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EconomyPurchase tourism weighs more on retail
The sector experienced a very difficult first semester. Turnover is down 1.9% compared to 2024. Purchases abroad increased by 6%.
Purchase tourism in neighboring countries makes more than 8.5 billion francs abroad leave, deplore Swiss shops.
20min/Michael ScherrerFirst gloomy semester for retailers in 2025. In its assessment of transactions by debit and credit card, the Swiss Retail Federation – which includes in particular Aldi, Lidl, Manor, Loeb, Dosenbach or C&A – estimates the decrease in turnover in the retail trade to 1.9% compared to the 1st 2024. Consumer morale, according to the association of retail companies.
The decline in sales is particularly marked in physical stores (-2.2%). The first quarter even ended in a particularly unsatisfactory result (-3.4%). The “leisure/hobbies/toys” sectors are particularly affected, “clothing and shoes” and “watches and jewelry”. On the other hand, food trade recorded an increase of 1.4%.
On the digital side, after a year 2024 under pressure in the face of the rise of Chinese platforms like TEMU, online trade seems to have found relative stability. It finished on growth of 0.8%.
Purchase tourism pointed out
But buying tourism, especially to neighboring countries, has left again, deplores the federation, which notes a Progress of purchases abroad by 6 % in the 2nd quarter compared to 2024, where the phenomenon was already high.
The pressure is therefore very strong for Swiss merchants who have to deal with fierce competition from abroad. “It is all the more essential to ensure that Swiss companies are not penalized by additional regulations and even heavier social charges,” notes the Swiss Retail Federation.
Hardened but ineffective rules
Recall that since January 1, the rules in terms of purchasing tourism have been hardened: the customs franchise has increased from 300 to 150 francs. Beyond that, goods are now subject to Swiss VAT. But many Swiss still continue to shop on the other side of the border. Note that the Swiss purchase tourism reached 8.5 billion francs in 2023, more than 23 million per day, according to figures from Swiss Retail Federation. That same year, VAT on these purchases brought back 35 million francs to the Confederation.
