TORONTO — It was another record year for Canadian arrivals and overnights to Switzerland.

According to tourism data from the Swiss Federal Office of Statistics, there was a 9.6% increase in Canadian arrivals in Switzerland in 2018, for a total of 126,198.

The number of overnight stays was 270,959, an increase of 9.4% compared to 2017.

“Canadians feel rejuvenated and truly alive during their vacation in Switzerland. They enjoy exploring the unique mix of four European cultures, the Swiss Alps, quirky boutique towns and our scenic trains,” says Pascal Prinz, Director Canada, Switzerland Tourism.

Prinz adds: “With even more direct flights from Canada in 2019, it’s easier than ever before to discover Switzerland on its own or as a perfect hub on every trip to Europe.”

The most popular destinations were the Zurich Region with 76,344, the Geneva Region with 50,982 overnights and the Valais with 24,244.

With 33.6% more overnights in 2018, the Basel Region recorded the biggest growth in Canadian visits. The overall growth from Canada is mostly in the big cities, followed by the mountain regions.

In 2019 Switzerland Tourism will stay on its ‘Back to Nature’ path with a focus on hiking. Swizerland is home to more than 65,000 kilometers of trails, so virtually every corner of Switzerland is waiting to be discovered on foot, adds Prinz.