A survey carried out by the European Travel Commission (ETC) and reported by Publituris, has concluded that the majority of Europeans who plan to travel this summer will do so before the peak month of August and, as travel prices continue to rise, prefer to book in advance. On the other hand, unpredictable weather patterns are now an additional concern for 7% of travellers in Europe.

ETC President Luís Araújo comments on the survey results noting that “we are excited to see that, despite financial concerns and higher travel costs, Europeans continue to be eager to travel”, adding that it is also “encouraging to witness that more travellers choose summer trips outside the peak months to avoid crowds and high prices”.

This trend, which Luís Araújo considers positive “supports the sustainable management of the destination, spreading tourist flows more evenly”. Therefore, it advises destinations and companies to closely follow these trends to meet the growing needs of travellers.”


“Revenge” travel


The ETC document indicates that around 72% of Europeans intend to travel between April and September of this year. Leisure remains the main reason for travel (69%), although the 7% drop from 2022 suggests a possible slowdown in post-pandemic ‘revenge’ travel. Business travel, on the other hand, saw a 3% year-on-year increase, now accounting for 8% of all planned travel.

Rising travel costs due to inflation, the ongoing war in Ukraine and concerns about extreme weather play a big role in Europeans' travel choices for spring and summer 2023.

Almost 30% of respondents said they intend to travel between April and May, representing a 6% increase compared to 2022. In addition, 40% of respondents are considering traveling in early summer (June to July). In contrast, only 23% expect to take trips during August and September, a significant drop from 9% year-on-year.

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% pointing to three or more getaways.