Advertisement

Switzerland cautions against international holidays ‘until 2021’ due to coronavirus

The Local
The Local - [email protected]
Switzerland cautions against international holidays ‘until 2021’ due to coronavirus
Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Swiss authorities have warned against travelling abroad until 2021 due to the uncertainty created by the coronavirus.

Advertisement

Editor's note: On Wednesday, April 29th, Erik Jakob clarified his statements, saying it was purely a personal rather than an official recommendation. 

Erik Jakob, head of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, warned on Monday that residents of Switzerland shouldn’t plan on travelling internationally before 2021. 

During a press conference flanked by Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) spokesman Daniel Koch, Jakob highlighted the uncertainty surrounding international travel. 

“On a personal recommendation, I would postpone trips abroad until next year”, Jakob said. 

Jakob said that even if air travel started up again, it would remain uncertain for a considerable period of time. 

Jakob also cautioned against driving across land borders, saying that while it may not be out of the question in 2020, it could not be guaranteed. 

The statement came after Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told the NZZ on Sunday that he couldn't see borders being opened to traffic coming from either direction until well after the summer. 

Advertisement

Domestic travel?

For anyone in Switzerland experiencing wanderlust, the Swiss authorities did however indicate they would be looking to boost domestic tourism in 2020. 

In order to minimise the risk from the coronavirus, Switzerland Tourism is planning a coordinated reopening which aims to direct visitors to different locations all across the country to ensure that “hotspots” are not overloaded. 

Tourism sector won’t return to normal until 2022

During the press conference, Jakob highlighted that Swiss tourism operators were likely to experience a drop in demand of up to 80 percent in 2020. 

Jakob also said that he expected the impacts on the industry to be long lasting, with things unlikely to return to normal until 2022. 

 

 

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

Anonymous 2020/04/28 12:22
Does anyone have updates on travel ban from European countries to Switzerland? I am from Sweden and my partner leaves in Switzerland, I have not been allowed in the country since the 25th of March. Is there any information on that matter and when they will open Shengen again? Thank you!

See Also