ETC: Greece Among Europeans’ Top 5 Preferred International Destinations

Greece is among the top 5 countries Europeans are considering for their next international trip, according to data released earlier this month by the European Travel Commission (ETC).

In a survey, carried out in Germany, the UK, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Poland, and Austria in March 2023 and covering travel plans for the April – September 2023 period, Greece ranked 4th with an overall score of 5.6 percent after France, Spain and Italy.

More specifically, according to the ETC’s “Monitoring Sentiment for Domestic and Intra-European Travel” report, Greece was the 5th destination of choice mentioned by the Germans, Austrians, Belgians and the French, 4th for the British and Polish and 3^rd for the Italians.

Source: ETC.

Overall, according to the ETC, about 72 percent of Europeans intend to travel between April and September this year with leisure remaining the primary reason for travel (69 percent), though a drop of 7 percent over 2022 suggests a potential slowdown in the post-pandemic ‘revenge’ travel.

Furthermore data shows that this year, more Europeans are planning spring and early summer getaways with nearly 30 percent of travelers saying they intend to take an overnight trip between April and May, representing a 6 percent increase over 2022.

Additionally, 40 percent of those surveyed are considering travelling in early-to-mid summer (June to July).

Aegina, Greece.

In contrast, only 23 percent expect to take trips during August and September, a significant 9 percent drop from last year.

This shift in seasonal travel patterns may reflect a growing desire to avoid peak crowds and prices and extreme weather (heat waves) in popular  summer destinations.

“Despite financial concerns and higher travel costs, Europeans remain eager to travel,” said ETC President Luís Araújo adding that “it is encouraging to witness that more travelers choose off-peak summer travel to avoid overcrowding and peak prices, a trend that can support sustainable destination management”.

Halkidiki. Photo source: Visit Halkidiki.

Other key takeaways of the ETC report:

-Increasing travel costs due to inflation remain Europeans’ biggest concern (23 percent), together with personal finances (17 percent).

-Pleasant weather conditions (18 percent) are the strongest driver for choosing a destination, followed by attractive bargains (17 percent).

-In response to the rising travel costs, 37 percent of Europeans are now allocating larger budgets of over 1,500 euros per trip – a 7 percent increase from 2022.