Switzerland Country Travel Advice Report
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Intelligence and Analysis Services
Country Travel Advice Report
Switzerland
Overall Risk Rating: Negligible - Low | 1.75
Drum Cussac Group Limited Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:43 (UTC)Intelligence and Analysis Services
Contents
Country Risk Rating Breakdown ................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Country Overview ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Security
Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Political
Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Infrastructural
Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Environmental
Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Medical
Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Fact Box ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Travel Risk Advice ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Threat Scale Reference ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Drum Cussac Group Limited 2 Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:43 (UTC)Intelligence and Analysis Services
Country Risk Rating Breakdown
Country Overall Risk Rating Negligible - Low | 1.75
Security Environmental Infrastructural Political Medical
Negligible - Low | 1.75 Low | 2.00 Negligible - Low | 1.50 Negligible | 1.25 Moderate | 3.00
Drum Cussac Group Limited 3 Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:43 (UTC)Intelligence and Analysis Services Country Overview Negligible - Low | 1.75 Switzerland is a landlocked country in Western Europe, bordered by Germany to the north, Austria and Liechtenstein to the east, Italy to the south, and France to the west. The official languages are German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Switzerland is a federal parliamentary democracy and holds legislative elections once every four years, with constituent areas divided into Cantons according to language. The political system is very stable and operates under the Federal Constitution of 1848. The current government does not face any threats to its stability. Switzerland has a stable economic environment and welcomes foreign investment. The primary threats to foreign travellers within Switzerland are petty crime, which predominantly occurs in tourist areas, and weather-related hazards. The country's communications, medical, transportation, and utilities infrastructure are well-developed. Security Negligible - Low | 1.75 Overview The most significant threat facing travelers to Switzerland is from petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching, particularly in the main cities of Bern, Zurich and Geneva. The country does not face any conflict risk. Concern regarding terrorism has grown in recent years to include the possibility of Islamist domestic-based terrorism, although the risk of attacks is believed to be lower than in some other European countries. Political Negligible | 1.25 Overview Switzerland's society and political system are very stable. The country faces no significant internal or external threats to its stability. Infrastructural Negligible - Low | 1.50 Overview Switzerland maintains a wide array of safe transportation options and travelers face no serious risks traveling to or within the country. Winter conditions in alpine areas may make travel by car difficult for those who are not accustomed to the local driving environment but local authorities are highly capable of dealing with these conditions. Environmental Low | 2.00 Overview There is a risk of avalanches during the winter months in Switzerland's alpine region. Mountain search and rescue insurance is strongly recommended for those who travel to mountainous areas. Heavy rains also occasionally lead to flooding in low-lying areas. Medical Moderate | 3.00 Overview Visitors do not face significant health risks while traveling within Switzerland. Medical facilities are excellent and present in both rural and urban areas. Pharmacies are well-stocked with supplies and medication. Drum Cussac Group Limited 4 Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:43 (UTC)
Intelligence and Analysis Services
Fact Box
Government
Federal republic (formally a confederation)
Type
Population 8,286,980 (2015)
Currency Swiss Franc
German (official) 63.5%, French (official) 22.5%, Italian (official) 8.1%, English 4.4%,
Languages
Portuguese, Albanian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, Romansch (official)
Time Zone UTC+1
Religions Roman Catholic 38.2%, Protestant 26.9%, other Christian 5.6%, Muslim 5%
Traffic Drives on the right
Plug Types Type C and Type J
Ethnicities German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Drinking
Safe to Drink
Water
Significant Dates:
January 1 - New Year’s Day January 2 - Saint Berchtold’s Day January 6 - Epiphany March
1 - Republic Day March 19 - St. Joseph’s Day April 10 - Good Friday April 13 - Easter
Additional
Monday May 1 - Labour Day May 12 - Ascension Day June 9 - Pentecost June 10 -
Information
Pentecost Monday June 11 - Corpus Christi June 29 - St. Peter and St. Paul’s Day August 1
- Swiss National Day August 15 - Assumption of Mary November 1 - All Saints’ Day
December 8 - Immaculate Conception December 25 - Christmas Day December 26 - St.
Stephen’s Day
International
Country +41
Code
Drum Cussac Group Limited 5 Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:43 (UTC)Intelligence and Analysis Services
Travel Risk Advice
Vaccinations and Key Health Risks
You should visit a health care professional at least four to six weeks prior to the trip. Travellers should ensure that they have routine vaccination
courses and boosters. Routine vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella (chickenpox), polio, and
annual flu vaccine.
Dependent on work, reason for travel, or underlying health conditions, some travellers visiting may require vaccines from:
Tick-Borne Encephalitis
Rabies
Pre-departure
Travellers should have adequate travel insurance in place to enable rapid medical treatment in the event of an emergency.
