'I see tremendous potential in Bangalore'

Forging Ties

Considering that the snow-covered Alps are a regular feature in Indian cinema, it’s safe to assume that most Bangaloreans are aware of the beauty of Switzerland. Stephan Heuberger, director- India, Switzerland Tourism, says that his country has been able to attract quite a bit of attention from Indians.

“It is not just the Hindi film industry which has featured our country. Many movies down South have also been shot there. Many from the Tamil film industry have gone to Switzerland in the past and are continuing to show interest,” he informs.

He also points out that many actors and actresses make it a point to holiday at Switzerland. “Many actors have their favourite spots in Switzerland and love coming to the country for leisure trips. Its proximity to other countries like France, Germany and Italy is also a huge plus point for tourists,” says Stephan.

He adds that there is a large number of visitors to his country from Bangalore, as well as other parts of Karnataka.

 “Scores of people from Mysore have also paid visits to Switzerland. I see tremendous potential in Bangalore. People are young, well-educated and organised. They not only have the financial capacity, but also the wish to visit Switzerland. Every city in India is different and has its own charm,” he adds.
Throwing more light on the tourism options in Switzerland, he says that the country is full of little places which are worth a visit.

“The public transport is extremely good and hence, there is no need to book a car. It is remarkable that the level of awareness on Switzerland is so high among people here. People who visit the country create a lot awareness regarding their visit,” he states.

Stephan emphasises the fact that getting the documents to visit the country isn’t tedious, and that he is working closely with tour operators to make sure the process is smooth.

He adds that while earlier, people wanted to visit popular tourist destinations like Lucerne, Zurich and Geneva, they now want more. “Tourists now seek an experience when they come to our country. Adventure sports like skiing and bungee jumping have also become really popular. They want to stay in a quiet village and take a walk, so as to enhance their experience of visiting the country,” he sums up.