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As before, Swiss shopping tourists can still post in parts of Germany, based on their cantonal origin, even without a negative Corona test. But walks through the neighboring country are increasingly absent. In recent weeks, shopping tourism has almost collapsed to the level of the March lockdown.
This arises from a report in the “Tages-Anzeiger”, which refers to data from the project “Monitoring of consumption in Switzerland” at the University of St. Gallen (HSG). Consequently, the Swiss paid 15 million francs with their debit card in Germany in the last week of October. Two weeks earlier it was 25 million francs. To do this, the scientists evaluated the payment data of Swiss debit cards.
Indeed the borders are open
The sudden drop in purchases comes at the same time as the drastic increase in the crown figures in both countries. That brings back memories of the running of the bulls in March. Back then, however, unlike today, the borders were completely closed.
In the food retail sector alone, sales fell 30 to 60 percent during the first shutdown. Is the process repeated? “Many people are probably not even aware of the waivers in Baden-Württemberg and have only read the big headline that Switzerland is now considered a risk country in Germany,” HSG economist Matthias Fengler (48) told the newspaper.
Despite special regulations for Swiss shopping tourists
Switzerland has been on the risk list in Germany since October 22. But the state of Baden-Württemberg has made an exception. Swiss from border cantons can post here as usual during the day; if they leave Germany again within 24 hours, shopping tourists do not need a negative corona test.
Specifically, this means: Swiss citizens who come from the cantons of Appenzell, Aargau, Basel, Basel-Landschaft, Jura, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, St. Gallen, Thurgau and Zurich can enter and leave the country.
Another reason for Switzerland’s lack of shopping tourism: only shops are open. Restaurants and cafes are currently affected by the closure in Germany and will remain closed.
People stay home for Corona
HSG Fengler’s economist is convinced: the sheer number of corona cases scares people. “Just as consumption is falling in Swiss city centers, this may also have an impact on shopping tourism,” he says. “After all, a trip to Germany is much more than just a grocery shopping.”
Swiss retailers should be satisfied with the latest developments. During the last shutdown, they were able to generate many more sales because almost no purchasing power flowed into Germany. Regardless, retail is developing positively. According to the latest figures from the market research institute GfK, sales by local retailers in the first nine months of this year are almost 7 percent higher than the previous year.
