Switzerland Introduces A New Travel System

Switzerland Tourism and supplier partners from the Lake Geneva & Matterhorn Region, Interlaken and the Swiss Travel System hosted a media brunch at the Consul General of Switzerland’s private residence in West Vancouver yesterday.

Guests were updated on tourism developments throughout Switzerland, which has been dubbed the “adventure capital of Europe” for its range of outdoor activities, from skiing the Alps to jet boating and ice skating in Interlaken to hiking Lake Geneva’s shore path.

 Changes were announced to the public transportation system in Switzerland, as the Swiss Travel System revealed that the Swiss Pass will be changed to Swiss Travel Pass, effective Jan. 1 2015.

The Swiss Pass was launched 25 years ago exclusively for tourists, and unlike train passes in other European countries, its claim to fame is that it includes virtually all modes of train, tram and gondola transportation, as well as unlimited museum access.

The Swiss Travel Pass will still feature unrestricted free travel by train, bus and boat over 26,000 kilometres nationwide, 50 per cent off most mountain railways, and unlimited travel on municipal public transport in 75 towns and cities and admission to 480 museums throughout the country.

Isabella Ignacchiti Drüeke, marketing manager, Swiss Travel System, said some bonus benefits such as hotel and city tour reductions will no longer be included, but the Swiss Travel Pass will now be valid for three, four, eight  or 15 days, in keeping with the trend towards shorter-stay holidays.

Drüeke also announced the launch of the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland, a new year-round itinerary that highlights top excursion attractions, also included with the new Swiss Travel Pass.

“There were a number of suggestions that visitors make sure they are riding the most scenic routes, and most parts are covered with the Grand Train Tour from the Rhine in the North to Southern Switzerland, and many attractions,” Drüeke said.

The new Swiss Travel Pass is available through consolidator Rail Europe, and children travel free, up to 16 years of age when accompanied by parents holding Swiss Travel Passes.

The Grand Train Tour’s eight day itinerary takes travellers from Zurich down to Lugano via Schaffhausen, Montreux–Martigny–Zermatt, Lucerne and St. Moritz, but departure points and durations are flexible.

Air capacity to Switzerland from Vancouver is also set to increase next year, when Edelweiss Air adds a third seasonal weekly flight ion its YVR- Zurich route, beginning June 2 and running until Sept. 28 2015. Flights will operate Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

For more information, go to swisstravelsystem.com or raileurope.ca.

Photo: Urs Strausak, Consul General of Switzerland in Vancouver, Isabella Ignacchiti Drüeke, marketing manager, Swiss Travel System, Annie Neukomm, sales manager, Interlaken Tourism, Francois Michel, VP, marketing, Canton de Vaud Tourisme & Ursula Beamish, media relations manager, Switzerland Tourism.