Swiss hotels recorded a 2.1% decline in overnight stays in August compared with the same month last year, the Federal Statistical Office (BFS) said in a first estimate released Tuesday.
Overnight stays from foreign guests fell 2.2%, while domestic guest nights dropped 1.9%, according to the BFS data.
The August result failed to sustain the modest recovery posted in July, when Swiss hotels recorded their first increase in four consecutive months of declines, lifted by stronger in-country demand.
Schweiz Tourismus painted a mixed picture for the full summer season, citing two opposing forces. Heat waves and a preference for security and stability supported demand among domestic, European and American travelers. But the Iran war drove sharp drops from Gulf states and Asia.
Mountain regions were the primary beneficiaries of the hot weather. In Graubünden, many Swiss guests left the heat in the lowlands for the mountains — for both overnight stays and day trips. Interlaken also emerged as a summer destination.
Cities faced headwinds from different sources. Zürich felt weakness from Asia and the Gulf states, compounded by missing flight connections from the Middle East and a strong Swiss franc. Geneva was hit by an absence of middle-income Arab visitors.
For the full year 2026, Schweiz Tourismus expects total overnight stays to fall 0.7%. Domestic stays are forecast to rise 0.9%, but foreign stays are expected to drop 2.4%.
The BFS will release a second estimate for August, along with initial origin-market data, on September 22. Definitive results with absolute overnight stay figures and detailed origin breakdowns will follow on October 5.
