GENEVA – Swiss tourism was expected to continue
to decline amidst the gloomy world economy in 2010 but a rebound was
likely in 2011, economic research institute BAK Basel Economics
reported Monday.

In its statement, BAK Basel Economics expected the Swiss tourism
sector to contract overall, with a 5.1 percent decrease in foreign
visitors and a 1.9 percent decrease in domestic tourism.

The Basel-based company predicted a 3.7 percent drop in overnight hotel stays from November to April 2010.

Swiss tourism started to decline during the 2008-2009 tourist
season, with hotel stays down by 5.7 percent, the sharpest decline
since the Second World War, according to BAK Basel Economics.

Revenues from ski lifts increased by 0.1 percent during the 2009
tourism season, a fact unlikely to be repeated in the coming year.

A stable recovery wasn't expected until the end of 2010, the statement said.

BAK Basel Economics predicted that Swiss tourism prospects will be
more favorable in the medium term, with an increase in demand of 1.9
percent in 2011. The number of overnight hotel stays was expected to
increase by 3.9 percent in the 2012 tourist season due to a 5.8 percent
uptick in the number of foreign visitors.