News

In the summer season (May to October 2025), the number of overnight stays in the Swiss hotel sector passed the 25 million mark (25.1 million) for the first time. Compared with the same period last year, overnight stays increased by 2.6% (+634 000 overnight stays). Foreign visitors recorded a total of 13.4 million overnight stays, resulting in a 2.4% (+318 000) rise and a historic high. Demand from domestic visitors rose by 2.8% (+316 000) to 11.7 million units, according to provisional results from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

In 2024, 9.3% of the Swiss population moved home, the same as in 2023 (9.3%). Young adults were still the persons who changed accommodation most often. Occupants of single-family houses moved less often than occupants of multi-dwelling housing. The average moving distance was 13.4 km. These are some of the results of the Moving Statistics compiled by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

The double taxation agreement between Switzerland and Jordan has entered into force. With a few exceptions, the provisions will apply from 1 January 2026.

At its meeting on 5 December 2025, the Federal Council discussed the results of the consultation on the ‘Stabilisation and further development of Swiss-EU relations’ package (Bilaterals III). The Federal Council noted that a clear majority of consultation participants were in favour of the Swiss-EU package. Several clarifications and improvements were called for regarding how the agreements would be implemented domestically. After careful consideration of these concerns, the Federal Council decided to make certain adjustments.

On 5 December, the Federal Council approved a draft negotiating mandate for a trade agreement with the USA. The parliamentary foreign affairs committees and the cantons will now be consulted on the draft. The main aim of the upcoming negotiations is to consolidate the tariff relief for Swiss goods imported into the USA; this tariff relief was reached as part of the joint statement of 14 November.

At its meeting on 5 December, the Federal Council appointed Daniel Frutig-Meier as chairman of the Board of Directors of RUAG International, the parent company of Beyond Gravity. He will first join the Board of Directors as a regular member in January 2026 and will take up his position as chairman of the Board of Directors at the 2026 Annual General Meeting.

The Federal Council's objective is for Switzerland to be one of the world's leading digital finance locations and to improve its competitiveness and attractiveness accordingly. During its meeting on 5 December 2025, the Federal Council was informed about the current status by the Federal Department of Finance (FDF).

During its meeting on 5 December 2025, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on amending the Insurance Oversight Act. With this proposal, the Federal Council wishes to strengthen Switzerland as a reinsurance location.

As part of the Schengen Association Agreement, Switzerland has decided to adopt an amendment to a European Union (EU) regulation aimed at reintroducing the visa requirement for third countries in certain circumstances. These circumstances may include exceeding migration thresholds, threats to public order and security, or human rights violations.

On 5 December, the Federal Council extended the agreement between Switzerland and the United Kingdom on the mutual recognition of conformity assessments. At the same time, three further product sectors from the trade agreement were incorporated. This maintains facilitated market access, meaning that additional product testing by a British conformity assessment body is still not necessary when exporting to the United Kingdom.

In 2025, more than 2 in 5 people use artificial intelligence (AI) to create content, texts or images. This figure rises to 4 in 5 among 15–24 year olds. The population is also increasingly exposed to fake news, hate speech and online scams. These are the main results from the latest Federal Statistical Office (FSO) Survey on the Use of ICT in Households and by Individuals.

The ETH Board was gratified to note that more than half of the newly appointed professors were women. This means that the two Federal Institutes of Technology are on course to achieve the long-term goal of increasing the proportion of women professors. At its meeting of 3/4 December 2025, the ETH Board discussed the next steps of the organisational development project “FIT for the Future”. In addition, it bade farewell to its long-standing member Susan Gasser at the end of her term of office, and to Peter Allenspach, a member of the PSI Board of Directors.