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Swiss Representative Discusses Skiing In Switzerland

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In recent years more Taiwanese have taken up skiing. While many head to the slopes of Hokkaido, Japan, there is also a wide range of resorts to choose from in Europe. FTV’s Jinny Chang spoke with the Swiss representative to Taipei, Rolf Frei, to learn more about the popular resorts and tourist amenities his country offers. The southwestern town of Zermatt, located near Switzerland’s border with Italy, is at the foothills of the Matterhorn, one of the most iconic mountains in the Alps. Home to the highest elevation ski resorts in Europe, Zermatt has a maximum lift elevation of 3,883 meters. Skiing from here is like starting a run at the top of Yushan. No wonder the region is known for its long ski runs.Rolf FreiSwiss Representative We have in Switzerland around 30 ski resorts, which are on high altitudes, over 2,800 meters. That means you’re sure to have snow. Compared to resorts in the United States and Japan, those in Switzerland offer wide vantages. Few trees block your line of vision to the peaks that wrap around the resorts. The majestic scenery is one of the highlights of skiing in Switzerland. Records from a ski association in Taiwan show that more people are traveling abroad each year to ski. In 2013, 8,000 skiing trips were made, and in 2014 the total exceeded 10,000. To compete in this market, travel agencies are introducing a variety of itineraries. Rolf Frei, who began serving as Switzerland’s representative to Taipei over two months ago, starting skiing at age 3. By the time Frei was a teenager, he had received a coaching license. Frei says that coaches today must not only be adept at skiing but also at languages.Rolf FreiSwiss Representative Now what is also happening in Switzerland, when you compare them to other countries, is that they trained Chinese-speaking instructors. To attract more Asian tourists, ski resorts provide diverse peripheral facilities. Taiwanese tourists can be found at resort hot springs that source clean, mineral-rich water from the Alps. The hot springs experience in Switzerland differs from the experience in Japan that Taiwanese are most familiar with. Hot springs excursions last several hours and feel more like hydrotherapy. They involve switching between indoor and outdoor pools.Rolf FreiSwiss Representative There is one hot spring I really like. It’s in the eastern corner of Switzerland. It’s a place called Scuol. It’s just the scenery there. You have the hot spring pool, you’re outside and you have Jacuzzi there. Tourism is one of the most important sectors in Switzerland. With more than 150,000 full-time jobs, it contributes about 3 percent of GDP. Rolf FreiSwiss Representative Actually Switzerland is the origin of winter tourism. So this year, 150 years ago, the first tourist came in from England. In 1865, a group that included English mountaineer Edward Whymper became the first to ascend Matterhorn. From this time forward, adventurers from around the world came to Zermatt to emulate the route this group followed. This helped kick start Switzerland’s tourism industry.July 14 this year marks the 150th year since the first ascent of the Matterhorn, and Zermatt will stage traditional events and outdoor activities to celebrate. For those who would also like to have a taste of Switzerland during the summer season this may be a time to visit.
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SWITZERLAND
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