Strong summer season for Swiss lift co's

Swiss mountain railways have reported a positive outcome for the 2026 summer season. From the start of the season in May to its end, first-time visitors across Switzerland were 8% higher than the previous year. Compared to the average of the last five years, the increase is even 23%. Summer visitor numbers were increased again this year. This confirms the overall high demand for excursions and leisure activities in the Swiss mountains. This result is all the more gratifying because traditionally important customer groups from Asia were absent due to the crisis in the Middle East.

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 a conclusion to be drawn about the entire 2026 summer season (May to October).

Regional differences

The results vary regionally. The Bernese Oberland performed particularly well, with 26% more first-time entries than the previous year. Graubünden also recorded a significant increase of 9%. First-time entries were also higher than the previous year in the Vaud and Fribourg Alps (+7%), Central Switzerland (+5%), and Eastern Switzerland (+5%). Valais (+1%) was slightly above the previous year's level, while Ticino remained at the same level as the previous year (0%)

The performance in the Bernese Oberland was partly influenced by a special factor: the Schilthorn cableway operated on a limited basis last year due to renovation work. In Eastern Switzerland, the excursion destinations in the Alpstein, Heidiland, and Toggenburg regions performed particularly well. Several businesses achieved record highs during the observation period over the course of the summer season. The overall regional result was dampened by the closure of the Säntis cable car during its reconstruction. These two factors shaped the regional results throughout the entire season.

Growth especially among small and large mountain railways

A look at company size reveals differences in development. Smaller mountain railway companies with average transport revenue of up to 2 million Swiss francs closed the summer season with 13% more first-time visitors than the previous year. Large companies with more than 10 million Swiss francs in transport revenue also showed a significant increase of 10%. However, for medium-sized companies with transport revenue between 2 and 10 million Swiss francs, the number of first-time visitors remained almost unchanged at 0.5%.

The positive summer results are particularly evident at both ends of the size spectrum: both smaller mountain railways and large tourist providers were able to record more guests than in the previous year.

Mid-altitude areas with a significant increase

A clear gradient emerges when looking at the data by altitude. Mountain railways between 1,000 and 2,000 meters above sea level recorded by far the strongest increase compared to the previous year, at +12%. The change was considerably smaller for lower and higher-altitude facilities. First-time visitors to mountain railways below 1,000 meters above sea level increased by 1%, while those above 2,000 meters above sea level remained at the previous year's level. Thus, the growth of the 2026 summer season was concentrated primarily on mountain railways at mid-altitudes.

Significantly above the five-year average

The season's results confirm the positive development of the summer business for Swiss mountain railways. First-time visitors are not only 8% higher than last year, but at 23% also significantly above the average of the past five years.

Here too, the Bernese Oberland stands out with a significant increase of 54%. The Vaud and Fribourg Alps (+25%) and Central Switzerland (+22%) are also well above the long-term average. Graubünden (+11%), Valais (+8%), and Ticino (+7%) also show higher visitor numbers. In Eastern Switzerland, the number of first-time visitors is 10% below the five-year average. However, the regional result is heavily influenced by the suspension of operations of the Säntis cable car during its reconstruction and therefore only partially reflects the performance of the other mountain railways in Eastern Switzerland.

Summer business confirms its importance

“The mountain railways have invested heavily in attractive and diverse summer offerings in recent years. The encouraging visitor numbers show that this work is paying off and that summer is becoming increasingly important for the industry. Preparations for the upcoming winter season are now in full swing,” says Berno Stoffel, Director of Swiss Cableways.