When we enter #switzerland in the Instagram search bar, a succession of landscapes, each more beautiful than the last, appears before our eyes. We always see fields of grass as far as the eye can see, majestic mountains whose most famous peak is the Matterhorn, streams, but also adorable little houses typical of Swiss villages. It’s undeniable, Roger Federer’s country is home to magnificent settings worthy of a postcard. A few years ago, Switzerland was not in the spotlight as much. It was talked about more for its tax advantages, but today it is one of the most exposed and coveted destinations of the moment.
Who is Nemo, the Swiss artist who won Eurovision 2024? The answer in video:
We learned at the end of August that the city of Basel was designated host city for the next edition of Eurovision. Switzerland actually won the competition last May thanks to the performance of Nemo, a young non-binary artist aged 25. As tradition dictates, it is therefore the country of the winning candidate which organizes the upcoming competition.
The least we can say is that the Eurovision effect is already being felt in Basel, a city of around 190,000 inhabitants known for its tranquility and its cultural offerings. We simulated a search for accommodation on Booking for one night on May 17 and 18, the weekend during which the competition will be held in 2025. The platform tells us that “98% of establishments are not available on our site on your dates “. Housing is not only more scarce, but above all expensive. Very expensive… An entire accommodation of 30m2 with one bedroom and one bathroom costs €1,938 for one night. Individuals sensed a good plan by deciding to register as soon as Basel was announced as the host city. An apartment recently available on Booking of 54m2 can be rented at… €4,161 per night.
Eurovision represents a real opportunity for Basel. The city will be highlighted during the weekend of May 17 and 18 and even a few days before with the semi-finals. There is no doubt that the event will also offer a new, more festive side of Switzerland.
In 2024, the best travel agents are influencers and social networks. “They bring diversity in the choice of destinations. They help us discover other places, but also other ways of traveling. Tourism agents and tour operators do not have the speed of reaction as travel influencers and travel media who look for new trends and know how to highlight off-the-beaten-track destinations,” explained Maximilien Lejeune, co-founder of the European Best Destinations platform.
Through publications and videos, influencers help us discover a city or country. Switzerland is no exception to the rule. Julia Flabat and Eddy Papeoo are a couple of French influencers followed by 614,000 and 683,000 people respectively. Their credo? Let us follow their road trip adventures through stories and reels. The duo has already traveled the world accompanied by their children. They went to French Polynesia, the Philippines, Peru, New Zealand… Destinations far from home that make many people dream. However, Julia Flabat and Eddy Papeoo decided to go to Switzerland this summer. The photos and videos of their trip are sublime with images of Lauterbrunnen, renowned for being the most heavenly village in Europe, the vineyards of Lavaux located in the heart of the Swiss Riviera, the mountains with a short explanatory text on the conditions of hiking.
In comments, Internet users are seduced by the beauty of the Swiss landscapes. Some do not hide their desire to explore the country: “I want to go and discover Switzerland”, “Beautiful, I don’t know Switzerland at all but I clearly want to go there”, “I Write this hike in my To do Life. It makes me dream so much!” can we read in the comments. Influencers contribute to Switzerland’s influence on the current tourism scene. The country still has a bright future ahead of it with such publicity.
Switzerland shines in the tourism sector, but not only that. The country is also making a name for itself on the international culinary scene. At the beginning of September, we learned of the opening of PIC, the new restaurant of Anne-Sophie Pic, the most starred chef in the world. The place is located in one of the most beautiful palaces in Lausanne, the Beau-Rivage. PIC obviously refers to the name of the chef, but is also a nod to the neighboring Alpine peaks. Anne-Sophie Pic has been at the head of the palace’s two-starred restaurant for 15 years, but the establishment reopened its doors after two years of renovation to better reinvent itself with more light, a new bar with drinks with and without alcohol .
Switzerland is also starting to enter cooking competitions, slowly but surely. A Swiss candidate participated for the first time in the Top Chef show this last season in the person of Pierre-Pascal Clément who recently opened his restaurant in Fribourg, his hometown. While the Belgians are very often represented in the culinary show, the Swiss are more discreet. This first appearance on Top Chef proves that Switzerland intends to influence the culinary scene and beyond.
To stay on the food theme, discover Scopa in images, a focaccia bar located in the heart of Brussels:
