Greece a Top Choice for Long-haul Travelers this Summer

Greece is among the most popular countries for summer holidays in 2024 by long-haul travelers who are now prioritizing quality and safety, according to the Long-Haul Travel Barometer (LHTB) 2/2024 released this week by the European Travel Commission (ETC) and Eurail BV.

More specifically, based on the study which polled some 7,000 travelers from seven major overseas markets – Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, and the US – Greece ranks sixth together with Switzerland.

The top 3 preferred destinations for the summer ahead, according to ETC, are France with 36 percent, Italy (31 percent) and Germany (22 percent). Completing the list are the UK (22 percent); Spain (18 percent); Greece and Switzerland (13 percent); Austria and Portugal (12 percent); Denmark and Netherlands (9 percent); and Belgium, Finland, Ireland and Sweden( 7 percent).

According to the report, 59 percent of those surveyed said they were interested in overseas travel this summer up by 9 percent over 2019.

ETC analysts note that despite Europe’s appeal gradually picking up slowly due to security and affordability concerns, it remains a top destination choice, with 41 percent of surveyed individuals planning to visit this summer, down by 4 percent on 2019 levels.

Other key takeaways include:

– travelers from China and Brazil are the most eager to visit Europe this summer, with 62 percent and 52 percent of travelers planning a trip.

– second in line, holiday makers from the US (40 percent) and Canada (42 percent), followed by Australia (37 percent) and South Korea (35 percent).

– across all markets, younger travelers (ages 18-24 and 34-49) and those with higher incomes show the strongest preference for trips to Europe

– safety is now the top criterion for long-haul travelers when choosing a destination in Europe this summer with 45 percent of those polled prioritizing European destinations perceived as secure, up by 9 percent over summer 2022 and by 6 percent over summer 2023

– 38 percent said quality tourism infrastructure was important

– 31 percent of respondents said ‘stable weather conditions’ were a top factor

– 67 percent of long-haul travelers to Europe are opting for multi-country itineraries

– 51 percent of international travelers within Europe said they prefer full-service airlines and 30 percent traveling by train

– there is a growing desire for more immersive travel experiences

– a greater interest in extended holidays was reported with one- to two-week trips the most popular choice (57 percent)

– interest in two-week trips or longer is up by 8 percent over 2019 to 21 percent in 2024

“We are seeing an increased interest in longer stays, allowing tourists to develop a deeper connection with the local culture and support the businesses that make each destination unique. In addition, the openness to off-season travel presents a golden opportunity to spread tourism more evenly throughout the year. This can help reduce peak periods’ social and environmental strain and better support destinations’ visitor economy,” said ETC President Miguel Sanz.