The Swiss hotel sector recorded a marginal increase in overnight stays in July, as domestic demand offset a decline in international visitors. According to the second estimate from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the number of overnight stays rose 0.6% year-over-year to 4.1 million, following four consecutive months of declines.
Domestic travelers accounted for the majority of the increase, with Swiss guest nights up 4.1%. In contrast, foreign arrivals fell 2.3%, driven by significant reductions from key Asian markets. Overnight stays from Indian tourists dropped 16.8%, while those from Gulf states and China declined 11.4% and 10.6%, respectively. Demand from the U.S. remained broadly stable, with a slight increase of 0.2%.
European markets showed mixed results. Germany, the Netherlands, and France posted gains of 5.3%, 5.2%, and 2.3%, respectively. However, the UK saw a sharp decline of 21.8%, while Italy recorded a 2.1% decrease. The overall trend for the first half of 2025 was negative, with overnight stays falling 0.7% to 20.3 million compared with the same period last year.
The FSO is scheduled to release the final July figures on September 4. The July uptick provides a tentative rebound after a challenging first half, though achieving the record levels of 2024 will require a strong second half.
