In
Europe, the effects of the economic situation on the continent’s
tourism industry are wide-ranging, but the overall trend remains
positive. This is one of the findings of the ITB World Travel Trends
Report, compiled by IPK International and commissioned by ITB Berlin.
The report forecasts that in 2013 Europeans will undertake even more
trips abroad. Europe can also expect more arrivals.
This
year, the number of stays abroad and spending at destinations rose
by around 2 %. At the same time Europeantravel patterns changed
– thus beach
holidays fell by one per cent, while city
tours grew by around 14 per cent. Short breaks of one to three
overnights rose by ten per cent and business stays abroad increased
by eight per cent.
Portugal,
Spain and Italy benefited from a rise in trips from Eastern Europe.
Italy reported two per cent growth in inbound tourism and an increase
in visitors from Russia and Poland. Their numbers offset the slight
decline in arrivals from Germany and the UK. Similarly, Spain and
Portugal each reported a three per cent rise in inbound tourism.
The
report also discovered that Europeans increasingly favour
faraway destinations: long-haul travel rose by around
four per cent. The main beneficiaries of this trend were the Americas
and the Asia Pacific region, where inbound tourism rose by two and
all of eight per cent respectively. Short-haul trips
to destinations within Europe and to the Mediterranean rose
by two per cent.
Different travel patterns
in individual European markets
Economic
uncertainty in a number of European countries is also impacting
on travel patterns. Thus, Italy reported a five per cent
drop and Spain a two per cent decline in outbound trips. By contrast,
the figures for Switzerland and Norway were good. These countries
benefited from high exchange
rates and reported ten and six per cent
increases in outbound travel respectively. Conversely,
despite a flourishing economy Germany’s figures stagnated, and UK
outbound travel also grew by only one per cent.
In
spite of its political and economic difficulties, Europe remains a
sought-after destination. Spain, Germany and many Central and Eastern
European countries reported five per cent plus increases in
international visitors from Europe and overseas. The weak euro and
strong dollar helped to make Europe a popular travel destination,
with Americans for example. Japan also began to attract tourists
again, having gradually recovered from the disasters of 2011. China,
India and Brazil, where the middle classes are expanding, are
among new
markets gaining in importance. Thus, a one to
three per cent increase in international arrivals at
European destinations is forecast for 2013.
Cautiously
optimistic forecast for 2013
Despite
the economic tensions in Europe the forecasts for 2013 are cautiously
optimistic. Overall, the ITB WorldTravel Trends Report predicts
a moderate increase in European outbound travel of around
one to two per cent. Only one-third of Europeans said the recession
would affect their travel plans in 2013. Russian outbound
tourism is expected to rise by nine per cent, and UK and German
outbound numbers by five and three per cent respectively. 28 per cent
of Europeans said they wanted to travel more in 2013, 21
per cent said they would be travelling less.
Dr.
Martin Buck, director of the Competence Center Travel &
Logistics at Messe Berlin: “The report’s findings illustrate the
wide-ranging impact of economic developments on European tourism
forecasts. Changing travel patterns mean that European
countries will have to adapt to a much greater variety of demand. All
the same, the outlook for next year is mostly positive.”
Launched
by the consultancy IPK International and sponsored by ITB Berlin,
every year at the World Travel Monitor Forum in Pisa,
tourism experts and scientists from around the world present current
statistics and the latest
trends in international tourism.
Details
of the studies will be presented by the ITB World Travel Trends
Report, which will be published in early December at
www.itb-berlin.com. The report is based on the assessments of around
50 tourism experts from 30 countries, on a special IPK International
trend analysis undertaken in major source markets, and on core data
supplied by the World Travel Monitor®, recognised as the
largest continuous survey of
global travel trends in some 60 source countries.
The
findings reflect trends which emerged during the first eight months
of 2012. At the ITB Berlin Convention Rolf Freitag, CEO of IPK
International, will present the findings for the entire year, as well
as the latest forecasts for 2013.
