By Vicky Kourlimbini
Despite the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, Europeans’ appetite for holidays is at its peak, with 77% having travel plans for the period from April to September. More than half (56%) of Europeans planning a trip plan to visit another European country. 38% of Europeans ready for travel plan a trip between June-July and another 32% target the August-September period. In addition, Greece is in the fourth place of travel preferences.
These are some of the key findings from the European Travel Commission (ETC) study “Monitoring Sentiment for Domestic and Intra-European Travel – Wave 11”. According to the study, the desire to travel within Europe is high and three out of four Europeans plan to make a trip in the next six months, with Mediterranean destinations being the most popular.
Where will they go in the summer?
As summer approaches, a growing percentage of Europeans (77%) want to travel between April and September. More than half (56%) of them plan to visit another European country, while 31% choose domestic travel. In all markets analyzed, respondents from Italy, Spain, Poland, the United Kingdom and Germany show the strongest optimism for a trip (> 80%). Travel intentions increase with age, from 69% in Gen Z (18-24 years old) to 83% in baby boomers (over 54 years old).
The choice of “sun-sea” vacation (22%) to be the preferred one for the coming months according to the study. Interest in city holidays also remains stable (15%).
Spain is the preferred destination among Europeans traveling abroad between April-September 2022, followed by Italy, France, Greece and Portugal.
Most Europeans plan to take a 4-6 night (33%) or 7-9 night (27%) vacation. Only 25% will choose trips of 10 nights or more, mainly those traveling with family. Couples prefer trips of up to 3 nights. Regardless of the duration of the trip, one in two travelers will travel by air to reach their next destination.
Although the survey was conducted in the first weeks of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the travel sentiment and behavior of Europeans had not yet been affected. In particular, the Poles, which borders Ukraine, maintained a steady travel appetite above the European average.
How much will they spend
An increasing percentage of European travelers plan to spend € 500-1,500 (now 51%, + 8% compared to the previous survey) with a corresponding drop in higher budgets (-8% for more than € 2,000), possibly due to growing concern about inflation, noted in the study. However, only 25% of Europeans ready to travel have booked in full, indicating a limited level of commitment.
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
