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Welcome 4
Landscape for romance 6
All you need to know about business in S witzerland 10
R ules and regulations 12
K eeping red tape to a minimum 13
G etting there 16
Many roads lead to S witzerland 17
What to do – and not to do – in S witzerland 18
P age
1 Lake of G rindji, the Matterhorn Zermatt Frontpage
2 Mont S an S alvatore, Lake of Lugano, Ticino 4 /5
3 6S ix J eur in the vicinity of the E mosson artificial lake
in the Mont B lanc Mass if
4 On Location, C ity of Zurich 7
6 The E mmental, valley of the E mmen R iver 9
C anton B ern
7 The Morteratsch glacier in Upper E ngadine 10
P age
8 Near Valendas in the S urselva region of the G risons 12
9 At Lake S aoseo in the Val da C amp, C anton G risons 14
10 G rindelwaldblick Hotel on the K leine S cheidegg 15
11 The Aletsch glacier seen from E ggishorn S tation 16
12 R igi railway near R igi K ulm 17
13 Aigle, C anton Vaud in the lower R hone Valley 18
14 R iederalp in Valais , above the R hone valley 19
S witzerland T ourism,
Tödistrasse 7, 8027 Zürich
P hone: +41-1-288 11 11
Fax: +41-1-288 12 05
www.myswitzerland.com
S witzerland T ourism
Maker C hamber VI, G r ound Floor
Nariman P oint, Mumbai – 400 021
P hone: 022-2285 16 98
and 022-2282 82 51
Fax: 022-2282 82 51
www.myswitzerland.com
S witzerland T ourism
World Trade Tower (WTT)
5th Floor, B arakhamba Lane
New Dehli – 110 001
P hone: 011-2341 50 19
Fax: 011-2341 50 18
www.myswitzerland.com
P ictur es : S witzerland T ourism
Tritten R eisen, Zweis immen
Museum for Des ign, Zürich
5 S tonebridge in Ticino 8
5
But apart from the Alps and the glaciers, Switzer-
land has a wealth of other natural beauties that
meet a growing desire for the genuine and
unspoiled: lakes in every shade of green and blue,
crystal-clear streams, endless hilly landscapes,
lush orchards and meadows dotted with flowers
in every hue, rolling cornfields, well-tended
vineyards and brooding dark-green forests. Swiss
towns combine the charm of yesterday with
today’s zest for life.
They offer countless well-maintained historic
buildings and town centres; shopping boule-
vards of international fame join on to the narrow
Landscape to Romance | 7
Switzerland: heaven on earth for film makers.
Mention the word “mountains” and people automatically think of Switzerland,and vice versa. Every year the mountains lure hundreds of thousands of visitors,among them many Indians who are able to satisfy a lifelong desire to see thefabulous panoramas with their own eyes and to experience snow at first hand.As recently as a hundred years ago the mountains still evoked fear of the un-known. Today, they are more than likely to trigger a profound emotional response.
Landscape to romance.
– A large proportion of the Swiss population
speaks several languages, including English.
– Many hotels are specialised in accommo-
dating the wishes of Indian guests and even
offer special prices.
– In Switzerland vegetarian food is easily avail-
able and Indian cuisine is also offered in many
restaurants and as a catering service.
– You can also avail of year long snow in some
places in Switzerland.
– Traditional cultural events like music festivals
add to colourful backgrounds for film shoot-
ings.
– Besides winter sports like skiing, snow-board-
ing and bob sledding, a diverse range of other
activities like bungy-jumping, trotti-biking,
husky dog sled rides, water parks, etc. are ad-
ditional filming possibilities.
– Switzerland offers many specialized post-pro-
duction facilities like raw stock processing and
sound recording studios.
– Professional filming equipment is easily avail-
able. Local costs have to be weighed against
freight from India.
So Switzerland awaits you with a wealth of pos-
sibilities, which are only waiting to be captured
on film!
streets of the old town, markets maintain their
traditions, and in the many restaurants and
street cafes you may perhaps strike up a lifelong
acquaintance.
