Swati Anand
5 Dec, 2006 Times News Network
SMS NEWS to 8888 for latest updates
BANGALORE: The Swiss goodie bag is overflowing — and we’re not just talking chocolates, cheese and Swiss knives. With India contributing to only 2.8% of the foreign tourist pie, Switzerland Tourism is offering a five-night vacation to the Alpine country on a shoestring budget of Rs 25,000 — flights, accommodation, et al.
“Most people perceive Switzerland as an expensive holiday because it’s in Europe. But the truth is that the free individual traveller (FTI) can enjoy almost a week in our country for as little as Rs 25,000,’’ Switzerland Tourism director Federico Sommaruga told The Times of India on Tuesday.
No wonder the FTI segment share has doubled to 50% in five years. Thanks to the secure environment, single women, too, take off on trips on their own. While there are no statistics to prove this, Sommaruga firmly believes that thanks to the strong Bollywood patronage — particularly Yash Chopra’s gossamer romance tales — a Swiss holiday is part of the Great Indian Middle Class Dream.
That’s probably why ‘scouting packages’ are being worked out for film industries across the country, wherein a team of 3-5 people can tour the country at reduced prices scouting for film locales.
Despite the romanticism, honeymooners aren’t very frequent from India. “That’s probably because of the mindset that the tourism season is April-July. Marriages largely take place in monsoon and winter. But now, in Switzerland, there is no offseason — anytime is a good time to visit us.’’
5 Dec, 2006 Times News Network
SMS NEWS to 8888 for latest updates
BANGALORE: The Swiss goodie bag is overflowing — and we’re not just talking chocolates, cheese and Swiss knives. With India contributing to only 2.8% of the foreign tourist pie, Switzerland Tourism is offering a five-night vacation to the Alpine country on a shoestring budget of Rs 25,000 — flights, accommodation, et al.
“Most people perceive Switzerland as an expensive holiday because it’s in Europe. But the truth is that the free individual traveller (FTI) can enjoy almost a week in our country for as little as Rs 25,000,’’ Switzerland Tourism director Federico Sommaruga told The Times of India on Tuesday.
No wonder the FTI segment share has doubled to 50% in five years. Thanks to the secure environment, single women, too, take off on trips on their own. While there are no statistics to prove this, Sommaruga firmly believes that thanks to the strong Bollywood patronage — particularly Yash Chopra’s gossamer romance tales — a Swiss holiday is part of the Great Indian Middle Class Dream.
That’s probably why ‘scouting packages’ are being worked out for film industries across the country, wherein a team of 3-5 people can tour the country at reduced prices scouting for film locales.
Despite the romanticism, honeymooners aren’t very frequent from India. “That’s probably because of the mindset that the tourism season is April-July. Marriages largely take place in monsoon and winter. But now, in Switzerland, there is no offseason — anytime is a good time to visit us.’’
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