75% of Europeans are planning to travel between May and October 2024, with interest in leisure travel up 5% compared to last year. Older people are particularly keen to travel, while younger travellers tend to book in advance. Safety, pleasant weather and good value for money are cited as top factors when choosing a travel destination.
According to the European Travel Commission’s (ETC) latest report, “Monitoring sentiment regarding intra-European travel”, wave 18:[1]75% of Europeans surveyed plan to travel between May and October 2024, representing a significant increase of 3% compared to the same period last year.
37% of respondents are planning one trip, while 57% are planning two or more trips during this period. Southern European destinations are preferred by 43% of travelers, with Italy and Spain ranking high.
Air traffic in Europe is approaching pre-pandemic levels, with intentions to fly to holiday destinations reaching 55%, up 5% compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, 28% of travellers plan to drive to their destination, while 13% opt for greener travel by train or bus.
Commenting on the survey results, ETC President Miguel Sanz said: “It is very positive to see that Europeans maintain their desire to travel despite the ongoing geopolitical and economic situation. Popular destinations will continue to perform well this summer, but there are also great opportunities for lesser known, tranquil destinations, as many travellers are looking for peaceful and authentic experiences.”
Europeans planning to travel this spring and summer
Despite safety concerns and financial constraints, Europeans have shown remarkable resilience when it comes to traveling this summer: enthusiasm to travel is widespread across all age groups over 25, reaching 81% among more mature travelers (over 55).
This determination, combined with a desire to secure better value for money vacations, is leading people to book early: Some 52% of European travelers (including 56% of 18-24 year olds) have already booked all or part of their upcoming travel plans.
The most popular trip length is 4 to 6 nights, preferred by 36% of respondents, followed by 7 to 9 nights (26%) and 10 nights or more (21%). Travel budgets remain stable compared to a year ago, with 42% of respondents planning to spend up to 1,000 euros per person on their next trip, including both accommodation and transport.
Safety awareness is important when choosing a travel destination
Amid geopolitical tensions, extreme weather and economic uncertainty, prioritizing safety is the most important factor influencing traveller decisions. Feeling safe is the number one criterion when choosing a travel destination (16%), followed by a pleasant climate (13%), good prices or attractive deals (11%), a friendly local community (9%) and a low cost of living in the destination (8%).
Despite their strong desire to travel, 22% of Europeans are worried about the rising costs of travel, and 17% are worried about their personal finances in the current economic climate. Furthermore, geopolitical tensions such as the conflict in Ukraine and unrest in the Middle East are also increasing anxiety, with 12% and 10% expressing anxiety respectively. Transport disruptions (10%), congestion (9%) and extreme weather (8%) are also key concerns.
Beautiful scenery and local cuisine are my favorite things to do on holiday
A significant proportion of European travelers are preparing to take intra-regional trips in May-June (34%) and July-August (44%), with a further 17% planning trips in September and October. Leisure travel is on the rise, with 74% expressing a desire to splurge, a 5% increase on last year.
Topping the list of travel destinations this summer are Italy and Spain, attracting interest from 8% of respondents each, closely followed by France (7%), Greece (6%) and Germany (5%).
The line-up reflects Europeans’ desire for sun and beach trips (20%) and city breaks (16%), which emerged as the most popular vacation types in the following months. European travellers cited enjoying scenic beauty (19%) as their most preferred vacation experience, followed by trying local cuisine (17%), immersing themselves in local culture (15%) and admiring famous landmarks (15%).
The project is co-financed by the European Union.
The complete synopsis can be downloaded here
[1] The 18th survey presents data collected in April 2024. The survey was conducted in Germany, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Poland and Austria.