Moreover, Switzerland also repeatedly comes up
with superlatives. Here are just a few examples:
the steepest rack-railway in the world (gradient
of 48%) leads up to Mount Pilatus; the oldest
(dating from 1871) to the Rigi. The north wall of
the Eiger has achieved fame as the most notori-
ous climbing wall in Europe, while the Jungfrau-
Aletsch-Bietschhorn area with the 24 km long
Aletsch glacier was recently added to the list of
world nature heritage sites by UNESCO. In the
Lauterbrunnen valley in the Bernese Oberland, –
the highest waterfall in Europe, the Mürrenbach-
fall (700 m), plunges into the depths, and the
Matterhorn is the most frequently photographed
mountain in the world.
And because despite this great variety Switzer-
land is a small country, these attractive film
locations all lie close together. So thanks to the
short distances, time-consuming and costly
transfers can be avoided. The transport of film
crew and material can be arranged easily by
coach or by public transport.
The Swiss Travel System is ideal for transport,
as it extends to every corner of the country,
including numerous mountain peaks. So it is
easy to film in remote areas or in a high moun-
tain setting.
In addition to the beauties of nature and the in-
frastructure, other good reasons (besides the
many suggested before) argue for Switzerland
as a film location:
– Switzerland Tourism, Film Location Switzerland
and allabout production service can provide
assistance in the search for the perfect location.
– The local tourist services and specialized
private companies can provide the desired
support.
8 | Landscape to Romance
Money
Swiss currency is denominated in francs, with
100 centimes or “Rappen” per franc. There are
no restrictions on the amount of Swiss francs
that can be imported, exported or exchanged.
Traveller’s cheques and bank notes can be
exchanged at banks, at exchange bureaus in the
larger railway stations, at travel agencies and
in hotels. Most places accept international credit
cards. For withdrawing ready cash, there are
ATM’s available throughout Switzerland and are
increasingly hooked up with international sys-
tems. Tipping is not necessary in Switzerland
as service charges are included with the bill.
However, it is common, although by no means
obligatory, to leave a little something extra in
restaurants, taxis, etc. Hotel porters expect a tip
of one to two francs for each piece of luggage.
Since the introduction of the Euro currency in
certain countries of the European Union, many
prices in shops, restaurants and hotels are also
indicated in Euro. Many establishments will ac-
cept Euros for payment at the current exchange
rate, but return change in the same currency
might not always be available.
Business/Banking Hours
Business hours are weekdays 8 a.m. to 12 noon
and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., closed on weekends.
Banks are usually open Monday to Friday from
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Once
a week they extend their hours. Please check
locally. Banks are closed Saturdays, Sundays and
on public holidays. Post offices in large cities
are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to
12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6.30 p.m; Saturday 7.30
to 11 a.m.
Weather and Climate
The climate is moderate with no excessive heat,
cold or humidity. From July to August daytime
temperatures range from 18°C to 27° C and
from January to February the range is –1° C to
5° C. In spring and autumn, the daytime temper-
ature range is 8° C to 15° C. However, depend-
ing on the altitude temperatures may vary.
It is highly recommended to pack a sweater, good
walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, a com-
pact umbrella and/or a light rain-coat. Longer
daylight hours in summer and the reverse in
winter are factors to be considered for outdoor
film shooting.
National HolidaysNew Year’s Day 1st January and 2nd January*
Good Friday**
Easter Monday
Ascension Day
Whit Monday**
Swiss National Day 1st August
All Saint’s Day 1st November*
Christmas Day 25th December
Boxing Day 26th December
Facts about Switzerland.Population circa 7,3 million
Surface area 41,293 km2
Dimensions North-South 220 km / East-West 348 km
Capital Berne
Languages German 64% / French 19% / Italian 8% / Rhaeto-Romanic 1% / Others 8%
Religions Protestant 40% / Roman Catholic 46% / Others 14%
Cantons (States) 26 including 6 half cantons
Highest peak Mt. Dufour at 4,634 m (Monte Rosa, Canton Valais)
Lowest spot Lake Maggiore 194 m (Canton Ticino)
Lakes 1,484
Glaciers 140
Time zones Summer IST -3.5 / Winter IST -4.5
*in some regions, **in most regions / There may also be various local holidays to take into consideration.
All you need to know about business in Switzerland.
Travel to countries you aren’t familiar with can create all kinds of hassles, rang-ing from financial matters to the practicalities of the climate. Contrary to po-pular belief, Switzerland is a remarkably uncomplicated place to travel and dobusiness. Yet because the country is also so well organised, you can relax secure in the knowledge that the arrangements you’ve made will work out asplanned.
