During the first eight months of 2019 outbound trips from Europe rose by 2.5 per cent, with outbound trips from Eastern Europe recording a higher growth rate than those from Western Europe.
So says the latest research from the Munich-based research and marketing firm, IPK, in its World Travel Monitor forecast, * which also predicts higher growth in outbound trips from Europe for 2020
Other key highlights from the report include the following:
—Growth, yes, but at a weaker level than past year. After a strong rise by five per cent last year, during the first eight months of 2019 outbound trips from Europe increased by 2.5 per cent, a weaker figure than last year and below the global average of 3.9 per cent.
—Trips to America and Europe are more popular than
travel to Asia
As regards destination choices, during the first eight months of 2019 trips to
Europe performed better (plus three per cent) than to Asia (two per cent).
Long-haul trips by Europeans to America, which in recent years had risen only
slightly, were on the increase again (plus three per cent).
—City breaks continue to grow. Overall, holiday trips increased by three per cent during the first eight months of 2019. At seven per cent, city breaks were the biggest growth driver in the holiday market, followed by countryside holidays and cruises, which both grew by five per cent. Sun and beach holidays, still the most popular holiday type, registered two per cent growth over the same period. Round trips, after increasing significantly last year, rose by only one per cent so far this year.
—Higher growth expected for 2020. IPK International forecasts that in 2020 outbound trips by Europeans will increase by three to four per cent, thus a higher growth rate than in 2019 will be expected. This forecast is based on the findings of the “World Travel Confidence Index” of IPK International, which is part of World Travel Monitor polls people’s travel intentions for the next 12 months.
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*The World Travel Monitor is based on the results of representative interviews with more than 500,000 people in over 60 countries worldwide. It has been compiled for more than 20 years and is recognized as the most widescale continuous survey of global travel trends.
