Media Release

Zurich Airport, 7th January 2020

Edelweiss Reveals the 2020 Travel Trends

The Swiss love to travel – and it starts with the joy of holiday planning. But the vast choice of destinations on offer can make it hard to know where to travel to. So how about some inspiration for your next trip? Edelweiss, Switzerland’s leading leisure travel airline, knows which destinations are currently on trend and which types of travel are especially popular among the Swiss.

”I don’t mind where we go, provided it’s somewhere warm.” Especially in late autumn and winter, when the weather gets chilly, the Swiss like to head to warmer climates. As in previous years, destinations in Florida, the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean will rank among the most popular winter getaways in 2020. All of these locations offer beaches, year-round sunshine and warm temperatures, making them preferred choices for escaping the Swiss winter. Edelweiss Chief Commercial Officer Patrick Heymann: “Whereas the climate in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic is ideal for travel at any time of year, these holiday destinations are less crowded in spring and autumn. As for the Seychelles and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, air and water temperatures rarely drop below 20 degrees Celsius.”

Patrick Heymann also invites travellers to consider less known destinations: ”Holidaymakers interested in colourful markets and oriental culture may want to consider visiting Agadir instead of Marrakesh. And cycling enthusiasts can book their cycling holiday on the island of Menorca instead of Mallorca.” Patrick Heymann’s tip for more extensive travel tours: ”Plan your trip so that it does not match the direction of standard travel routes. For instance, start your tour of Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City, instead of Hanoi.”

A holiday for body and soul – and with activities

Whether it be winter or summer, the Swiss enjoy a good beach holiday – though it must always include activities: “Our guests don’t want to spend their entire holiday on a beach basking in the sunshine. They want to be active and experience things – which is why so many of them take advantage of our free transport of sports baggage. This means they can travel with their surfboard, bicycle or golf bag,” Patrick Heymann adds. The Swiss also like to spend action-filled holidays in more distant places – and unsurprisingly so: whereas Mauritius, San Diego and Cancún attract visitors with ideal sports weather and golf courses with ocean views, Cape Town and Florida are a magnet for water sports aficionados.

Individual and deeply relaxing travel

Holidaymakers looking to relax won’t be short-changed this year either. Wellness travel and health holidays are clearly on the up. When the Swiss choose to escape the bustle of everyday life and focus on self-optimisation, they want more than just a few massages in their respective hotel – which is why they opt for specialised wellness and relaxation retreats ranging from Ayurveda sojourns in Sri Lanka, through yoga camps in Greece, to detox holidays in Thailand.

The general trend is away from all-inclusive holidays. The Swiss like to venture outside their hotel resort and explore the area on their own accord. This is something Patrick Heymann encourages doing: ”Popular all-inclusive holiday destinations, such as the Dominican Republic or the Seychelles, offer a wide spectrum of cultural and scenic highlights as well as authentic experiences that are definitely worth enjoying.” In other words, head out of your hotel and into your holiday adventure!

About Edelweiss

Edelweiss is Switzerland’s leading leisure travel airline and flies to the most beautiful destinations in the world. With a fleet of 16 aircraft, the airline operates flights to 72 destinations in 32 countries. Every year, more than 2.7 million passengers fly with Edelweiss to their holiday destination and enjoy a relaxing travel experience. This includes great service on board provided with the warmth, reliability and hospitality that Edelweiss is known for. Edelweiss is a sister company of Swiss International Airlines (SWISS) and a member of the Lufthansa Group.

Further information:

Andreas Meier
Head of Corporate Communications
Edelweiss Air AG
media@flyedelweiss.com