What behaviors will European travelers observe in the next six months? The European Travel Commission tries to answer the question, providing information on traveler trends also in view of summer 2023. About 72% intend to travel between April and September and leisure remains the main reason for travel (69%). although the 7% decline from 2022 suggests a potential slowdown in post-pandemic “revenge” travel. Business travel, by contrast, has seen an annual increase of 3%, now accounting for 8% of all planned travel.
Seasonal adjustments could peep into the choices of tourists
Research Monitoring Sentiment for Domestic and Intra-European Travel explains that more Europeans are planning spring and early summer holidays. Nearly 30% of travelers said they plan to travel overnight between April and May, up 6% from 2022. In addition, 40% of respondents will consider traveling from early to mid-summer (June to July). Conversely, only 23% plan to travel in August and September, a significant drop of 9% from last year. This shift in seasonal travel patterns may reflect a growing desire to avoid “mass holidays” and heatwaves.
Furthermore, it appears that many Europeans are planning more trips between April and September 2023. Data shows that 59% of respondents will make more than one trip in the coming months, with 35% planning to travel twice and another 24% he will make three or more escapes. By comparison, 31% will only make one trip during the same period.
Will young Europeans travel more?
Europeans over the age of 25 show great enthusiasm for travel (74%). This trend can be attributed to their relatively higher disposable income, which makes them less susceptible to the current economic situation. The younger Gen Z audience (18-24 years old) remains more reluctant to plan vacations (61%).
Regardless of age, one element that seems to have entered the list of cost-benefit calculations for European travelers is the weather. Previously treated as a “lighter” variable, today it assumes a specific role due to the greater number of extreme events. Greater attention is also given to prices.
“Pleasant weather conditions (18%) are the strongest driver for choosing a destination, followed by attractive occasions (17%), lack of overcrowding (11%) and welcoming local communities (10%) – explains the ETC report -. However, reflecting the increase in unpredictable weather conditions, 7% of European travelers cited extreme weather events as a significant concern. Rising inflation-related costs have prompted European travelers to plan their holidays in advance. “Rising travel costs due to inflation remain the top concern of Europeans (23%), along with personal finances (17%). This – concludes the report – could explain why 51% of Europeans have already made partial or full bookings for their next trip, an increase of 8% compared to last year, in an attempt to secure lower prices”.
The complete report dedicated to the movements of European travelers is available here.
© Riproduzione Riservata
