Canadian interest in Switzerland is booming, making it an excellent destination for Canadian agents to focus on for the coming year.

Switzerland Tourism staged a wonderful event in Toronto’s Distillery District on Monday night, showing off excellent food and great Swiss wines (which isn’t easy given the liquor laws in Ontario). The event was held to highlight the offerings in the Lake Geneva and Matterhorn Region, which stretches from cosmopolitan Geneva through Lausanne and across to the world-famous Matterhorn.

Urs Eberhard, the delightful deputy CEO of Tourism Switzerland, said Canadian visits to his country are up 10.3 per cent since May.

“We have everything from palm trees to glaciers,” he said. “And we have the happiest cows in the world, which is perhaps why we make such great chocolate.”

Eberhard said Switzerland also is very Instagram-worthy.

“A sunrise yoga session on a mountaintop charges your batteries for the next two years,” he said with a smile.

Officials said the Air Canada route to Zurich from Vancouver likely is helping boost the Canadian visitation numbers.

Ursula Beamish-Mader of Swiss Tourism in Toronto told TravelPulse Canada that Switzerland Tourism works closely with agents.

“We have a special training program for agents and we often bring agents to Switzerland, usually through large consortia such as Virtuoso and Ensemble,” she said.

The Swiss Travel Mart is held every other year, she said, with 40 or so Canadian and US agents invited to learn about the huge variety of things to see and do in the country. The next travel mart will be in Lucerne next September.

Kristelle Gentina of Geneva Live Tourism, whose mother is Filipino and whose father is Swiss, Italian and French, told me the city is similar to Toronto in that there are immigrants from around the world, with great cafes, art galleries and lively bars and restaurants. The Carouge area is heavily Italian and is filled with artisan shops, she said, while The Bath is sometimes likened to New York’s SoHo district.

Not only that, but the glorious Alps are just a short drive or train ride away, which means you can ski during the day and then head to the city for great night life or shopping.

Virginie Baeriswyl Koulibaly, Director of Sales and Marketing North America for the Matterhorn Region, said the area around Zermatt is a “must-see” for Canadian visitors due to its natural beauty. There’s also great food, including local wines, apricot brandy, dried beef and, of course, the famous Swiss raclette.

“We have 45 summits in our region of 4,000 meters or more, and there are only 48 in all of Switzerland.”

The skiing, naturally, is superb, but there’s also great winter sports for average folks and wonderful hiking for people of all ages and abilities.

“Here at the crossroads of Europe, a visitor finds international shopping, world-class culture, famous spas, world-class skiing, vineyards, lodging at Grande dame hotels and charming chalets, and so much more,” officials said. “Home to more than 200 international organizations, the Lake Geneva & Matterhorn Region maintains a long tradition as a leading destination for business gatherings and incentive travel.

"At every turn, one is delighted by new discoveries – a classic storybook village, a contemporary architectural style, a breath-taking view. Colorful festivals and events showcase the region’s cultural traditions and are held throughout the year in virtually every city and village. This is also Switzerland’s most well-known food and wine growing region, thanks to its many scenic vineyards, elegant Michelin-star restaurants, and casual local establishments.

“The Lake Geneva & Matterhorn Region is at the center of the efficient Swiss transportation system, which includes, trains, cable cars and turn-off-the-century steamers that provide seamless transportation to every corner of the region many major cities throughout Switzerland and Europe. Further, air transportation is available from most major international gateways into Geneva International Airport.”

For more information: https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ca/home.html.