Switzerland Experiences Rise In FIT

Anindita Chattopadhyay - New Delhi

Plans Switzerland Specialist Programme To Retain Trend

Ritu Sharma

Call it boon in disguise. Switzerland experienced a 65 per cent rise in FIT travel from India in 2003 because tour operators had to cancel group tours. "In the beginning of May, many operators had to cancel group tours due to Iraq war resulting in a 28 per cent dip in traffic. Then June and July saw a sudden spurt in FIT travel because group tours were not on offer. Whoever chose to travel had to go on their own or in small groups of two-three families," explained Ritu Sharma, marketing manager - India, Switzerland Tourism. Despite the initial drop in traffic, the country ended the year 2003 notching 200,000 room nights, which was same as 2002. However, in January 2004 the graph was up again with bookings already double compared to the same time last year. The FIT trend, Sharma pointed out, had been growing over the last few years as young turks who had once travelled on group tours were opting for tailor-made packages the second time round and staying longer to experience Switzerland better. In fact, people are even travelling much beyond the peak season.

"In October end, there was a big incentive group from India," she informed. Yes, a rise in high profile incentives is another new trend that Switzerland is experiencing. As Sharma puts it, "There's a change in mindset now. Corporates, it seems, are segregating incentive groups and sending the top-ends to Europe. We had 100-strong groups from Videocon and Maruti. Hawkins approached us to find out the best five-star hotel for a 100-strong group they took on a five-star package." Dovetailing with the trend, the NTO is starting a Switzerland specialist programme for travel agents to increase their command over the product and sell the destination better.

"We have been running the programme successfully in other countries. The programme will include internet based learning aids, onsite education trips in Switzerland and local training sessions. Specialist agents would then get a referral on our site," stated Sharma.

Has the pulling out of Swiss from Delhi affected the numbers? "Yes and no both. A void has been created no doubt for lack of direct flights, but numbers have not been much affected as Swiss was never carrying groups. Groups usually travel by Emirates or KLM. Further, because of its central location any itinerary includes a minimum of three nights in Switzerland. With Turkish Airlines now flying in, Emirates planning to increase flights and Alitalia planning to start Delhi operations with four flights, we are not really worried," she summed up.

New Offerings

Mystery Park in Interlaken, which opened on May 24, 2003, is the new attraction on the block. Situated in a breathtakingly beautiful landscape between two lakes and at the foot of the snow-covered Alps of the Bernese Oberland, it's a very different theme park, which presents the unexplained and yet very real mysteries of the world. Raphael Perdrizat, manager marketing and sales, Mystery Park is confident that his product will click with FIT travel soaring because individual travellers are interested in something new and more fascinating.

"This seven pavilion park, one of its kind, combines education and adventure. My target is to have 6,000 people from India this year and 15,000 in 2005. We will include Indian vegetarian meals in the menu of the self-service restaurant inside the park. Groups can make reservation in advance to have lunch inside the park," said he summing up his plans to woo Indians.

"Interlaken being the gateway, a typical itinerary includes two-nights (one-day trips to Schilthorn and Jungfrau), thus registering one-third (60,000) of the total room nights in Switzerland. We are interested to increase the room nights by another day and are meeting tour operators to convince them to include a half-day trip to Mystery Park in the itinerary," said Stefan Otz, GM Interlaken Tourism.