Mumbai, Jan 24 (IANS) Dedicating 2012 as the ‘Year of Water’, Switzerland Tourism will celebrate its famous glaciers, lakes and rivers and the role water plays in the lives of the Swiss for Indian tourists visiting the country, a tourism official said here Tuesday.

“This creates a perfect backdrop for Indian tourists, since the people of this country have long revered water as divine,” Michael Maeder, managing director of Switzerland Tourism, told media persons here.

Maeder said that despite the economic slowdown, tourists from India notched a handsome 20.3 percent growth in total overnights spent in Switzerland, which came to 456,930 in 2011.

Switzerland Tourism has now targeted another 20 percent growth in tourist overnight spending this year as well, attracting Indians to its lofty snow-clad peaks, glaciers, rivers, lakes and mountain resorts, he said.

In the past five years alone, Switzerland Tourism registered a splendid growth of over 100 percent with a consolidated total of 1.55 million overnights spent there by Indians, making that country the “most favoured destination globally by Indians”, Maeder added.

“India is a very important market for us with the Swiss government allocating an extra marketing budged for the country. The immense success of the campaign has resulted in a similar additional budget allocation this year too,” he said.

Switzerland Tourism India’s Deputy Director Ritu Sharma said that the number of Swiss partners coming to India to showcase their products has nearly doubled from 12 to 22 since last year.

To achieve the higher target, Switzerland Tourism will undertake varied marketing and advertising activities on television channels and train travel professional in Tier 2 and 3 cities, emphasizing how Switzerland is a perfect destination for families, honeymooners, seniors, adventurers, groups and businessmen.

“As part of a special initiative for Mumbai, Switzerland Tourism will celebrate two ‘Swiss Days’ in end-February offering glimpses of that country and its beautiful offerings,” Sharma said.