Study: 72% Of The Greeks To Vacation In The Homeland In 2014

Photo © Maria Theofanopoulou

A study on the travel tendencies in Europe showed that an estimated 72 percent of the Greeks plan to vacation in a destination of their own country this year.

The study, conducted by MasterCard and Euromonitor International, revealed that 2014 will see a 114 percent increase in Europeans opting to stay in their own countries for vacations this summer. This more than doubles the number of people who holidayed in their own country in 2013.

According to MasterCard, these anticipated 1.14 billion homestay holidays suggest “Europeans are sticking to what and where they know” when it comes to making the most of time-off. By country, France tops the poll of nations where travelers will explore rest and relaxation in their own country rather than abroad, followed by Spain, Germany, the UK and Ukraine.

MasterCard’s analysis of travel habits shows how far travelers are embracing home-grown holidays: a separate piece of research by the European Commission found that in 2013, over two in five Europeans spent their main holiday in their own country last year, with less than a fifth of us venturing outside of the EU.

The same report found that Europeans look for familiarity and reassurance right from the start: over half (56 percent) of respondents said recommendations from friends, colleagues and relatives are most important when planning trips. And even when Europeans do reach their holiday destination, they continue to look for reliability and comfort in their pastimes and activities: nearly half (46 percent) of Europeans chose a beach holiday over more adventurous pursuits in 2013.

MasterCard also underlined the importance of electronic payments when traveling. “Cashless payment methods, including mobile and contactless, can make your life easier when traveling,” MasterCard said.