TTG Asia Luxury May 2018 | Page 55

six years. Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of Singapore travellers in Switzerland stay at five-star hotels, for example, and 14 per cent of Taiwanese visitors, said Ivan Breiter, Switzerland Tourism director of South-east Asia. Switzerland expects an annual growth rate of about five to six per cent in the number of high-yield FIT and group travel from Asia-Pacific markets. “We see growth from all the Asia- Pacific markets. Very strong increases from Singapore, Australia, Taiwan, India and Thailand but also Japan and particularly South Korea,” said Breiter. His strategy to fuel the boom varies by market. In Australia, for instance, the focus is more on active luxury experiences for FITs. In South-east Asia, Switzerland Tourism focuses largely on incentive travel, while in Japan it is intensifying partnerships with additional luxury travel agents. “Our tourism infrastructure and price range are not set up for mass tourism, rather for guests that are looking for individuality, exclusivity and a luxury experience. Thus, as outbound travel from Asia-Pacific increases, we are getting more of the higher-end customers.” Gübelin’s director tourism, Beat Dreier, smells a whiff of “higher turnover” from bigger numbers of high-end FITs and small upscale groups from Asia. The well-known house of exquisite jewellery, gemstones and watches expects a yearly increase of six to eight per cent from the region. “Hong Kong is of course central to our family-owned Swiss company which dates back to 1854. We opened a branch (in Hong Kong) of our well-known Gübelin Gem Lab in 2010, then our Private Salon and the Gübelin Academy in 2013. But from the point of view of South-east Asia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia are relevant for us. We recognise their growing potential with good buying power, so we are targeting these markets, even though we have noticed that so far that their average spending is slightly lower than China’s. “We attend the first ILTM Asia-Pacific in Singapore to see new and old friends, meet new tour operators and MICE buyers from the entire Asia-Pacific who have business in Switzerland or intend to,” said Dreier. Gubelin expects six to eight per cent growth from Asia “Our tourism infrastructure and price range are not set up for mass tourism...thus as outbound travel from Asia- Pacific increases, we are getting more of the higher- end customers.” Ivan Breiter Director of South-east Asia, Switzerland Tourism TTG Asia luxury | May 2018 49