Anxiety over rising coronavirus cases and stringent travel restrictions threaten to put travel plans in Europe on hold, a new survey shows.
The study of almost 6,000 people from ten countries by the European Travel Commission found that more than half (54%) intend to take a trip in the next six months, while a quarter (26%) plan to travel by next month.
But concern about travelling remains high as Europeans must navigate complicated restrictions and a persistent pandemic.
The report found that quarantines, shifting border regulations, plus unclear booking and cancellation policies, are creating obstacles for people with short-term travel plans and highlight the urgency for European governments to co-ordinate travel rules and regulations.
Primary concerns for those intending to travel in the short-term are quarantine measures during a trip (15%), rising numbers of Covid-19 cases (12%), the possibility of falling ill in destination (11%) and changing/unpredictable travel restrictions (10%).
Travel within Europe is a top choice with 41% intending to go on a domestic journey and 39% to other European destinations.
Countries heavily affected by the virus are still among the most popular destinations across Europe with Spain, France and Italy leading the ranking.
Among those planning to resume travel sooner, the most appealing types of leisure trips are sun and beach holidays (25%), followed by city breaks (19%) and nature/outdoors trips (16%).
Europeans prioritise health and safety (21%) on their travels but also factor in peace of mind and relaxation (14%) as well as affordability (13%). Health-wise, 20% consider air travel to be the least safe part of a journey.
For those with short-term travel plans, factors most important for decision-making are flexible cancellation policies (11%), social distancing on flights and transport (9%) and fully lifted travel restrictions (9%).
The results, as part of a co-funded European Union project, come from the first of six-monthly reports to gauge the impact of Covid-19 on the short-term travel intentions of European travellers.
ETC executive director Eduardo Santander said: “The report clearly indicates that Europeans’ appetite for travel is robust, but it is also being held back by understandable health worries and a discouraging array of Covid-related rules and restrictions.
“A harmonised approach and streamlining travel rules at a European level is the only solution for restoring consumer confidence and kick-starting travel recovery.”