Statistics on tourist accommodation in June 2011 and in the first semester – Increase in overnight stays in June; decrease in the first half of 2011
Neuchâtel, 5.8.2011 - According to provisional results from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the Swiss hotel industry registered 3.3 million overnight stays in June 2011. This corresponds to a growth of 2.8% (+91,000 overnight stays) compared with June 2010. Domestic visitors generated 1.4 million overnight stays, i.e. an increase of 6.6% (+84,000 overnight stays). Foreign visitors generated 1.9 million overnight stays, which represents a slight increase of 0.4% (+7100 overnight stays). To neutralise the effect of the Ascension and Pentecost holidays (in June in 2011 and in May in 2010), it is necessary to cumulate the results from May and June. Thus, 5.8 million overnight stays were registered during these two months, which corresponds to an increase of 1.3% compared with the same month in 2010. Domestic visitors registered an increase of 1.7% while foreign visitors showed an increase of 1%. The cumulative number of overnight stays for the first half of 2011 was 17.4 million. This represents a slight decrease of 0.2% (-36,000 overnight stays) compared with the same period a year earlier. With a total of 9.9 million overnight stays, foreign demand showed a decrease of 0.9% (-95,000 units). Domestic visitors registered 7.6 million overnight stays, i.e. an increase of 0.8% (+59,000 overnight stays).