Stats: Europe Travel Sentiment Up, But Intention to Travel Low

Sentiment for travel to Europe rose from January – April 2020 across six key markets, including the United States, according to the new Long-Haul Travel Barometer (LHTB) from the European Travel Commission (ETC), the European Tourism Association (ETOA), Eurail B.V. and the European Commission. The other markets showing growth were Brazil, China, India, Japan and Russia. The report is based on data collected in December 2019. 

The sentiment index for travel to Europe from the United States rose from 97 points to 103 points, although only 29 percent of U.S. respondents said that they plan to visit the region in the first four months of the year. Russia and Japan showed a similar trend, with the sentiment index also rising to 103 points for both markets, and 29 percent of Russian respondents and 18 percent of Japanese respondents reporting their intention to visit the region through the end of April. The report attributed the relatively low travel intentions to a potentially gloomy short-term economic outlook. 

As for what travelers want from their trip to Europe, respondents from the United States picked the following top five destinations to experience history, culture and natural scenery: France (36%), Italy (30%), Germany (19%), the UK (18%) and Spain (15%). Most Americans plan to spend up to two weeks in Europe, according to the report, with 63 percent of travelers planning to explore an average of 2.4 countries. Sixty-two percent anticipate that they will spend €50-€200 per day (approximately $54 - $216 at current exchange rates). 

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