Switzerland: facts and figures | 11
Visas for Switzerland
The Embassy of Switzerland and the Consulate
General of Switzerland welcome and very strongly
support film shooting in Switzerland and ap-
preciate that film and photo producers have so
oftenchosen Switzerland as a destination.
However, they are compelled to observe certain
rules andregulations that they have summarised
below. They hope that these will find your approval
and understanding.
As a general rule, the producer is held responsi-
ble for the crew he intends to bring to Switzer-
land. Usually, an authorised representative of the
producer personally contacts the respective visa
section in order to submit applications on behalf
of the whole group. The visa application should
be supported by a covering letter from the
producer on his business/company’s letterhead.
For first time film producers not yet known to
the Swiss representation, documentation of their
earlier work should be shown on request such
as newspaper clippings, film-magazines or any
other item on which the name and title of the
company or the producer applying appears.
Furthermore, a complete list of the crew (with
their designations) going for shooting is required.
For first time travellers their ID-cards should be
produced. Cooks, spot boys, camera assistants
etc. might have to travel on a group-visa. Should
they have travelled before on a group visa,
please present a copy of it or inform the office
about the previous visa-number. Family-mem-
bers are invited to apply, as individuals, for sim-
ple tourist visas.
For further information regarding visa process-
ing, office hours and visa fees, please consult
the following website:
http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/e/home.html
Customs Regulations
The temporary import of cinematography mate-
rial such as cameras, negative film rolls and other
technical material falls under the international
Customs Convention of 6 December 1961. Most
countries as well as Switzerland have both adop-
ted this Convention. The basic rules covered by
the saidConvention are that items imported under
the scheme have to be re-exported within a given
period of time.
Duty-free temporary import of said material is
granted upon presentation of a ATA Carnet, an
internationally recognised customs document
which is valid for one year from the date of issue.
In India, ATA Carnets are issued by the most
Chambers of Commerce and Industries.
Furthermore, ATA Carnets have to be en-
dorsed by the Customs authorities.
Keeping red tape to a minimum.
Organising a film shoot abroad is a complicated business. You need to importequipment, materials and personnel to a foreign country and this inevitably involves a certain amount of bureaucracy. This is another area where choosingSwitzerland can make life that decisive bit easier. We are fully aware of theproblems that can arise and go out of our way to take the load of your shoul-ders. Following a few simple but necessary guidelines will make the entireprocess run more smoothly.
Rules and regulations | 13
Rules and regulations.
Business relations and payment conditions
in Switzerland
Switzerland certainly depends on foreign trade
and millions of tourists from abroad visiting
the country every year. Consequently, most Swiss
businesses are used to dealing with foreign
partners from all over the world. Communication
in English should, therefore, not present a major
problem or at least it should be possible to
find somebody to step in for translation, if needed.
Switzerland is also a country with a highly de-
veloped service sector. There is almost no area
which is not covered by a competitive industry
offering first class assistance in their particular
field. However, service excellence has its price.
The following should be kept in mind in this
regard:
– Services and labour charges in particular are
quite expensive in Switzerland compared
with India, but Switzerland remains a competi-
tive option when compared to its European
neighbours.
– Labour, transportation and, in many cases,
also expensive equipment are charged on an
hourly basis. So making proper arrangements
and preparations before placing an order will
help save you a lot of money.
– Once goods and services are firmly ordered
and delivered, they will be charged, whether
used or not!
In the entertainment service industry usually 50%
of the total contract sum is payable when plac-
ing a firm order. The remaining 50% falls due be-
fore shooting starts.
Please consult the web for further details
or ask allabout production service.
Shooting Permits
To obtain permits for film shooting is relatively
easy in Switzerland and is, in most cases,
simply a matter of formality. However, some
arrangements need to be done in advance and
it would, in most cases, require the assistance
of allabout production service with the neces-
sary contacts.
Municipal authorities in Switzerland are compe-
tent to grant the necessary authorisations to
shoot in cities and other public places. Shooting
on private properties requires the owner’s ap-
proval. Things are a bit more complicated for the
shooting of action films where larger areas
or even military equipment needs to be used.
In this event, the involvement of the police or
even the army would be required. However,
the authorities are usually very co-operative.
