According to the Swiss national tourism association on Thursday, visitors from Asia are forecast to boost the recovery of Switzerland's tourism industry in 2023.

During 2020 and 2021, the number of foreign visitors to Switzerland plummeted as countries introduced travel restrictions to curb the spread of Covid.

However, last year, overnight stays in the country rose 29% to just under 2019 levels as restrictions were eased, coupled with a successful marketing campaign featuring tennis star Roger Federer and Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway.

Furthermore, visitors to Switzerland from the US more than doubled last year compared to 2021, reinforced by the Dollar's appreciation, making destinations in the country more affordable, Reuters reports.

Swiss Tourism now forecasts visitor numbers to the country to stabilise this year before increasing in 2024 and 2025.

"2023 is going to be the return of the Asian markets. Americans and Europeans have already returned in 2022," said Martin Nydegger, director of Switzerland Tourism.

"In 2023, it's going to be the battle for Asian attention. We see the rise of South East Asia, the Gulf states, and we feel that the Chinese market is going to change its travel patterns," he told Reuters news agency.

Nydegger added that overnight stays by Chinese tourists registered a substantial increase last year yet remained around 20% of 2019 levels.

"Tour operators tell us demand is high," Nydegger said in reference to Chinese tourists. "It's going to gradually increase."

In addition, the president of the country's hotel association, HotellerieSuisse, Andreas Zuellig, is optimistic about US and American visitors to Switzerland in 2023 but remains cautious about Chinese visitor numbers.

"Where I have doubts is the Chinese markets, and I don't think it will come strongly back to the levels before the crisis because of the geopolitical tensions between Europe, NATO, the US and China," he said to Reuters.