Russians have tasted lakes of Switzerland

Those Russian tourists who usually come to the Swiss ski resorts are now considering a vacation on an Alpine lake as an alternative to banal beach leisure. “After the recession two years ago we now see the increase of summer tourist flow” – says the Head of Almanac Tour Company Ms. Maria Kachinskaya. She estimates the growth of the demand on summer tours to Switzerland at around 10% year-on-year. The tourists take interest in such resorts as Lugano, Askona, Luzern and Interlaken. Geneva Lake and Leikerbad’s thermal springs are of great interest as well. The Russians also go for dynamic activities such as mountain trekking, horse riding and water skiing. There is a noticeable demand on weight-loss, recreational and relaxation programs.

The cost of an itinerary has increased by 10-15% owing to higher hotel and airfare prices. But the Russians’ preferences haven’t changed a bit. They still book 4-5-star hotels. However lately along with luxury hotels the Russians have been staying in holiday apartments. It is the most convenient option to accommodate an entire family with kids, grandparents, nannies etc. Mostly they come for 1-2 weeks, although some stay for up to 2 months.

In 2008 when Switzerland has entered the Schengen Agreement new possibilities opened for Russian tourists. “We used to sell mostly 7 to 10-day itineraries, but today more and more customers want to stay in Switzerland for a couple of days or a weekend, because many of them have Schengen multi-visas issued in other EU countries” – notes Ms. Kachinskaya.