A new survey shows how vacationers are planning their summer vacations this year. In European comparison, the Swiss results stand out in several respects.
Benjamin Weinmann / chmedia
The countdown has begun: in a few days, the summer holidays will begin in many cantons. But where does Switzerland travel? How much do households spend on their holiday thirst? And how are holidays planned in other European countries? The insurance company Europ Assistance – a subsidiary of Generali – has looked into these questions with the help of the market research institute Ipsos. As part of this annual study, 1,000 people were surveyed in 21 countries. CH Media and therefore Watson has exclusive access to the results.
It appears that only 18% of Swiss households plan to spend their vacation in their beloved Helvetia. No other country has such a low figure, suggesting that the Swiss are most attracted to distant destinations. Belgium and Germany follow with almost 20%.
At the other end of the scale, we find Spain: almost one in two respondents say they stay in their country during the summer holidays. They are only slightly fewer in France and Italy.
The Swiss holiday budget: 4000 francs
The apparent need to spend vacation days abroad is undoubtedly also linked to purchasing power. Indeed, according to the survey, Swiss households have the largest budget available for summer vacation, with around 4,000 francs, that is to say for transport, accommodation, meals and activities. on the spot. Within Europe, the average is around 2400 francs.
And despite higher health insurance premiums, more expensive rents and often no compensation for inflation, The Swiss budget indicated is even 600 francs higher than the amount of the previous year.Only travelers from the United States and Australia have such a high holiday budget for summer vacations.
With such a high budget, it is possible to travel further. Despite all the talk about the climate impact of flights, 57% of Swiss people indicate in the survey that they will fly to their holiday destination, because the journey must above all be comfortable and convenient. For 40%, the car is the preferred mode of transport.
Inflation is making itself felt
However, hotel and flight prices have increased in many places this year – inflation is taking its toll. It is therefore possible that the increase in the budget is also linked to the expected increase in costs and not just to the desire to have fun. Next to Half of those surveyed also indicated that they wanted to spend less on site. to compensate for other price increases.
Turkish destinations like Antalya have become particularly expensive, as an assessment by Migros travel subsidiary Hotelplan shows. The Canary Islands, which include Tenerife, and Majorca have also become more expensive. “Not everyone can afford it anymore,” explains Nicole Pfammatter, head of Hotelplan Suisse. So, the average price per passenger for a vacation in Antalya, for example, is almost 30% higher than the level of 2019 and about 8% higher than the previous year.
The majority travel with family
Another conclusion of the Europ Assistance study: more than half of Swiss travelers choose hotels as accommodation, a quarter prefer rentals and 20% plan to sleep at parents’ or friends’ houses. And with whom should you go for a walk on the beach or a sightseeing tour of the city? Four out of five people prefer to spend their holidays with their family, about two thirds go as a couple with their partner, and 16% of the survey participants go on holiday alone or with friends.
There are no big surprises when it comes to the question of preferred destination: One in four people cite Italy first. France and Spain come in second and third, but southern destinations are likely to find it increasingly difficult to establish themselves due to global warming. The major Swiss travel agencies are seeing that many customers are increasingly postponing their holiday plans until the cooler autumn and are opting for destinations in the far north. Kuoni, for example, is now promoting all the cooler destinations online under the title “Cool Summer”.
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Translated and adapted from German by Léa Krejci
