More Europeans planning holidays this summer

Sixty percent of Europeans are planning to go on holiday this summer, the first increase in several years, according to a survey published Wednesday.

The holiday barometer by Ipsos for care services provider Europ Assistance, now in its fifteenth year, measures holiday plans between June and September, based on a sample of 3,510 Europeans -- French, German, British, Italian, Spanish, Belgian and Austrian.

In 2015, "after three years of decline or stagnation", plans to take summer holidays are on the rise again, with 60 percent of those questioned declaring they will go away this summer, up six percentage points on 2014.

The differences between countries are also tending to contract, with holiday plans rising significantly among the countries most affected by economic difficulties in recent years.

In Spain, holiday planners are up by 18 percentage points to 60 percent, in Italy they are up by eight points to 60 percent, and in Belgium by 10 points to 57 percent.

France and Germany, where plans had decreased to a lesser extent in recent years, have also returned to higher levels -- respectively by five percentage points to 63 percent and six points to 62 percent.

The United Kingdom remains at 55 percent, while Austria has lost a few points after a peak in 2014 and is down to 62 percent, according to the survey.

Alongside the uptick in holiday plans, Europeans have also found "a little more ease" financially speaking: the average holiday budget of Europeans in the eurozone "will amount this year to 2,390 euros ($2,650), or 180 euros more than last year", the survey indicated.

But this upward trend concerns the countries which already have the highest holiday budgets, such as Germany and Austria, whereas in Latin countries, namely Italy, France and Spain, "the trend is a steady or slightly decreased budget".

The seaside is the dream destination of most respondents -- 62 percent plan a beach holiday, as in 2014. The mountains however are gaining ground, with 20 percent intending to visit them against 18 percent in 2014 and 14 percent in 2013.

More Europeans are planning to travel within Europe this year -- up three percentage points to 79 percent -- with France, Italy and Spain by far the most popular destinations.

The French are much more concerned about security after the Paris attacks in January, with 38 percent saying they are very worried, up ten percentage points from 2014. There was also a significant rise in worry among Italians.
Source: AFP