In 2012, tourism demand of EU residents was concentrated in the third quarter, mainly in August followed by July, when respectively 12.4 % and 11.1 % of the entire year’s trips were made. The number of trips in the peak month (August) was 2.4 times higher than the number of trips in the slowest month (January).
When taking into account the duration of the trips, the seasonal pattern was even more pronounced, with EU residents spending more than one in three nights away in these two months, August (17.1 %) and July (16.5 %). The number of nights spent in the peak month (August) was 3.8 times higher than the number of nights spent in the slowest month (November).
In August 2012 EU residents made more than 89 million long trips of at least four overnight stays. This represents 18 % of all long trips made through the entire year, while if we look at the summer season from June to September more than half of all long trips were made during these four months.
The distribution of short trips over the twelve months was relatively even. June was the most popular month for trips between one and three overnight stays, closely followed by March, May and December.
In 2012, EU residents made over 909 million trips in their own Member states (domestic trips) and nearly 288 million trips abroad. The spread of domestic and trips abroad over the twelve months of the year is relatively comparable although the summer and Christmas peaks are more pronounced in the domestic segment.
Domestic and outbound trips made during the peak month (August) were respectively 2.3 and 2.6 times more than those made in the slowest month (January).
For more information, please click here.
Share
