OUR Hellas ranks 5th in the preferences of Europeans as sight choice, but it is followed by Croatia, which has recorded impressive growth in tourism in recent years. Important for Greece is the fact that holidays in the sun and at sea, the most basic product of our country, remain the preferred type of holiday for Europeans (17%), followed by urban holidays (16%) and culture and heritage (15%). .

In terms of individual markets, it is indicated that Greece ranks 5th in the preferences of the Germans, 4th in the preferences of the French and Austrians, and 3rd in the preferences of the Poles.

Enjoying natural scenery (19%), tasting local cuisine (17%) and experiencing local culture (15%) are currently the most popular travel experiences. In addition, the majority of Europeans, namely 77%, intend to make at least one trip in the first six months of 2023. This figure represents a significant increase of 16% compared to the respective intentions of the Europeans last year. These conclusions follow from the latest Mindhouse research this was done on behalf of the European Travel Commission (ETC) with data collected over the previous two months from a sample of 6,000 people from all of Greece’s major tourism markets.

77% of Europeans intend to make at least one trip in the first six months of 2023.

According to the survey, the top three criteria for choosing the next travel destination are pleasant weather (18%), travel opportunities and offers (17%) and friendly locals (12%). For travelers aged 25 to 44, attractive offers are the most important decision-making factor. However, the priority given to sustainable development seems to be low: only 6% of respondents consider the actions of destinations to preserve natural and cultural heritage as the main choice factor.

However, Europeans are showing an increasing desire to travel outside their own country: 63% of respondents now prefer international travel within Europe. This represents a double-digit growth of 13% in just one year. Despite worries about inflation and consumer confidence in Europe, the survey shows that Europeans’ planned holiday budget remains unchanged, indicating their determination to travel despite economic uncertainty. 37% of Europeans say they will continue to spend €1,000 to €2,000 per person per trip on their next holiday. A percentage that increased by 6% over last year. In fact, 19% say they intend to spend more, exceeding the €2,000 limit.

In any case, the survey shows that the current economic situation remains a major problem for travelers. Rising travel costs worry 23% of Europeans. In this environment, potential travelers are responding to economic challenges with more proactive and flexible shopping behavior. Europeans are traveling earlier than a year ago: 44% have already fully or partially booked their next holiday, up 7% from 2022. When choosing a destination, attractive offers and opportunities (17%) are the key factor, second only to good weather (18%).

Another behavioral change the study points to has to do with spending habits while traveling. The majority of respondents plan to cut back on shopping at their destination (18%), book cheaper accommodation (16%) and choose more affordable restaurants (15%) to meet their vacation budget.