Intrepid Swiss increasingly enjoy travelling abroad

Germany - popular with the Swiss. Berlin is one of the top tourist destinations in the country Keystone

On average, Swiss residents took three trips with overnight stays last year, of which two were to other countries, the latest travel statistics show.

According to a survey of 3,000 Swiss aged six years and older, nine out of tenExternal link (90.6%) packed their bags for at least one trip abroad in 2016, up from 88.4% in 2015, according to the Federal Statistical Office.External link

German-speaking Swiss were the most avid travellers, with an average of three trips with overnight stays. Meanwhile, the French-speakers travelled overnight 2.9 times, and the Italian-speakers 2.6 times.

One-third third of these trips took place within Switzerland, but 38% involved travel to a neighbouring country – mostly Germany (the most popular at 13%), Italy or France. Trips to another country in Europe comprised 21% of journeys, with excursions further afield comprising 8%.

However, France has slipped down the list of attractive destinations compared with last year, with slightly fewer trips at less than two million overnight stays (in 2015 it was over two million). Spain and Portugal saw more Swiss travellers, bringing those visits closer to the two million mark.

Most trips were holidays, followed by visits to friends and family. Business trips made up 6% of the journeys taken by the survey respondents.

Journeys with no overnight stay were also popular, with those polled reporting taking an estimated 10.2 day trips (defined as lasting longer than three hours) in 2016. These were mostly in Switzerland.