Swiss economic outlook is more positive after a tariff deal with the US; an avalanche warning is issued for parts of the Alps; and more news in our roundup this Thursday.
Swiss economic forecast brightens due to tariff deal with the US
The economic climate in Switzerland has improved significantly following the new trade agreement with the United States, which lowered tariffs from 39 to 15 percent.
Analysts surveyed by UBS and the CFA Institute now expect exports to pick up over the next six months, anticipating a marked improvement in export dynamics.
Some 40 percent of economists – a quarter more than in October- now expect an upturn over the next six months.
Government issues ‘high’ avalanche warning for parts of the Alps
Due to massive snowfall of the past days at altitudes above 1,500 metres, the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SFL) has set the avalanche alert level at 4/5 (high) for certain regions.
The rest of the Alps are currently under a level 3/5 (considerable) warning, with “several significant slides” already recorded in the areas presenting a considerable danger.
The orange colour indicates where the risk of avalanches is highest at the moment.
Image: SFL
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US travel guide warns Americans against travel to a famous Swiss destination
In its list of eight destinations around the world that should be avoided by tourists in 2026, Fodor’s travel guide has included one of Switzerland’s most spectacular sites: the Jungfrau region in the Bernese Oberland.
The reason to give this area a miss, according to Fodor’s, is that it “faces a key challenge: balancing booming tourism with the preservation of its environment and local quality of life. The area’s popularity strains natural resources and the daily lives of residents.”
Not surprisingly, locals don’t agree with this assessment.
“Our tourism is certainly not comparable to the mass tourism in prominent locations worldwide,” said Marc Ungerer, head of the regional tourism office.
In fact, “thanks to the high visitor numbers, public transport and our mountain railways in particular have been able to invest in unparalleled infrastructure, from which the entire region now benefits.”
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SWISS plans to scrap super-cheap fares
Short-haul tickets for under 100 francs may soon be a thing of the past.
According to the airline’s CEO Jens Fehlinger, these ultra-cheap airfares to European destinations “will no longer be realistic due to the price of environmentally-friendly fuels.”
“They cost significantly more than conventional kerosene. We will have to use more of it, and this is not sustainable in the long term with low fares.”
However, he added that the airline ” will do everything to maintain fares that are as fair as possible because flying must remain affordable.”
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