Europeans still optimistic about travel but plans hampered by health concerns

European travellers are eager to resume travel, but anxiety over a rising number of coronavirus cases and stringent travel restrictions may cause many to put their anticipated journeys on hold, according to a new study released by the European Travel Commission (ETC) in the framework of a project co-funded by the European Union.

This is the first of six-monthly reports that gauge short-term travel intentions of European travellers from ten high-volume source markets to better understand and respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel in Europe. The report also provides information on people’s travel preferences, including types of destinations and experiences, holiday periods, and concerns relating to travel in the next months.

Despite the pandemic, Europeans remain optimistic about travel

A clear majority of respondents (54%) indicate that they intend to take a trip in the next six months, while 26% stated that they plan to travel by November 2020. Travel within Europe is a top choice with 41% intending to go on a trip domestically and 39% to other European destinations.

Notably, countries heavily affected by COVID-19 are still among the most popular destinations across Europe with Spain, France and Italy leading the ranking. Among those planning to resume travel sooner, the most appealing types of leisure trips are sun & beach holidays (25%), followed by city breaks (19%) and nature/outdoors trips (16%).

Europeans prioritise health and safety (21%) on their travels but also factor in peace of mind and relaxation (14%) as well as affordability (13%). Health-wise, 20% consider air travel to be the least safe part of a travel journey. For those with short-term travel plans, no factors are more important for decision-making than flexible cancellation policies (11%), social distancing in flights and transport (9%) and fully lifted travel restrictions (9%).

Travel restrictions and rising COVID-19 cases keep Europeans grounded

Anxiety about travelling remains high as Europeans must navigate complicated restrictions and a persistent pandemic. The ETC report found that primary concerns for those intending to travel in the short-term are quarantine measures during a trip (15%), rising numbers of COVID-19 cases (12%), the possibility of falling ill at the destination (11%) and changing/unpredictable travel restrictions (10%).

Coordinating European travel rules: A renewed urgency

The first report shows that quarantines, shifting border regulations, unclear booking and cancellation policies are creating obstacles for respondents with short-term travel plans and highlight the need for European governments to coordinate travel rules and regulations without delay.

“The report clearly indicates that Europeans’ appetite for travel is robust, but it is also being held back by understandable health worries and a discouraging array of COVID-related rules and restrictions,” said ETC executive director Eduardo Santander. “A harmonised approach and streamlining travel rules at a European level is the only solution for restoring consumer confidence and kick-starting travel recovery.”