Switzerland Country & Tourist Information

Location
Western Europe.

Area
41,293 sq km (15,936 sq miles).

Population
7.5 million (2006 estimate).

Population Density
172 per sq km.

Capital
Bern.
Population: 127,650 (2007).

Government
Federal Republic since 1848.

Language
German in central and eastern areas, French in the west and Italian in the south. Romansch is spoken in parts of the southeast. English (as a second or third language) is widely spoken.

Religion
Roman Catholic (48%), Protestant (44%), others (8%).

Time
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of State
President Micheline Calmy-Rey (since January 2007).

Recent History
Switzerland has a long tradition of neutrality in its international relations, and is still not a member of the EU, following a negative vote in a referendum in 2001. Nine years earlier, membership of the European Economic Area was also rejected by referendum. Switzerland did, however, join the United Nations in 2002, and relations with the EU are now based on a wide range of bilateral agreements.

However, times are changing and, as a result of a popular vote, Switzerland joined the Schengen treaty and Dublin Convention in 2005, bringing the country into Europe’s passport-free zone and increasing co-operation on crime and asylum issues. A further referendum the same year opened the job market to workers from the 10 newest EU member countries.

Seats in the Swiss Parliament, based in Bern, are allocated by proportional representation and by canton size.  The largest party is currently the SVP (Swiss People’s Party).

Telephone
Country code: 41. Phonecards are available for use in payphones.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet
Internet access is available in Internet cafes and phone booths operated by Swisscom. Charges are payable by phonecard or credit card.

Media
The main broadcaster in Switzerland is the public Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. It operates seven TV networks and 18 radio stations. Most of its funding comes from license fee revenues, while a smaller proportion comes from TV advertising. Private TV and radio stations operate in the regions. TV stations from France, Germany and Italy are widely available, thanks in part to the very high take-up of multichannel cable and satellite TV. Some German commercial broadcasters provide tailored versions of their channels for the Swiss market. Switzerland’s press operates to a large extent along regional lines which reflect the country’s linguistic divisions.

Post
Airmail within Europe takes three days.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1200 and 1345-1830. Saturday closing is at 1100 except in major cities.

Press
• The high level of interest in local politics throughout Switzerland has led to a large number of regional newspapers.
• However, the most popular dailies are Corriere del Ticino (Lugano-based), Le Temps (Geneva-based), La Tribune de Geneve (Geneva-based), Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Zurich-based) and Tages-Anzeiger Zürich (Zurich-based).
• European and international newspapers in English, including The International Herald Tribune and USA Today, are also widely available.

Radio
• SR-DRS, the German-language public broadcaster, operates five stations.
• RSR, the French-language public broadcaster, has four stations.
• RSI, the Italian-language public broadcaster, broadcasts from three stations.
• RR is a Romansch-language public radio station.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
2 Jan* Berchtold's Day.
10 Apr* Good Friday.
13 Apr* Easter Monday. 
21 May* Ascension. 
1 Jun* Whit Monday.
1 Aug National Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
2 Jan* Berchtold's Day.
2 Apr* Good Friday.
5 Apr* Easter Monday. 
13 May* Ascension. 
24 May* Whit Monday.
1 Aug National Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

Note
(a) * These holidays may not be observed in certain cantons. (b) There are additional regional holidays which are observed in certain cantons only.

Contact Information:

Switzerland Tourism in Switzerland (main office)
Tödistrasse 7, 8027 Zürich, Switzerland
Tel: (44) 288 1111 or 00800 1002 0030 (international toll-free) or 011800 1002 0029 (toll-free from US & Canada).
Website: www.myswitzerland.com

Embassy of Switzerland in the UK
16-18 Montagu Place, London W1H 2BQ, UK
Tel: (020) 7616 6000 or 09065 508 909 (recorded visa information).
Website: www.swissembassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200.



Switzerland Tourism in the UK
1st Floor, 30 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9ED, UK
Tel: (020) 7420 4900 or  00800 1002 0030 (toll-free in Europe).
Website: www.myswitzerland.com

Embassy of Switzerland in the USA
2900 Cathedral Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 745 7900.
Website: www.swissemb.org

Switzerland Tourism in the USA
608 5th Avenue, Swiss Center, New York, NY 10020-2303, USA
Tel: (212) 757 5944 or 1 877 794 8037 (USA-only) or  011800-1002 0030 (international toll free).
Website: www.myswitzerland.com


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