Congress Information
CONGRESS MANAGEMENT
The 2020 Basel, Switzerland Annual Congress of the International Family Therapy Association managed by World Family Therapy Congresses.
CONGRESS TEAM
Congress Event Management (Proposals, exhibits and Registration):
Doug Tschopp Email: info@ifta-congress.org
Program Chair: John Lawless
Chief Financial Officer: Fred Jefferson
IFTA General Secretary: William Hiebert wjhiebert@aol.com +309-786-4491
LANGUAGE
The official language of the meeting is English.
ABSTRACTS
All proposals for presentations are to be in English. All the requests will be considered. Proposals will be approved on a "rolling" basis; that is, they will be evaluated as they are submitted. The proposals will either be accepted, placed on a waiting list or denied during the entire proposal process. Deadline is published on the homepage. Do not wait until the deadline to submit!
CLOTHING
Informal for all occasions.
LETTER OF INVITATION
The organizers will be pleased to provide a letter of invitation to any pre-registered and paid participant requesting one. It is to be understood that such an invitation is intended to help potential participants raise travel funds or obtain a visa. It is not a commitment on the part of the Congress to provide any financial support.
INSURANCE
The congress organizers cannot accept liability for personal injuries sustained, or for loss or damage of property belonging to congress participants (or their accompanying persons), either during, or as a result of the congress.
TRIP INSURANCE
Due to international hotel policies, IFTA has to begin making payments for attendees in July of each year. By December, IFTA has paid for your attendance at the Congress. Thus, for the 2020 World Congress in Basel, Switzerland, attendees who have to cancel their participation will forfeit most of their Registration money. To protect against this possible loss, we have arranged for Alianz to offer coverage for your Congress Registration fee and your flight and anything else you might wish to cover. More information about Trip Insurance can be found here.
VISAS
All visitors are required to have a valid passport, and for some countries, a visa is required. It is the responsibility of the participant to obtain a visa if required. Please click here for more Visa information.
AIRLINES
Basel Airport is located some 3.7 miles/7 km northwest of Basel city center. Although the airport actually sits on French territory, it is jointly operated by Switzerland and France.
Its IATA code can be either BSL for Basel in Switzerland. Basel Airport is well connected to roads and public transport. For more information, https://baselairport.org/#/searchcars
CURRENCY AND MONEY EXCHANGE
The currency in Switzerland remains with the Swiss franc, usually indicated as CHF. While Switzerland is not part of the European Union and thus is not obliged to convert to the Euro, many prices are nonetheless indicated in euros so that visitors may compare prices. For more information, https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/currency.html
AUTOMATIC CASH DISPENSERS
Automatic cash dispensers accepting Visa, Eurocard/Mastercard, American Express credit cards and Maestro Cirrus or Visa Electron debit cards are situated at all main banks, town centres, hotels, bigger stores, airports and the railway station.
CREDIT CARDS
All major credit cards, such as Mastercard/Eurocard, Visa, American Express, Diners etc., are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops.
ELECTRICITY
The electric current used throughout Switzerland is 230 Volts AC, 50 cycles (continental European standard).
Which power plugs and sockets in Switzerland?
Wall outlets are unique to Switzerland, however. There is a limited compatibility with other continental European plugs: the standard continental type hexagonal plugs with two round pins (Euroconnectors, pin distance 19 mm [3/4 inch], pin diameter 4.0 mm [1/6 inch]), applied for many electrical travel products, may be used without problems.
For more information on many travel issues, see https://travelguide.all-about-switzerland.info/basic-swiss-tourist-information.html
LOCAL TIME
Basel is on Central Eureopean Time (CET) = 0100
Or GMT+6 hours.
Daylight Savings Time, or British Summer Time, begins March 29, 2020, just after the World Congress.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
The average overnight low is just 2°C (36°F). The warmer weather is felt in the afternoon hours where the afternoon high has jumped significantly from the previous month to a current average of 9°C (48°F).
HEALTH INFORMATION
The US’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention maintains a site for travelers to Switzerland.
