Gotthard Tunnel gives Ticino tourism a boost
One year after the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel, Italian-speaking canton Ticino has seen a “more than positive” development in overnight stays.
Between January and October, the number of overnights increased by 7.7% compared with the same period for 2016. This is the best result for seven years, according to Ticino TourismExternal link.
June even saw growth of 13.6%, while the number of overnight stays in October was 16.3% higher than October 2016.
The 57km (35-mile) Gotthard, the longest rail tunnel in the world, opened in December 2016 after 17 years of construction. It speeds up the connection between north and south on a major rail axis in Europe, slicing right through the rock in the Gotthard mountain range.
+ First full day of service for Gotthard rail tunnel
Ticino had already seen an upturn in the tourism sector in 2016, with an increase in overnights of 4.6%, the first in almost 20 years. This was the largest increase in Switzerland, Ticino Tourism pointed out.
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