Travellers should provide friends and family with a copy of their travel itinerary, and make a copy of important travel and identification documents
to keep on their person.
On Arrival
There are no significant measures to undertake on arrival in Switzerland.
In Transit
Public transport is generally safe, and self-driving may be conducted.
At Your Hotel
There are no significant measures to undertake at hotels in the country.
In the Street
Travellers should avoid overt displays of wealth and displaying money, jewellery or valuables in public.
Travellers should use only small denominations of the local currency, and keep large amounts of cash and cards in a separate place on their
person.
Travellers should ensure that their mobile phone is carried with them at all times and that it has sufficient battery life and is programmed with
appropriate emergency numbers.Travellers should also carry an ID card or passport and any emergency medical information.
Travellers should avoid walking through dimly lit streets after dark.
In crowded situations, travellers should be aware of jostling as this may be used as a ploy by pick-pockets. Travellers should also be aware of
people loitering, and attackers who may first pass their victim to attack from behind.
Avalanches are common in mountainous areas of Switzerland in the winter months and these can lead to death and injury. Travellers should
monitor forecasts whilst travelling in these regions and avoid identified high-risk zones. Up-to-date reports and mapping can be found on the
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research website via the following link:
https://www.slf.ch/en/avalanche-bulletin-and-snow-situation.html#avalanchedanger
COVID-19 Information
Total Cases (ECDC) (Updated on Monday): 711,237
Drum Cussac Group Limited 6 Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:43 (UTC)Intelligence and Analysis Services Weekly percentage increase in cases:0.64% Travel Restrictions: Internal Restrictions Authorities are maintaining measures imposed to combat the spread of COVID-19 as of July 23. Nonessential businesses and services are permitted to operate subject to capacity and social distancing requirements. Mass events are permitted without a size cap provided all attendees are vaccinated, recovered from, or have tested negative for COVID-19. Facemasks remain mandatory in enclosed public spaces. International Travel Restrictions Authorities will ease international entry measures from June 28 and domestic COVID-19 restrictions from June 26. Starting June 28, authorities will ease the entry restrictions for travelers arriving from the Schengen Area. From this date, such travelers will no longer be required to self-isolate upon entry. However, travelers arriving by plane who have not been vaccinated or have not recovered from COVID-19 will still be required to provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure for Switzerland. In addition, from June 28, authorities will permit international arrivals from certain countries outside of the Schengen Area, including the US, Albania, and Serbia, to enter Switzerland provided they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Furthermore, all permitted arrivals entering from countries of high concern due to COVID-19 variant strains will be allowed to enter without restrictions provided they have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19; permitted travelers that do not meet these criteria will need to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test no older than 72 hours before departure for Switzerland. As of June 24, countries considered to be of high concern regarding COVID-19 variant strains are Brazil, Canada, India, Nepal, South Africa, and the UK. Under normal circumstances, only citizens and residents of EEA-associated countries, in addition to Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand, may enter Switzerland. All individuals arriving by air, except for travelers from the Schengen Area who have either been vaccinated, or recovered from COVID-19, must present a negative result from a PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure for Switzerland; all individuals arriving by plane, train, bus, or boat are required to fill out an entry form. Additional Information: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien /novel-cov.html Drum Cussac Group Limited 7 Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:43 (UTC)
Intelligence and Analysis Services
Threat Scale Reference
Threat Rating Implication
The operating environment is benign and there are only isolated threats to business
1 - Negligible
and/or travel.
The operating environment is generally permissive, although there are a limited
2 – Low
number of threats to business and/or travel that requires basic mitigations.
The operating environment is challenging and there are serious threats to business
3 – Moderate
and/or travel that requires some mitigations.
The operating environment is hostile and there are significant threats to business,
4 – High
personal safety and/or travel, requiring comprehensive mitigations and planning.
The operating environment is characterised by pervasive direct threats to business,
5 – Extreme
personal safety and/or travel, requiring strict risk management procedures.
Drum Cussac Group Limited 8 Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:43 (UTC)Intelligence and Analysis Services
Disclaimer
Drum Cussac Group Ltd makes no representation, warranties or assurance against risk with respect to the contents or use of this document, and
specifically disclaims any express or implied warranties or usefulness for any particular purpose of this publication. Recommendations made are based on
information available at the time of writing. No express or implied warranty is given in respect of any judgment made or to changes, or any unforeseen
escalation of any factors affecting any such judgment.
Copyright
Copyright 2016 Drum Cussac Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express prior consent of Drum
Cussac Group Ltd.
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