Tourism is an important source of income. Visitors from abroad spent 15.6 billion francs in Switzerland in 2008.

Figures released by the United World Tourism Organisation ranked Switzerland 19th among world destinations for international tourism earnings in 2008, and 27th for the number of international visitors, which was estimated at 8.4 million.

Visitors from abroad accounted for about three per cent of Swiss GDP in 2008. Tourism is the fourth most important source of export revenue, after the metal and machine industry, the chemical industry and the watchmaking industry.

The tourist industry is also a major employer. In 2005, 4.4 % of the total Swiss workforce was employed in the sector, although this share is higher in mountain regions than it is in urban areas.

In 2007 the World Economic Forum found that Switzerland had the most competitive travel and tourism sector in the world.

The Swiss themselves also like travelling, with France the most popular destination for short trips, and Italy favoured for longer ones, according to 2003 figures.