Neuchatel, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Foreign tourists continued to visit Switzerland at a strong rate in 2008, despite the start of the economic crisis, spending CHF15.6 billion, up by more than CHF1 million over 2007. The increase of 6.7 percent was offset, for the balance of payments, by a 2.3 percent drop in the amount Swiss tourists spent abroad. Overall, the trade balance was positive, at CHF3.8 billion.