Switzerland targets India
Tuesday June 30, 2009 - Email this article to a friend

It seems an unlikely market as, let’s face it, we don’t see many people from India on the ski slopes of the Alps.

However small groups do visit Switzerland and the resorts are trying to attract them as tourists as much as skiers. 

The most important travel time for Indians is at the end of April through to the end of June, which fits in well with many ski resorts as it is between the winter and summer seasons.

They mainly visit Interlaken, where they visit the Eiger, and Lucern where they visit the Titlis mountain above Engelberg. 

Revolves to Indian musicWhen in Engelberg they often take over the revolving lift to the top of the mountain and apparently special  arrangements are made to play Indian music over the loud speakers. 

Thomas Schetty from the Zermatt tourist office has just returned from a business trip to India to test the market.
 
“They know Switzerland from Bollywood movies, reports in newspapers, television, books and other media and I’m confident they will love it in Zermatt,” he confidently predicts. “Zermatt is already a growing destination on the Indian market and I reckon it will expand’.

Already the resort of Verbier is trying to get the Indian business.

Kuoni is offering guests a holiday in Verbier for 55,000 rupees (£800) per person per week.

 “The Indian traveller has evolved and now seeks holidays with a great and interesting experience and this is a segment that will drive the Indian tourism industry in the future.” said Haresh Koyande, from Kuoni Holidays, India.

Here at PlanetSKi we’d love to see more Indians enjoying skiing and snowboarding and of course it would be great to have some Indian restaurants too.

However we’re not sure if we want to go as far as having piped Indian music in the ski lifts – lets just keep that as a one off in Engleberg.

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