Destinations in Europe Top Long-haul Travelers’ Fall Wish Lists, Says ETC

Photo Source: ETC.

Long-haul travelers are keen on visiting destinations in Europe this fall despite increasing airfares and inflationary pressures, found the latest Long-Haul Travel Barometer (LHTB) released by the European Travel Commission (ETC) in collaboration with Eurail BV.

The LHTB monitors travellers’ intentions to visit Europe in six key long-haul markets – Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, and the United States. The latest issue covers travel sentiment in the September-December 2023 period.

Greece together with France, Italy, Germany and the UK are among destinations in high demand for long-haul vacationers who are planning to take at least one trip until the end of the year. Greece was also in the top 10 preferred destinations in Europe for vacationers from Canada, Australia, Brazil, and the US from May to August.

Despite the cost-of-living crisis, holidaymakers polled said they would be using new strategies to maximize their travel experience and opting for low-cost flights and rail passes for inter-European transport.

According to the ETC’s September-December findings, intent for travel to Europe is stronger compared to last year with over half (52 percent) of those surveyed expressing a desire to travel to Europe by the end of the year.

Leading the way are travelers from China, 74 percent of which said they intend to visit a European destination by December 2023. Japanese respondents showed a significant surge in travel intention to Europe, up 12 percent compared to the same period in 2022.

Source: ETC.

Travel enthusiasm also increased in the US (+3 percent) and Canada (+2 percent), but dropped slightly in Australia (-3 percent) and Brazil (-3 percent).

Source: ETC.

“After a long period of disruption due to the Covid pandemic, Europe is reestablishing its connection with Asian tourists. The appeal remains strong to long-haul travelers all over the world, with Europe’s timeless culture and history acting as the biggest draw,” said ETC President Miguel Sanz.

He went on to add that the trend this year is an increased interest in traveling by rail and in slow travel. “Now more than ever, it’s important that we pay special attention to the responsible development of the tourism industry,” Sanz added.

Photo Source: ETC.

Other key takeaways of the September-December ETC report include:

– high prices are reshaping the way tourists plan to travel

– prospective travelers in all six markets under review cite high prices as their primary deterrent with 45 percent of respondents in Brazil and 40 percent in Australia saying that escalating costs are discouraging them from traveling to Europe

Source: ETC.

– 32 percent of travelers -up from 28 percent a year ago- are placing greater importance on the affordability of services and experiences at destinations

– 35 percent said they will slash shopping expenses to save on their holiday

– 30 percent said they plan to use loyalty schemes and affordable all-inclusive packages

– culture and history, gastronomy and urban experiences, slow travel, famous sites and iconic landmarks, favorable weather conditions are the top reasons cited for travel to a particular destination in Europe.