Going out yes, but not at any price. If 7 out of 10 Europeans intend to travel between now and September, a large majority will prefer the months before August, according to a study by the European Travel Commission. The very high season is neglected due to rates considered excessive.
According to the ETC study, 40% of those surveyed plan to travel in early or mid-summer (June to July). In contrast, only 23% expect to take trips in August and September, a 9% drop from last year.
Plan ahead to pay less
This change in behavior is explained by the desire to escape crowds and heat waves, but above all to maintain a vacation length equivalent to previous years, despite inflation. The phenomenon had already been observed in the United States last year, now it affects Europe.
Another lesson from the ETC study: European travelers tend to book early to take advantage of better deals. When the study was published, 51% of Europeans had already booked their stay, 8% more than last year.
A behavior that contrasts with the Covid years, when we more often opted for the “last minute” due to the uncertainty linked to the pandemic. As of now, it is the increase in travel expenses due to inflation that remains the main concern of Europeans (23%).
France and Spain, favorite destinations
Main destinations: France and Spain, each attracting 8% of Europeans who intend to travel. It is followed by Italy (7%), Greece (6%) and Germany (5%). Belgium also enters the top 10 favorite destinations in Europe.
Pleasant weather conditions remain the first criteria for choosing a holiday destination (18%), followed by bargains (17%). Here too, the price criterion is decisive, even if it means changing the travel dates a bit.
The president of the ETC sees it more as an opportunity for the environment. “This positive trend supports the sustainable management of destinations by distributing tourist flows more evenly”, highlights Luís Araújo. “We advise destinations and businesses to closely monitor these trends to meet the changing needs of travelers.”
Source: BFM TV
