Europeans are confident about their ability to spend on travel this year, even as the cost of living continues to rise on the continent, with 54% of them believing they will have more money to spend on travel in 2024 than in 2023, according to with a survey developed by a leading hotel group worldwide.

The report, based on a survey of 8,000 travelers from seven European countries, shows that only 11% of respondents say they will have less money to spend.

According to Accor, Poles were the most confident about their travel spending power this year compared to last year, with 64% expecting an increase in their budget, compared to just 7% expecting a decrease.

Germans were the second most confident Europeans (61% vs. 13%), and even in Italy, the least confident of the seven nations, there were almost four times as many budget travelers (44%) as budget travelers (12%) ) .

Compared to last year, the number of foreign vacation trips that are expected to be made is slightly increasing, and international trips “for work” or “leisure”, that is, those that combine business and recreation, will also increase.

“Given that working patterns are becoming more flexible and employers are increasingly willing to give their employees more freedom of action regarding work travel, one in five Europeans (19%) expect to take at least one trip that combines work and leisure in 2024 “, the cited source notes.

Popular destinations in southern Europe are still top of mind for European travellers, with one in four (23%) planning a trip to Spain this year, followed by Italy (18%), France (16%), Portugal and Greece (13%) ) ) . Outside of Europe, 16% of European travelers plan to travel to North or Central America this year, and a similar proportion plan to travel to Asia.

Although they are spending more overall, the economy is not far from consumers’ minds – the vast majority (87%) are taking steps to cut costs where they can due to inflation and the rising cost of living. From choosing more affordable accommodation (27%) to cutting costs (27%), cost-cutting measures could influence travel deals in the coming year.

Seven in ten travelers (71%) say sustainability is important to their travel decisions. Among the sampled European countries, travelers from Italy are the most attentive to eco-travel, with 82% of them stating that the existence of sustainable options is important in the decision-making process. This is followed by Spain (78%) and Poland (77%), with British travelers trailing behind (61%).

Three out of four travelers (77%) say that environmental issues will definitely influence their travel or booking behavior. Among the actions they will take are to travel less often (11%), choose shorter flights (14%) and actively seek stable accommodation providers or tour operators (10%), the quoted source said.

However, despite the good intentions, travelers admit there are barriers preventing them from making sustainable travel choices, including conflicting cost pressures cited by 38% of respondents and a perceived lack of information (23%).

Climate change is also partly contributing to another trend, namely the avoidance of the peak season. One in three respondents in Europe (32%) say they will deliberately go on holiday in the off-peak season to cut costs, while one in five respondents (19%) expect to do so to avoid the risk of heat waves such as those observed last summer in southern Europe.

As a result, the tourist season may be longer in some places with hot weather, and some tour operators already offer vacations in warmer countries.

According to Accor, travelers first consider recommendations from friends and family when it comes to where to go on vacation, with 35% of them saying these recommendations influence their vacation plans and 29% saying they were influenced by reviews in Internet from portals or websites of hotels.

One in six people (16%) are influenced by trends they’ve seen on TV or in movies. About 12% of respondents are influenced by destinations they saw on social media – the same proportion of those who were influenced by travel agency advice.

Hotels dominate as the most popular type of holiday accommodation for European travellers, with two-thirds (65%) planning to stay in 2024. When it comes to choosing a hotel, cost and location are the most important factors. However, travelers are also attracted to hotels that offer great service, with 21% citing this as a key factor when booking accommodation. Other factors that determine bookings include food and beverage quality (37%), special atmosphere (17%) and contact with the local destination (11%), according to the International Hotel Report. group.

On the other hand, 17% of European travelers will travel alone in 2024, and 9% of tourists plan to take pets with them.

“A deeper connection: 36% of respondents say it’s important to get to know the local culture and communities they visit while on vacation, and 13% want to feel like they’re making a positive contribution to the destination. Rest and relaxation is the most important thing about a vacation for 44% of travelers, and 15% currently need a break because they have an uneven work-life balance. 36% say that it is important to choose a trip that will allow them to take care of their physical and mental health. to be and leave stress behind,” the Accor report also states.

9% of travelers say they will make a trip centered around a gastronomic experience such as a wine tasting or food festival, 9% around a musical event such as a concert, and 6% will make a trip to a sporting event. events such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.

In terms of preferred mode of transport, 19% intend to travel by car this year, 9% by boat or cruise, and 3% by luxury train.

“Despite current macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges, 2024 looks set to be a strong year for European travel as consumers favor it over other forms of discretionary spending. This report reinforces several overarching themes, none more important than the climate crisis. care about how travel companies approach sustainability and over time it will become increasingly important to their travel choices,” Patrick Mendes, CEO of Premium, Midscale & Economy, Accor Europe & North Africa, was quoted as saying in the statement.

Accor commissioned One Poll to conduct the research between January 13 and 23, 2024. 8,000 adults intending to travel domestically or internationally were surveyed from 7 European countries: Great Britain, Poland, Germany, Holland, France, Spain and Italy.

Accor is a leading global hotel group that offers experiences in more than 110 countries through 5,400 hotels, 10,000 restaurants and bars, wellness facilities or flexible workplaces. The group has over 40 hotel brands, from luxury to economy, and lifestyle through Ennismore. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and listed on Euronext Paris and the US OTC market.

In Romania, the group currently owns 20 hotels with 2153 rooms.