This year, nearly half of Europeans will forego summer holiday trips. Only 54% of residents of Western European countries plan to travel far afield. This is according to the results of an annual study by Europ Assistance. Last year, the number planning trips during the summer holidays was 58%, and in 2011 it was 66%.
The number of Italian and Spanish holidaymakers is expected to drop the most. If in 2011 78% of Italians planned to spend their summer holidays away from home, this year that number has fallen to 53%. In Spain, the same figure dropped from 65% to 42% over the same period. The average monthly budget of a Spanish holidaymaker is expected to fall by €256 compared to last summer, to €1,607. The budget of an Italian will rise by €71 to €1,761.
In Germany, 52% of the population plans to spend their holiday away from home (in 2011 it was 60%). The holiday budget of German residents will decrease by €129 to €2,343. At the same time, only 13% of Germans intend to take more than one trip during the summer holidays, one of the lowest rates in Western Europe. Multiple trips are planned by 22% of Austrians and 26% of Britons.
The economic crisis has had the least impact on the summer plans of the French, 62% of whom will go on holiday trips (in 2011 it was 68%). Planned spending also increased slightly, by €28 to €2,140.
64% of European holidaymakers plan to head to the seaside this summer, 17% will tour cities, and 14% will go to the mountains.
Carmen Kirsing,
“Russkaya Germaniya”.