European tourists are more likely to travel during these summer months, with a six per cent increase on last year’s figures, according to the latest survey from the European Tourism Commission (ETC).
75% of respondents, mainly from Spain, Italy and Britain, said they wanted to visit an EU country this summer, Schengen.News reports.
The survey also reveals that 36% of Europeans are planning a single trip in the coming months of 2024, an increase of 6% compared to 2023. At the same time, 33% of them will make two trips, and only 24% plan to make three or more.
As summer approaches, demand for southern destinations remains strong, with most European travellers (45%) choosing warmer destinations for their next holiday. Interest in southern Europe is stable compared to 2023, but down 10% compared to 2022. At the same time, western (18%) and northern (13%) destinations continue to enjoy strong demand.
Safety remains the main factor for EU travellers when choosing their next holiday destination
According to an ETC report, the most important factor travelers consider when choosing a vacation destination is perceived safety (16%), followed by pleasant weather (13%), shopping (11%), friendly locals and stable temperatures (both 8%).
In addition, most of the surveyed travelers who want to travel this summer plan to leave in June and July (45%), while 39% choose August and September. On the other hand, only 12% of them want to travel in October and November.
The main reasons, including the biggest concerns of visitors who want to travel this summer, are:
- High travel costs (21%, down three percent from 2023).
- Personal finances (16 percent).
- Geopolitical issues (11% are worried about the war between Russia and Ukraine and 10% about tensions in the Middle East).
At the same time, extreme weather conditions and transport disruptions are also major concerns for ten Europeans.
In early 2024, the ETC survey found that 76% of respondents said they were adapting their travel habits to climate change. 17% said they would avoid destinations with extreme temperatures, a figure that rises to 32% for those aged 55 and over, indicating that older travellers are more concerned about rising temperatures.
Overall, 16% of travelers prefer places with stable weather, 15% monitor weather forecasts, and 11% choose activities that are not weather dependent.
