There is a strong recovery in travel enthusiasm across Europe, with demand fully recovering to pre-pandemic levels, according to a report from the travel information agency Testing forward.
One of the main draws for Europe this summer will be the Olympic Games in Paris, but other major cities on the continent are emerging as popular travel destinations. It’s not just major cities in Europe like Paris, London and Madrid that are seeing an influx of demand; all 44 European countries are seeing increased demand.
Along with major events such as the Paris Olympics, improved connectivity and transport links have made traveling within Europe easier. There is also a shift among travelers to visit nature and urban destinations instead of traditional sun and beach spots, making other previously less-traveled locations more of a priority.
The main draw this summer will be the Olympic Games in Paris, which will take place from Friday, July 26, 2024 to Sunday, August 11, 2024. The excitement surrounding this event has led to a significant increase in flight searches and bookings.
Other destinations that have grown in popularity include London, Istanbul, Rome and Milan, as well as Tirana, Yerevan and Tbilisi. Conversely, Spain, Greece and Portugal are experiencing a decline after a post-COVID surge in demand.
The shift towards nature and urban destinations has grown more strongly than traditional sun and beach destinations in Europe. Travel in nature has increased by 19%, travel in the city has increased by 14%, while the number of sun and beach locations is only 8%.
In addition to the number of inbound trips to Europe, outbound trips are also increasing, both intra-European and long-distance trips. There is a 14% growth in intra-European travel, while more than 132% interest is going to places like Beijing and 66% to Osaka.
With demand fully returning to pre-pandemic levels, European travel is increasing with no end in sight. The continent attracts tourists from all over the world who want to visit its historic sites, along with lesser-known travel destinations in more remote locations.
