Good start to the summer for the Swiss lift co's

Swiss mountain railways have had a generally good start to the 2026 summer season. From the beginning of the season to the end of June, first-time visitors across Switzerland are 5% higher than the previous year. Compared to the five-year average, the increase is even 35%. However, the development varies regionally and is influenced by special factors .

For its seasonal monitoring, the Swiss Cable Car Association (SBS) analyzes the number of visitors (first-time entries) from over 140 members throughout Switzerland. The figures now available allow for an analysis of the start of the 2026 summer season, from May to the end of June.

Positive development at the start of the season

The weather conditions at the start of the season could hardly have been more different: a cold and often overcast May was followed by an exceptionally hot June. The heat in the Swiss Plateau drew many people to the mountains for some relief from the heat. Overall, the mountain railway industry recorded a successful start to the season.

Bernese Oberland as a growth driver

The season started particularly well in the Bernese Oberland. The region's mountain railways recorded 29% more first-time visitors than last year. This puts the Bernese Oberland significantly above the Swiss average of 5%.

While Ticino (-1%) remained unchanged, visitor numbers in Graubünden (-2%), the Vaud and Fribourg Alps (-4%), Valais (-5%), and Central Switzerland (-7%) were slightly below the previous year's level. Eastern Switzerland saw a significant decline of 20%.

The strong growth in the Bernese Oberland is primarily due to the exceptionally high demand at certain major excursion destinations.

Special effects in Eastern Switzerland and the Bernese Oberland

The decline in eastern Switzerland is due to the temporary shutdown of the Säntis cable car for its renovation. Excluding this one-off effect, the result remains stable (0%).

In the Bernese Oberland, the strong growth is primarily attributable to the Schilthorn cableway, which operated on a limited basis last year due to renovation work. Without this one-off effect, the region's growth of +4% would be roughly in line with the Swiss average.

Significantly above the long-term average

The comparison with the five-year average is even more positive. Across Switzerland, the number of first admissions is 35% higher than the long-term average.

The comparison with the average of the years 2021 to 2025 is particularly positive due to the pandemic-related low frequencies in 2021 (pandemic-related travel restrictions) and 2022 (recovery), especially in the Bernese Oberland, which is heavily influenced by long-distance markets in the summer.

The Bernese Oberland stands out with a particularly high increase of 78%. Besides the Bernese Oberland, the Vaud and Fribourg Alps (+38%), Central Switzerland (+28%), and Graubünden (+26%) also show significantly higher visitor numbers than the average of the last five years. Valais is 16% above the long-term average and Ticino 13% above. Only Eastern Switzerland remains below the five-year average at -9%.

Here too: The negative overall result is due to the reconstruction work on the Säntis mountain. Eastern Switzerland, excluding the Säntis, will be around 10% above the five-year average in May/June 2026.

Safe Switzerland and the good demand mix

Besides the weather, international conditions also influence demand. In an environment characterized by geopolitical uncertainties, Switzerland continues to be perceived as a safe, stable, and high-quality travel destination. Therefore, international markets have not collapsed as drastically as feared. And the mountains remain places of longing for the Swiss population. This is also emphasized by Berno Stoffel, Director of the Swiss Cable Car Association: "Switzerland's stability is proving to be a competitive advantage, especially in the international market. Guests from North America and other long-haul markets, as well as domestic visitors, are looking for authentic nature experiences and high-quality summer activities. This contributes to the increasing establishment of summer tourism as an important second pillar for the cable car industry."