This Flash Eurobarometer was carried out at the request of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs by the TNS Political & Social network in the 28 Member States of the European Union, and in Turkey, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Montenegro and Moldova, between 22 and 28 January 2015.
Eurobarometer survey identifies trends in travel – not only where people intend to go and how long they plan to stay, but also how do they find out about transport, accommodation, sites to see and places to eat, and how they go about arranging their trips.
Europeans are planning more travel in 2015, continuing the trend from 2014. Out of 27 051 respondents to a Eurobarometer survey, 45% said they will go on holiday this year without changing their previous plans, while 32% said they will go on holiday but with changed plans. 11% will not go on holiday as a result of the economic situation, while 4% say they never go on holiday. Finally, 8% said they do not know if the economic situation will affect their plans.
The proportion of Europeans travelling in 2014 for either personal or professional reasons slightly increased (72%) from the previous year. In 2012, 47% of respondents took their main holiday in their own country, while 33% went to other EU countries. The proportion taking holidays abroad has since increased. This is part of a longer term trend towards more holidays outside of one’s own country. In 2014, nearly 40% of travellers took their main holiday outside of their own country. Spain was again the most popular foreign destination (15%), followed by Italy (11%), and France (10%). Germany (8%) and Austria (6%) came next and were followed by North Africa/The Middle East (6%), Greece (5%), and Asia/Oceania (5%).
48% (up from 46%) gave spending time in the sun or at the beach as a main reason for going on holiday. 36% mentioned visiting family, friends, or relatives, and 31% said that nature was one of the main reasons they went on holiday in 2014.
Main reason for not going on holidays: Financial reasons are the main reason for why respondents did not go on holiday (42%, down from 46% in 2012), followed by health reasons (15%), and a lack of free time due to work/study commitments (13%). In three countries, the primary reason for not going on holiday was a preference to stay at home with no motivation to travel: Sweden (31%), Belgium (26%), and Austria (25%).
Over half of respondents (55%) mentioned the recommendations of friends, colleagues or relatives, when making decisions about their travel plans. Just under half (46%) mentioned Internet websites.
The Internet (66%) was by far the most common way of organising a holiday and its use is constantly growing. It is particularly popular for booking short holidays.
Booking the various parts of a holiday separately remains popular among Europeans (41 %).
33% of respondents stayed with friends or relatives, 18% stayed on their own property or in a second home, 12% stayed on a campsite, and 12% stayed in another type of accommodation.
The natural features of a holiday destination are seen as the main reason for wanting to return to the same place according to 47% of respondents. The quality of accommodation is the next most significant factor (33%), followed by cultural and historical attractions (30%).
