Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
BANKERS, holiday-makers and chocoholics will be drooling over the latest direct flight destination in Gulf Air's itinerary as Geneva joins the fold.
Tourism bosses also believe that its location in the centre of central Europe makes it very easy for travellers to work the city into their itinerary.
The national carrier's CEO Samer Majali said: "Geneva, the second largest city in Switzerland, is the most international city in Europe with over 40 per cent of its population coming from outside the country.
"One of the top 10 richest cities in the world by purchasing power, with the city's superb location at the foothills of the Alps, and Geneva's fabulous climate, its sprawling and sparkling lake, and beautiful parks and gardens, has made it one of the most-sought-after summer retreats for GCC nationals.
"Besides tourism, Geneva is also home to over 150 international, governmental and non-governmental organisations, including the office of the United Nations and nearly 200 multi-national corporations that presents itself as a huge opportunity for business travel."
The city is divided by the River Rhone into the Rive Gauche and Rive Droite. The gauche holds most of the sights with visitor interest, including the Jet d'Eau, a 400-foot geyser. It would be difficult for a city to be more alpine than Geneva. Set on the banks of Lake Leman, the city looks out onto the snow-capped peaks of the Alps and Jura mountains jutting out of the deep forests and mystical countryside.
Jet-set style seeps from the shores of the lake thanks to the romantic walk lined with numerous shops, restaurants and hotels vying for the best storefronts. In fact, Geneva offers more than 1,100 restaurants to set taste buds into overdrive.
Of course, Geneva is also a highly-regarded cultural destination with more than 30 museums, theatres, galleries and even an opera house.
For those looking to add a little adventure to their vacation, Geneva offers the huge pulling power of nearby slopes for world-famous skiing and numerous golf clubs in and around the Lake Geneva region.
The city's proximity to France and Italy add to its appeal for travellers trying to make the most of their European vacation.
While the municipality itself - city centre, or ville de Genve - has a population of 191,415, the immediate area which includes the city has 457,628 residents and the Geneva-Bern area has a population of 2,800,000.
The climate of Geneva is temperate. Winters are moderately mild, usually with light frosts at night and thawing conditions during the day. Summers are pleasantly warm. The nearby mountains are subject to substantial snowfall and are usually suitable for skiing. Many world-renowned ski resorts such as Verbier are just over an hour away by car. Mont Salve (1,400 metres), just across the border in France, dominates the southerly view from the city centre and is the closest skiing destination to Geneva.
Switzerland's chocolates have also earned an international reputation for high quality and the box left on your dressing table on Valentine's Day could well be from its shores. The famous Toblerone came from Switzerland - a business started by Jean Tobler in 1867.
From the 19th Century until the First World War and throughout the Second World War the Swiss chocolate industry was very export-oriented. Although it remains a major multi-million dollar industry today most Swiss chocolate is consumed by the Swiss themselves - 54 per cent in 2000 and Switzerland is said to have the highest per capita rate of chocolate consumption worldwide.
Claus Buchi, Consul General of the Consulate General of Switzerland in Bahrain, said: "Switzerland has always been one of the favourite destinations for thousands of Bahrainis and GCC nationals. By launching direct service to Geneva, Bahrain's national carrier Gulf Air has made it much easier not only for the Arabs but also for expatriates and Swiss nationals wanting to visit Geneva for business, leisure or winter sports."
And, for the chocolates, of course.
