Almost three quarters (72%) of Europeans intend to travel this summer – with off-peak trips rising in popularity in the face of cost of living concerns and war in Ukraine, new data shows.
More people are planning spring and early summer getaways to beat rising costs, with almost 30% seeking to take an overnight trip between April and May, representing a 6% increase over 2022.
Additionally, 40% of those surveyed by the European Travel Commission (ETC) are considering travelling in early-to-mid summer – June to July.
In contrast, only 23% expect to take trips during August and September, a “significant” 9% drop from last year.
“This shift in seasonal travel patterns may reflect a growing desire to avoid peak crowds and heat waves,” the ETC said.
Increasing travel costs due to inflation remain Europeans’ biggest concern (23%), together with personal finances (17%). This could explain why 51% of Europeans have already made partial or full bookings for their next trip – an 8% increase from last year – in a bid to secure lower prices.
In response to the rising travel costs, 37% of Europeans are now allocating larger budgets of over €1,500 per trip – a 7% increase from 2022. Additionally, 19% of travellers expect to spend more on their upcoming trips than they typically do.
While travellers appear ready to shift dates to offset financial concerns, the findings suggest they are not willing to sacrifice the length of their holidays.
Figures from last year held steady, with a four to six-night trip still the most popular choice amongst Europeans (35%). Another 22% plan to travel for more than ten nights.
Many Europeans continue to consider multiple trips between April and September.
The data shows that 59% of respondents will take more than one trip in the coming months, with 35% planning to travel twice and another 24% heading for three or more getaways. In comparison, 31% will take only one trip over the same period.
Leisure remains the primary reason for travel (69%), but a drop of 7% over 2022 suggests a potential slowdown in the post-pandemic ‘revenge’ travel.
Business travel, in contrast, has recorded a 3% annual increase, now accounting for 8% of all intended trips.
Rising travel costs due to inflation, the ongoing war in Ukraine and concerns about extreme weather conditions play a part in Europeans’ travel choices for spring and summer 2023, according to the ETC.
Europeans over the age of 25 show a “high enthusiasm” to travel (74%), attributed to their relatively higher disposable income, which makes them less susceptible to the current economic situation. The younger Gen Z segment (18-24) remains more reluctant to plan holidays (61%).
Good weather (18%) is the strongest driver for choosing a destination, followed by attractive bargains (17%), lack of overcrowding (11%) and welcoming local communities (10%).
However, reflecting the increase in unpredictable weather conditions, 7% of European travellers cited extreme weather events as a significant worry.
The ongoing war in Ukraine remains another source of concern (12%), predominantly among Swiss, Polish, Austrian, Italian and Dutch respondents. As the conflict continues, it still impacts travel-related decisions for half of Europeans.
ETC president Luís Araujo said: “We are thrilled to see that despite financial concerns and higher travel costs, Europeans remain eager to travel.
“It is also encouraging to witness that more travellers choose off-peak summer travel to avoid overcrowding and peak prices.
“This positive trend supports sustainable destination management by spreading tourism flows more evenly. We advise destinations and businesses to closely follow these trends to meet the evolving needs of travellers.”