diminished greatly. Thus in 2008, the number of surveyed establishments totalled 5582 in Switzerland, corresponding in absolute terms to a decline over this period of more than 700 units (–12.6%). As far as the number of rooms was concerned, a drop could also be observed in comparison with 2008 but this was much less marked than for the number of establishments (–275 rooms/–0.2%). For this period, all the tourist regions saw a decrease in supply for the number of establishments. Ticino registered the greatest decline with 126 fewer establishments (–24.1%). Of the 8 regions registering a decrease in the number of rooms, Ticino also registered the greatest decline (–1763 units/–16.1%).

2.2.3 General trend in demand

To better appreciate the results of the demand in the hotel sector in Switzerland, these should be correlated with the striking economic events which have occurred over the past ten years.

This decade has been marked by economic growth at international level with the exception of 2009 (a year during which the decrease can be attributed to the world economic crisis). At national level, the year 2011 was characterised by a strong rise in the Swiss franc's value against the Euro and other currencies (cf. G5.7). On 6th September 2011, the introduction of the minimum exchange rate by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) stabilised exchange rates, which nonetheless remained far lower than in previous years. On 15th January 2015, the SNB announced the end of the minimum exchange rate, resulting in renewed strength of the Euro compared with the Swiss franc. In the following two years, although the Swiss franc regained some ground against the Euro it never reached its pre-2015 level.

Over the past ten years, the evolution in the total number of overnight stays in hotels and health establishments in ­Switzerland has been diverse (G2.2.3). A total of 37.3 million overnight stays were reached in 2008, which was the best result since 1990. However, this growth came to a halt the following year. In 2009 a strong decline in demand was observed (–4.7% compared with the previous year). Despite a slight recovery in 2010 (+1.7%), the number of overnight stays fell again in 2011 and in 2012 (–2.0% for each year). The trend was reversed for the years 2013 (+2.5%) and 2014 (+0.9%), however renewed decreases were observed for the years 2015 (–0.8%) and 2016 (–0.3%) A strong improvement in demand was seen in 2017 with a total of 37.4 million overnight stays recorded (+5.2%), meaning that for the first time in ten years a level greater than that seen in 2008 was registered.

2.2.4 Change in domestic and foreign demand

Looking back on the past 10 years, foreign and domestic demand in the hotel sector generally followed the same trends between 2008 and 2010 (G2.2.4). From 2011 to 2012, however, differences were seen between both types of demand. On the one hand, domestic demand was quite stable although foreign demand showed a sharp decrease (2011; –3.5% / 2012; –3.3%). In 2013, however, a positive trend was observed for both types of demand. This continued in 2014. Although the increase in overnight stays for Swiss clientele continued in 2015 and 2016, demand from foreign clientele saw a significant decline once again. Finally, in 2017, foreign demand recorded 20.5 million overnight stays, i.e. a strong increase of 6.1% (+1.2 million overnight stays) compared with 2016. Domestic visitors generated 16.9 million overnight stays, representing a marked increase of 4.2% (+675 000 overnight stays).

2.2.5 Change in demand from Europe

In 2017, demand from Europe (excluding Switzerland) registered 11.9 million overnight stays, representing an increase of 2.2% (+255 000 overnight stays) compared with 2016 (G2.2.5a). Nonetheless, over the past ten years, this increase was an exception. Demand from European guests has seen sharp decreases over this period. Between 2008 and 2017, overnight stays by these visitors fell by more than 28%.

Among the main visiting countries from this continent (those with more than 600 000 overnight stays in 2017), ­Germany was emblematic of this trend (G 2.2.5b). As of 2009, visitors from this country have registered continued declines in overnight stays (with the greatest decrease seen in 2015 with –12.3% compared with 2014). Despite a slight improvement in 2017 (+1.1%), overnight stays by this clientele have fallen by 40.7% since 2008. The ­Netherlands also followed the same trend and registered a strong decrease during this period (–43.9% between 2008 and 2017). In general, for the other main visiting countries, despite rises for some of these the decrease between 2008 and 2017 remained strong.

2.2.6 Change in demand from Asia

In 2017, demand from Asian visitors in the hotel sector registered 5.2 million overnight stays, exceeding the symbolic threshold of 5.0 million overnight stays for the first time (G2.2.6a). This result represents a rise of 12.8% compared with 2016. In ten years, demand from these visitors has seen strong growth, especially from 2010 onwards, with annual increases of between 9.9% and 18.6%. The only exception was 2016 in which a slight drop was observed (–3.4%).

