70% Of Europeans Planning a Trip in Next 6 Months Despite Cost-Of-Living Concerns
The European Travel Commission (ETC) has revealed in its most recent research that in spite of growing cost-of-living concerns, Europeans continue to embrace intra-EU travel and make plans for autumn and winter.
According to ETC, 40 per cent of Europeans are worried about increasing travel costs. However, 70 per cent of them have said that they plan on taking a trip in the next six months despite the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Sentiment for intra-European travel has also increased, with 62 per cent of the respondents planning to take a trip within the European Union this autumn and winter. This represents the strongest sentiment for intra-European travel recorded since 2020.
“While the cost-of-living crisis is another undeniable challenge for tourism in Europe, ETC is heartened to see that travel remains a priority for Europeans in the coming months. Now it is of the utmost importance for Europe to ensure a more resilient industry, supporting the digital and environmental transition and putting people at the centre of development,” President of ETC, Luís Araújo, said, commenting on the research.
ETC revealed that the research has further shown a six per cent drop since May 2022 in the number of citizens of Europe, stating that the war in Ukraine impeded their original plans. Around 52 per cent of the respondents said that the conflict would have no direct effect on their plans.
Likewise, fewer travellers from Europe are less likely to change their travel plans due to COVID-19. Only five per cent of the respondents said pandemic-related concerns prevented them from realising a plan that was already planned.
On the other hand, concerns related to the cost of travel are on the rise. Around 23 per cent of European travellers are worried about the possible increase in travel fees, and another 17 per cent are troubled by the effects that inflation has on their personal finances.
Regarding the travel budgets, they have remained at the same levels since September 2021. Of all the respondents, 32 per cent of them said that they plan to spend between €501 to €1,000 per person on their next trip.
Nonetheless, European are cutting the duration of their vacations compared to last year as their money does not stretch as far as before. Taking into account the increase in prices, preferences for three-night stays have increased from 18 per cent to 23 per cent, while longer trips of seven or more nigh have dropped from 46 per cent to 37 per cent. This suggests that travellers are getting less value for their money.
In addition to the above-mentioned, the research also showed that the intention to travel is lower among Gen Z (travellers between 18 to 24). Only 58 per cent of Gen Z have responded positively in contrast to all other age groups.
“This indicates a more hesitant outlook for younger travellers, which may also be attributed to concerns about personal finances and rising travel costs,” ETC emphasised.
On the other hand, European travellers over the age of 45 plan to travel the most in the next six months. Across all age groups, France is the most popular destination, followed by Spain, Italy, Germany, Croatia.
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