TORONTO — Switzerland Tourism is seeing good numbers from the Canadian market, with an increase in arrivals this winter over last winter and a positive trend so far for 2017, says Switzerland Tourism’s Director, North America, Alex Herrmann.

“We set an all-time record in 2015 and achieved a solid result in 2016,” he said. The latest overnight numbers from Switzerland’s Federal Office of Statistics show a 1.1% increase from the Canadian market, compared to 2016.

Herrmann hosted travel media and tourism reps from Switzerland’s top regions at ‘Road-to-Switzerland’, a road show that kicked off yesterday in Toronto. The ‘Road-to-Switzerland’ events are a new format for the tourism organization, said Herrmann. The roadshow stops in Toronto, Chicago, New York, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco with participation from some 40 regional partners.

St. Moritz, Switzerland reps Flurina Caviezel and Thorsten Frohn

Ursula Beamish and Evelyn Lafone, Switzerland Tourism

The roadshow marked the launch of Switzerland Tourism’s new interactive global e-learning program. “Travel professionals around the world and across North America have asked us for more training options. We listened and created the new ‘Switzerland Travel Academy’ together with USI, the Università della Svizzera italiana in Lugano. It will be available in more than 10 countries including Canada, the U.S., the UK, Brazil, Spain and Germany,” said Pascal Prinz, Manager Trade Relations and responsible for agent training in North America.

With the new e-learning program, travel professionals can specialize in areas such as outdoor activities, lifestyle travel, the Grand Tour of Switzerland, or specific Swiss regions. In three hours agents can become certified Switzerland Travel Experts. The site is mySwitzerland.com/academy.