The number of visitors to Switzerland rose 6% this summer, but this headline figure hides some steep rises and falls. From May to October 2017, 11 million people holidayed in Switzerland, 644,000 more than the over same period in 2016. Swiss made up close to half the total (4.9 million), followed by Germans (950k), Americans […]
Switzerland continues to suffer a shortage of childcare, says report
Across the country there is less than one childcare place for every three preschool-aged children, according to a recent OFAS report. There are wide regional variations. French-speaking cantons have the highest numbers of nursery places. In Geneva, there are 29 full-time places for every 100 preschool-aged children. Neuchâtel (27) and Vaud (26) are next. Cantons […]
More Swiss marrying foreigners
About one in four residents of Switzerland is an immigrant, and the country welcomes them – as long as they are willing to integrate into Swiss culture. Perhaps one measure of integration success is the rising number of internationally mixed marriages. In 2016, there were 15,100 mixed marriages in Switzerland, 36% of all marriages. Over […]
Swiss trust in institutions remains high compared to rest of world
Earlier this month, the bank Credit Suisse published it’s annual survey, which looks at the level of trust Swiss have in government (The Federal Council, Parliament and States Council), courts (Federal Tribunal), banks, police, NGOs, public administration, internet and television, among other things. Overall 60% of Swiss trust the Federal Council, Switzerland’s executive branch of […]
Vote to abolish Swiss TV tax likely to pass, according to survey
Tribune de Genève. Many are unhappy with Switzerland’s compulsory broadcasting fee and a popular vote aimed at scrapping it is scheduled for spring next year. A recent survey done by the newspapers SonntagsZeitung and Le Matin Dimanche show 57% of those surveyed will vote to have the fee axed. Only 34% were in favour of […]
Poorly integrated foreigners risk losing residence permits
Last week, the Swiss government opened discussions on new rules on the integration of foreigners, part of its carrot and stick approach to improving integration and lowering the high rates of unemployment among this group. According to Le Matin, changes, adopted last December and due to come into force on 1 January 2018, are the […]
Switzerland rises in good country index in 2017
After slipping In 2016, Switzerland gained ground in Simon Anholt’s 2017 good country index, which measures how much positive impact countries have beyond their own borders. Anholt is an independent policy advisor, mainly to governments, who started the index three years ago. He describes nations that do good abroad as “good countries”, pointing out that “good” […]
Geneva bans burkinis in swimming pools
Tribune de Genève. Last week, the municipality effectively banned burkinis from the city’s pools. A new rule says women wishing to enter the pool must wear a one or two piece swim suit that leaves arms bare and goes no further than the knees. Skirts and bath robes are not allowed. Invented in Australia by […]
Poverty risk high for Swiss pensioners despite high spending
A recent OECD study, which looks at retirement, shows the relatively large amount spent on pensioners in Switzerland. Switzerland consumes 11% of its GDP on retirees, compared to 9% across OECD nations. Despite this high spending, the risk of poverty is higher in Switzerland than across the OECD. According to the organisation, 19% of those […]
Basel’s Fasnacht festival gets UNESCO cultural heritage status
All those weird masks (and the people behind them) that are so much a part of Basel’s annual Fasnacht festival have a new reason for their crazy grins. The annual 3-day festival was just added to the UNESCO list of events exhibiting the “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”. With this list, UNESCO “seeks to protect […]
