Europe is the world leader in international tourism, accounting for approximately 60 percent of international tourists worldwide in 2022. The growth rate of inbound tourism in the region accelerated in the 2010s, with Europe reporting more than 740 million inbound tourists at its peak in 2019. This number declined sharply with the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but recovered in 2022, but remained below pre-pandemic levels, reaching less than 600 million people. The total contribution of travel and tourism to Europe’s GDP in the same year amounted to approximately $1.9 trillion, down 7% from 2019 due to the impact of the health crisis. Over the same period, the contribution of travel and tourism to the European job market will decline by a total of 8.5%, with nearly 35 million jobs directly and indirectly created by these industries in 2022.
What are the most popular travel destinations in Europe?
Breaking down international tourist arrivals to Europe by region, Southern Europe/Mediterranean Europe emerged as the main market for inbound tourism before and after the impact of COVID-19. It is therefore no surprise that the Mediterranean destination ranked as the most visited country in Europe in 2022. That year, France topped the list with about 79 million arrivals, followed by Spain, Turkey and Italy. Meanwhile, Spain overtook the UK to become the European country with the highest international tourism receipts in 2022, with France in third place.
Travel planning and behavior of European tourists
A May 2023 study found that nearly six in 10 European travelers surveyed were planning an international trip within Europe in the next six months. Meanwhile, about a quarter of the sample supported domestic travel. Focusing on Europeans planning leisure travel domestically or within Europe, the preferred holiday type as of May 2023 is sun and beach holidays, followed by cultural trips and city breaks. Following that.
Overall, the proportion of European travelers who expressed an intention to travel domestically or to Europe in the next six months decreased from December 2022 to May 2023, with just under 70% of respondents planning an overnight trip. respondents said they are likely or very likely to plan to do so. Later in the month. The reduced desire to travel can be attributed to a range of factors, including the rising cost of a trip overall due to the impact of inflation on travel and tourism, which was ranked as Europeans’ main concern about traveling to Europe as of May. It has become. 2023.
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