General Information
Area: 41,284 sq km (15,940 sq
miles)
Population: 7,301,994 (July
2002 est.)
Population Density: 173.5 per sq km
Capital: Bern
Ethnicity / Race: German 65%,
French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Language: German (official)
63.7%, French (official) 19.2%, Italian (official)
7.6%, Romansch 0.6%, other 8.9%
Currency: The Swiss currency
is called theSwiss franc. The code for the currency
is CHF. Swiss Franc (SFr) = 100 rappen or centimes.
Notes are in denominations of SFr1000, 500, 200,
100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations
of SFr5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes.
Religion: Roman Catholic (43
per cent) and Protestant (47 per cent).
Time: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from
last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday
in October)
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz
Health: Health insurance is
essential. Medical facilities in Switzerland are
among the best in Europe, but treatment is expensive.
Various leaflets giving information on health
spas and clinics are available from Switzerland
Tourism.
Customs: It is customary to
give unwrapped flowers to the hostess when invited
for a meal. Avoid red roses; never give chrysanthemums
or white asters as they are considered funeral
flowers. Informal wear is widely acceptable. First-class
restaurants, hotel dining rooms and important
social occasions may warrant jackets and ties.
Black tie is usually specified when required.
Tipping: A service charge is included in all hotel,
restaurant, cafe, bar, taxi and hairdressing services
by law: further gratuities are not usualy required.
Communications:
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent
domestic and international services
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio
relay networks
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
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