Refugee Crisis Not Affecting Tourism to Europe

Tourism to Europe has not yet been affected by the Syrian refugee crisis, which has seen tens of thousands seeking asylum in the European Union, says the head of Switzerland Tourism.

“Right now we don’t see any signs (of disruption),” Jurg Schmid, CEO of Switzerland Tourism, told PressToday correspondent Mike Baginski at the Swiss Travel Market in Zermatt on Tuesday.

Calling the flight of Syrians seeking escape from civil war there a “sad situation,” Schmid said he had not heard concerns from any European colleagues suggesting that chaotic images in the media of the flood of migrants trying to get into, and being accommodated in camps in, Europe are scaring off visitors. Schmid expressed concern that countries affected by violence and war in the Middle East were suffering as potential visitors go elsewhere.