Among the leading countries of origin from the Asian continent (those with more than 400 000 overnight stays in 2017), two countries stand out for their very strong growth over the past ten years (G2.2.6b). Firstly, overnight stays by Chinese clientele (excluding Hong Kong) increased from 214 000 in 2008 to 1.4 million in 2015. This result declined slightly in 2016 and despite a renewed increase in 2017, it still remained below the record level of 2015. The Gulf countries have also observed a very marked increase with more than twofold growth in overnight stays over this period. In contrast, Japan, which was still the greatest contributor to demand from the Asian continent in 2008 with 500 000 overnight stays (close to the 600 000 units seen in 2006), has slowly but steadily seen its number of overnight stays fall. An improvement was nonetheless seen in 2017 (+13.1%) but the level of overnight stays only slightly exceeded the 400 000 mark.

2.2.7 Change in demand from America,
Africa and Oceania

In the hotel sector, demand from visitors from the American continent registered a total 2.8 million overnight stays in 2017, i.e. an increase of 12.3% compared with 2016 (G2.2.7a). Since 2010, overnight stays by visitors from this continent have regularly increased, the total number of overnight stays in 2017 was more than a third higher than their total number in 2008. For 2017, visitors from the United States, who constituted the greater part of the demand from this continent with more than 70% of overnight stays, generated more than 2.0 million overnight stays i.e. growth of 11.5% compared with 2016 (G2.2.7b). In 2017, visitors from Oceania posted 365 000 overnight stays (+12.7%) and those from Africa 272 000 units (–2.3%).

2.2.8 Change in demand by tourist region

In 2017, all thirteen tourist regions in Switzerland saw their number of overnight stays in the hotel sector increase compared with the previous year (G2.2.8). Among these regions, the Bern Region saw the sharpest increase with an additional 387 000 overnight stays (+8.2%). This was followed by the Zurich Region with 340 000 more units (+6.0%).

However, considering the last five years as a whole, the good results for 2017 were an exception for some regions. This was mainly the case for Graubünden and Valais that saw consecutive annual declines between 2013 and 2016. In contrast, 2017 was in keeping with continuity for most city regions: the Zurich Region took the top spot with an increase of 691 000 overnight stays (+13.1%) between 2013 and 2017.

2.2.9 Duration of stay

In 2017, visitors stayed an average of 2.01 nights in hotels and health establishments in Switzerland. This duration was, however, longer for foreign visitors with 2.07 nights than for Swiss visitors with 1.95 nights.

Over the past ten years, the length of stay at nationwide level has gradually decreased (G2.2.9a). In 2008 it was 2.33 nights with a duration of 2.50 nights for foreign visitors and 2.14 nights for Swiss visitors.

Among the tourist regions, Graubünden recorded the longest stay in 2017 with 2.7 nights (G2.2 9b). In contrast, the shortest length of stay was observed in the region of Fribourg (1.60 nights). At national level, too, the length of stay was longer for foreign clientele than for domestic visitors in the majority of tourist regions. The greatest difference was observed in Graubünden where foreign visitors stayed for an average of 3.13 nights whereas Swiss visitors stayed for 2.49 nights.

2.2.10 Occupancy rate of rooms

In 2017, the net room occupancy rate in hotels and health establishments was 52.9% (51.3% in 2016) nationally (G2.2.10). This was the highest rate in the last five years. This rate varied considerably depending on the tourist region. The highest rate for 2017 was recorded in Geneva with 66.3%. The region of Eastern Switzerland registered the lowest rate with 39.7%. Compared with 2016, all tourist regions saw a rise in their net room occupancy rates. The greatest increases between the two years were observed in Ticino (2016: 48.7%; 2017: 52.0%).

2.2.11 Change in demand in the countries neighbouring Switzerland

In the EU28 in 2017, overnight stays in the hotel sector increased by 4.9% (G2.2.11). An increase was also seen in Switzerland (+5.2%) and in the countries neighbouring Switzerland.

Overnight stays by residents (+3.1%) and non-residents (+6.6%) increased in the EU28 and in the countries neighbouring ­Switzerland. This was also the case in Switzerland, where overnight stays by residents showed an increase of 4.2% and overnight stays by non-residents an increase of 6.1%.

2.3 Supplementary accommodation results

In the supplementary accommodation sector, the statistic covers three main types of accommodation: commercially-run holiday homes, collective accommodation and campsites. In order to present information from the supplementary accommodation sector as comprehensively as possible, the results are broken down by each type of accommodation.

2.3.1 Supply in supplementary accommodation

A) Holiday homes

In 2017, a total of 32 514 commercially run holiday homes were counted in Switzerland (G2.3.1a). In terms of beds, this represented a capacity of 159 063 units. If we consider the distribution of holiday homes by Switzerland’s seven major regions, the Lake Geneva Region has the largest share with 47.3% of the total. This was followed by Eastern Switzerland with a share of 27.6%.