There might be different rules and regulations in
different cities and cantons. It is, therefore, rec-
ommend that you contact the municipality
where you intend to do shooting in advance to
get the necessary information and permission to
make your arrangements accordingly especially
for parking permissions for the accompanying
generator vans, coach, etc.
In general terms, with every application, the fol-
lowing details should be furnished to the munic-
ipal authorities where the shooting takes place:
– Number of persons participating in the shoot-
ing unit/cast.
– Date and time of the shooting.
– Request for possible availability of parking
places.
– Request for possible temporary closure of
roads/streets during the shooting.
Feel free to contact allabout production service
for further information regarding shooting
permits and assistance in dealing with
local authorities.
Rules and regulations | 1514 | Rules and regulations
Many roads lead to Switzerland.
Switzerland is located at the heart of Europe and has excellent rail, road and airconnections with all the continent’s major cities. Whichever of the country’sthree international airports you land at, you can continue your journey using adense network of regular trains that run so punctually you can set your watchby them.
Since Switzerland is centrally located in Europe,
it is very well connected by rail and road to most
important cities within Europe.
Numerous airlines fly into Zurich and Geneva
international airports and Basel Euroairport.
Zurich and Geneva airports are fully incorpo-
rated into the Swiss railroad network with an
integrated railway station. Trains to the city cen-
tres run every 10 to 20 minutes. The ride takes
approx. 10 minutes. Hourly inter-city and direct
trains leave right from either airport station
and will connect you to most cities and towns.
In Basel, a bus service links the airport with the
downtown area. The bus stops right outside
the main railway station. The buses leave every
30 minutes and the ride takes 15 to 20 minutes.
Switzerland’s national carrier – Swiss International
Air Lines – has daily flights to Zurich from many
cities.
Getting there.
Getting there | 17
and trams. In some cases tickets have to be
punched in automats at bus/tram stops.
– Telephone calls from public booths is generally
cheaper than from hotels. Most booths accept
pre-paid telephone cards available in denomi-
nations of Sfr. 10, 20 and 50 and are available
at kiosks and at the post office. International
calls can be made from most telephone
booths.
– The Swiss consider fish and eggs to be vege-
tarian so please ensure that you specify no eggs
or fish when you place a vegetarian meal order.
– Like the British, to the Swiss his home is his
castle. This includes his well-tended garden
with flower beds and fruit trees. Plucking of
these is not welcome.
– Medical facilities are generally expensive in
Switzerland and a group medical insurance
would be a good cover for any untoward acci-
dents.
– The Swiss use a comma to separate the cen-
from the Franc when prices are written.
It is not a common practice to address busi-
ness partners by their first names unless in-
vited to do so.
– Punctuality is a serious subject in Switzerland
and appointments are expected to be kept.
Trains, buses and boats depart punctually as
per their time-table.
– The Swiss are generally friendly; a local
greeting you expects a return greeting and/or
a smile.
– “Dignity in labour” is a dictum in Switzerland.
Waiters, cleaners, shop assistants, porters,
etc. are looked at with the same respect as
other professionals.
– Switzerland is a law-abiding country. Rules
and regulations are strictly followed with law-
breakers being penalised.
– Discipline is the order of the day in Switzer-
land. Expect this truism in queues, at coun-
ters, while crossing roads, boarding and
alighting from public transport, etc.
– Prices in Swiss shops are generally fixed and
bargaining is not possible. Goods once
opened in shops are considered sold.
– The Swiss are very clean and expect all litter
to be disposed off only in the provided
garbage cans. Littering in public places is an
offence. In some places there are different
containers for various types of waste disposal
like glass bottles, aluminium cans, etc. If a
location is used for shooting, it is expected
that it is left in the same condition as before
the shooting.
– Porters are a rarity in Switzerland. One is ex-
pected to carry his/her own bags in hotels,
stations, cabs, coaches etc. In the same vein,
no hostesses will guide you to your table in
Switzerland.
– Tickets for public transport have to be pur-
chased before boarding – especially in trains
What to do – and not to do – in Switzerland.
Visiting a new country with an unfamiliar culture can lead to problems that aregenerally caused by misunderstanding or ignorance of certain ways and customs. Simply being aware of certain dos and don’ts goes a long way toavoiding situations that can be frustrating for both host and visitor.
Getting there | 2518 | Getting there