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What the Swiss worry about most in 2019

A new survey highlights the issues that have preoccupied people in Switzerland in 2019.

What the Swiss worry about most in 2019
Photo: Deposit Photos

The aptly named ‘Worry Barometer’ shows that retirement benefits and the cost of health insurance are the two top concerns for the Swiss. 

Forty-seven percent of respondents in the survey commissioned by the Credit Suisse bank said they worry about the future funding of the pension scheme. And 41 percent expressed concern over rising health insurance premiums

The prospect of uncurbed migration preoccupies 30 percent of survey participants — even though the number of foreigners who came to Switzerland this year has dropped slightly in comparison to 2018. 

And 29 percent worry about climate change and the need for environmental protections.

The survey shows a high degree of respondents’ dissatisfaction with the policymakers: 83 percent say that the Federal Council “needs to do a better job of fulfilling its leadership role”, while 68 percent feel that “parliament should seek more compromise”.

However, “overall, the Swiss still have more faith in their government than their counterparts in other countries”” said Lukas Golder of gfs.bern institute, which conducted the survey.

In fact, another study found that majority of Swiss have high degree of confidence in their government and elected officials. 

But the ‘Worry Barometer’ is not all gloom and doom. Many respondents find the proverbial silver lining in their lives. For instance, 92 percent “consider their personal economic circumstances to be ‘satisfactory’, ‘good’, or even ‘very good’”, according to the survey.

More than 60 percent also “take an overwhelmingly positive view of new technologies, especially with respect to improved opportunities on the labor market,” the study shows. 

And on a scale from 0 to 10, 88 percent of participants rate their lives at a level of 5 or higher, and 39 percent at a level of 8 or higher.

 


 

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TRAVEL

Travel in Switzerland: Geneva airport launches more Christmas flights

An increased number of flights will link the Swiss city with dozens of international destinations.

Travel in Switzerland: Geneva airport launches more Christmas flights
SWISS and EasyJet will fly to 70 destinations. Photo by AFP

Starting on December 19th, the timetable from Geneva’s Cointrin airport will be expanded to include 70 cities.

Most flights will be operated by EasyJet and SWISS.

The flagship airline will jet to 15 cities, including two new destinations — Marrakech in Morocco and Hurghada in Egypt.

EasyJet will fly to 40 cities in Europe. It will ensure nonstop flights to Spain, Portugal, France, and Greece, among other popular destinations.

It will also be possible to fly again to many regions of central and eastern Europe, where flights were discontinued or sharply reduced during the pandemic.

They include Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, and Kosovo.

Before you book a flight, however, be aware of most recent regulations and restrictions that are in effect at your destination.

READ MORE: Covid-19: What you need to know if you are travelling abroad from Switzerland

Some countries require you to be tested for Covid-19 prior to arrival and present a negative result. Others have a compulsory quarantine.

Switzerland also requires arrivals from certain countries to self-quarantine for 10 days. 

Whether on arrival or return, quarantine means you won’t be able to go out or receive guests during the time mandated by the government — usually between 10 and 14 days.

 

 

 

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