ETC: Appetite for European Travel Still Strong Despite Rising Prices

Despite the cost-of-living crisis, Europeans are still planning to travel with Greece being among the Top 5 most sought-after destinations, found the latest European Travel Commission (ETC) report.

According to the Monitoring Sentiment for Domestic and Intra-European Travel – Wave 13 report conducted in Germany, UK, France, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Poland, and Austria, interest in visiting European destinations this autumn or winter reached its highest point (62 percent) since September 2020. At the same time however, 23 percent of travelers are concerned about a potential rise in travel fees.

Based on intention for travel data between October and March 2023, Greece is in the top 5 European destinations for the British (4th), French (2nd), Italians (5th), Belgians (5th) and Austrians (5th). Meanwhile, travelers from Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Spain and Poland do not have Greece on their bucket lists.

Preferred countries for Europeans’ next trip

The Top 10 preferred countries for autumn and winter travel according to the ETC is France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Croatia, Austria, Portugal, the UK and the Netherlands.

Other key takeaways of the ETC report:

-40 percent of Europeans said they were anxious about rising travel costs

–appetite for travel among Europeans is growing with 70 percent planning a trip in the next six months, up by 4 percent in just a year

-52 percent intend to travel at least twice reflecting pent-up demand for holidays

-62 percent said they were planning cross border trips in Europe in the coming months

-52 percent of travelers said the Russia-Ukraine war will have no direct effect on their travel plans in the next months

-only 5 percent said pandemic-related concerns prevented them from realizing a planned trip

-32 percent are planning to spend between 501 and 1,000 euros per person on their next trip (including accommodation and transportation costs)

– Europeans are cutting the duration of their vacation with preferences for three-night breaks up to 23 percent from 18 percent in September 2021

-longer trips (seven nights or more) dropped to 37 percent

–Gen Z less likely to travel than older generations

Source: European Travel Commission (ETC).

-73 percent of Europeans over 45 years of age plan to travel the most in the next six months keen on city breaks.

“While the cost-of-living crisis is another undeniable challenge for tourism in Europe, travel remains a priority for Europeans in the coming months,” said ETC President Luís Araújo, adding that Europe must work to ensure a more resilient industry, supporting the digital and environmental transition and putting people at the center of development.