B) Collective accommodation

At national level, there were 2482 collective accommodation units, i.e. a total of 116 640 beds were surveyed for the year 2017 (G2.3.1b). At major region level, Espace Mittelland had the greatest share of establishments (26.8%) closely followed by the Lake ­Geneva Region (24.5%).

C) Campsites

The total number of campsites surveyed in Switzerland in 2017 was 406, i.e. 30 744 rental pitches for passing guests (G2.3.1c). In terms of distribution at major region level, Espace Mittelland (27.3%) and the Lake Geneva Region (25.6%) recorded the largest number of establishments.

2.3.2 Demand in supplementary accommodation

A) Holiday homes

In 2017, overnight stays registered in holiday homes reached a total of 7.3 million nationally, i.e. an increase of 7.5% compared with 2016 (G2.3.2.1a). Swiss guests generated 4.4 million overnight stays (+6.2%). Foreign clientele accounted for 2.9 million units (+9.6%) of which 85% came from European visitors. At major region level, the Lake Geneva Region counted the greatest number of overnight stays in 2017 with a total of 3.2 million units (G2.3.2.2a).

B) Collective accommodation

Demand for collective accommodation corresponded to 5.4 million overnight stays for 2017, an increase of 2.4% compared with the previous year (G2.3.2.1b). Swiss visitors accounted for the largest share of overnight stays with 4.3 million units. Demand from foreign visitors reached 1.1 million overnight stays. European visitors generated almost three quarters of these stays (74.4%). Two major regions alone represented more than half of overnight stays in Switzerland. These were the Lake Geneva Region and Espace Mittelland each with 1.4 million units (G2.3.2.2b).

C) Campsites

For 2017, campsites in Switzerland counted a total of 3.2 million of overnight stays, which represents an increase of 13.9% compared with 2016 (G2.3.2.1c). 2.1 million overnight stays could be attributed to Swiss clientele (+20.1%) and 1.0 million to foreign visitors (+2.8%). It should be noted that 97.0% of these foreign visitors came from Europe. As for the two other types of supplementary accommodation, the Lake Geneva Region recorded the greatest number of overnight stays with 838 000 units. It was followed by Ticino with 749 000 units (G2.3.2.2c).

2.3.3 Breakdown for monthly demand

A) Holiday homes

Overnight stays in holiday homes were mainly concentrated at the start of the year (G2.3.3a). The period from January to April represented half of the total number of overnight stays (50.1%) generated in 2017. The months of July and August were also an important period in terms of overnight stays accounting for a quarter (25.3%) of overnight stays registered.

B) Collective accommodation

The monthly breakdown of demand in collective accommodation in 2017 highlighted the fact that overnight stays were mainly generated in summer, more precisely between June and ­September (G2.3.3b). The share from these four summer months represented 46.6% of the annual overnight stays with a peak in July and August (28.7% of the 2017 total for both of these months accumulated). The period from January to April also showed a number of overnight stays that was consistent with a share of over one third (34.6%) of the annual demand.

C) Campsites

Showing strong seasonal variation, demand in campsites was unsurprisingly almost entirely concentrated over the summer period (G2.3.3c). More than two thirds of overnight stays (67.5%) were recorded between June and August.

2.3.4 Duration of stay in supplementary
accommodation

A) Holiday homes

The average length of stay in holiday homes in Switzerland reached 6.76 nights (6.71 in 2016) (G2.3.4a). However, this value varied by major region. Indeed, in Eastern Switzerland it was 7.37 nights (7.34) and in the Lake Geneva Region it was 6.79 nights (6.54), i.e. the longest durations at this regional level. In contrast, Northwestern Switzerland registered the shortest value of 4.56 nights (5.17).

B) Collective accommodation

In 2017, the average length of stay in collective accommodation nationally was 2.60 nights (2.56 in 2016) (G2.3.4b). Among the major regions, Eastern Switzerland registered the longest stay with 2.93 nights (3.09). This was followed by Ticino with 2.87 nights (2.20).

C) Campsites

For campsites, the average length of stay in 2017 was 2.92 nights (2.88 in 2016) for Swiss territory (G2.3.4c). This duration reached 3.73 nights (3.75) in Ticino, i.e. the highest among all the major regions. This was then followed by the Lake Geneva Region with 3.14 nights (3.03).

2.3.5 Change in demand in the countries neighbouring Switzerland

The increase in overnight stays in the EU28 in the supplementary accommodation sector rose by 4.4% (G2.3.5). Like its neighbouring countries, Switzerland recorded a far more marked increase with a rise of 6.9%.

Overnight stays by residents of the EU28, increased by 6.6% while those by non-residents rose by 1.8%. For both Switzerland and its neighbouring countries, demand from both residents (+7.0%) and non-residents (+6.6%) showed considerable increases.