2017年CRI China and Switzerland see steady growth of bilateral tourism flow

 

Statistics from the Swiss government show that 2015 saw a 33% increase in the number of hotel bookings by Chinese tourists. It is part of a trend that has been taking place over the past decade.

China has for the first time become the fourth largest source of tourists for Switzerland, behind only Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Simon Bosshart, an official with Switzerland Tourism, says finding a common link with Chinese visitors has become a key strategy in promoting Switzerland.

"With the Beijing Olympics in 2022, the interest in winter sports is clearly rising in China. We are proud to say that our resorts are more and more ready to welcome Chinese guests in an appropriate manner. For example, we have 19 ski resorts which offer one-day ski experiences out of this winter. These are experiences for absolute beginners who want to give it the first try. Another example, ten resorts are providing Chinese ski instructors¹ upon previous requests of booking with Chinese-speaking ski lessons."

Beyond winter sports, Switzerland's famed natural scenery and rich culture are also a major draw for Chinese travelers. Ren Zhicheng, who currently studies in France, is among those who have decided² to take some time out for a Swiss vacation.

"We first went to Montreux, then Lausanne and now Geneva, so from small to large cities. We have taken our time and made interesting discoveries. The atmosphere in Switzerland is more relaxed and serene³. "

Bosshart suggests the country's leisurely⁴ pace is a growing appeal for Chinese tourists, which he says also helps deepen bilateral⁵ understanding and exchanges.

"With Chinese guests traveling slower and more individually, they remain with the time to get in touch with the locals. We are strongly convinced of the role that tourism plays in this people-to-people exchange. "

That sentiment is shared by Chinese tourism officials who are promoting China to the Swiss public.

Chen Chen heads the representative office of China's National Tourism Administration in Switzerland.

"Both Switzerland and China are well-known tourist destinations, each with unique, abundant resources and experiences in developing tourism. With increasing cooperation between the two sides, we are not only supporting our domestic sectors⁶ but also the global tourism industry, as well as our bilateral ties."

While the number of outbound Swiss tourists to China has remained relatively⁷ small, Chen says China has become one of the top destinations for Swiss people who travel to Asia. In 2016, around 73,000 Swiss tourists traveled to China, which is around 1% of the total Swiss population.

1 instructors   

指导者，教师( instructor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The instructors were slacking on the job. 教员们对工作松松垮垮。
• He was invited to sit on the rostrum as a representative of extramural instructors. 他以校外辅导员身份，被邀请到主席台上。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 serene   

adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的

参考例句：

• He has entered the serene autumn of his life.他已进入了美好的中年时期。
• He didn't speak much,he just smiled with that serene smile of his.他话不多，只是脸上露出他招牌式的淡定的微笑。

4 leisurely   

adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的

参考例句：

• We walked in a leisurely manner,looking in all the windows.我们慢悠悠地走着，看遍所有的橱窗。
• He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work.他从容的吃了早餐，高兴的开车去工作。

5 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

6 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。