City Trips World’s Top Holiday Option, Says ITB Study

New York, USA

City trips are the leading holiday option worldwide and the US the most popular country destination in 2017, according to a World Travel Monitor report released this week.

Conducted by IPK International and commissioned by ITB Berlin, city trips worldwide grew four times as fast as the total international holiday market over the past decade overtaking Sun & Beach holidays backed by cheaper air fares and alternative accommodation choices.

The US is the most popular country destination for city breaks, followed by Germany, France, the UK and Spain, which together account for 35 percent of total global city travel in 2017.

In terms of traveler profile, younger and middle age segments with a higher income are most likely to go on city trips, according to the report, with the average age at 41, with 50 percent of city tourists belonging to the upper income class and two-thirds to the higher education bracket.

Regarding city break activities, the majority visit key landmarks and sites while seeking to experience the city atmosphere, go shopping, indulge in good food, and visit museums and exhibitions, the report found.

Indicatively, average spending per person and night on a foreign city trip came to 170 euros in 2017, all costs included.

The city break segment is being largely driven by travelers from Asia/Pacific and South America, where the number of city breaks has quadrupled over the past 10 years. The rising figures from these territories are a result of an increase in the number of travelers from China, Korea and Japan seeking to go on international city trips.

The final results of the World Travel Monitor for 2018, as well as the latest forecasts for 2019, will be presented during next year’s ITB Berlin to take place on March 6-10.