Apply for Swiss visa through VFS

Hans Stalder, the Swiss consul general, said Sunday that Jeddah residents wishing to apply for a Swiss visa could now apply and receive the visa through VFS Global.
The consul general made the statement during an annual press conference held to promote tourism in Switzerland.
Stalder said that despite the closure of the Swiss Consulate in Jeddah, those who wish to travel to Switzerland could apply for the visa from the VFS office.
He said travelers must obtain the Schengen visa from the country they intend to travel to.
He also said that fake hotel reservation documents would lead to the cancellation of the visa application.
Matthias Albrecht, director of Switzerland Tourism in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, said that Switzerland aims to raise its tourism share from GCC states after attracting a record high of visitors in 2013.
Delegates from Switzerland Tourism and representatives of over 40 tourism destinations, companies and Swiss hotels will visit Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam and Qassim to promote tourism.
The GCC is the ninth biggest market for tourism in Switzerland, with Saudi Arabia in the lead position, registering a 10 percent growth rate in 2013. According to the statistics published by Switzerland Tourism, around 205,736 tourists from the GCC visited the country in 2013, marking an increase of 22.7 percent over the previous year.
The main destinations highlighted at the press conference for their spectacular views and natural beauty were Geneva and Lake Geneva region, Valais, Gstaad, Lucerne, Interlaken, Grindelwald, Zurich, Ticino, Bern, St. Moritz, Bucherer and Montreux Riviera.
To ensure high standard of satisfaction for Arab tourists, Switzerland Tourism has launched its online website www.switzerland.com/ar with 2,400 pages of Arabic content for information and easy reservations, including a database of luxury Swiss hotels and train tickets to facilitate travel.
“Our mountain journeys are spectacular. They almost take you up to the skies, where the air is clear, the views are inspirational and each moment is moving,” said Albrecht.
Tourists looking for exciting outdoor activities and hiking treks will enjoy Switzerland, he promised, adding that the country hosts many world famous annual events and festivals throughout the year, such as the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Art Basel, the Geneva Festival or the European Golf Open in Crans-Montana.