Not only Chinese, many tourists from Brazil, Australia, Canada and the US said that Europe is still the main choice for long trips in May-August this year. In addition, hotels in Europe want Chinese tourists to return because they understand the need to spend "big" money of this group of customers.
European tourism is on the rise
The two markets with the highest intentions to visit Europe short-term are China and Brazil. 73% of Chinese respondents hope to visit Europe in the summer, with 52% saying they have already made detailed plans for their trip to the continent. Behind China, Brazil is the second most likely to choose to visit European countries, with 52%.
In three other countries, Australia, Canada and the US, the number of tourists who want to visit Europe is close to each other at 38%, 37% and 36%. The majority of visitors are under 50 years old.
Tourists from China, Brazil, and the US want to visit tourist destinations in Europe this summer. Photo: Schengenvisainfo.
London (UK), Paris (France) and Dublin (Ireland) topped the list of 10 most popular destinations for tourists at the beginning of the year, according to travel insurance provider Allianz Partners. Capitals such as Rome (Italy), Reykjavik (Iceland), Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Lisbon (Portugal) also made the top 10 list.
According to a survey by Schengen Visa Info, the cost of tourism products and services in Europe has increased by almost 10% compared to the summer of 2021-2022. Hotel prices continue to rise sharply on the continent. According to travel management company American Express Global Business Travel (AEGBT), hotel prices in Europe will increase the most this year. Paris will increase by 10% compared to the previous year, Stockholm by 9% and Dublin by 8.5%, are the destinations where AEGBT predicts the highest increases.
Europe is of interest to tourists because the continent meets three main criteria including the perception of safety, tourism amenities and affordability of tourism services. “When choosing a tourist destination, tourists are still interested in famous landmarks, followed by whether the weather conditions at the destination are favorable for sightseeing or not,” the ETC report said.
Expensive
The increasing number of tourists flocking to European countries has caused the prices of services and hotels to increase significantly. Many tourists are forced to switch to trains or ferries due to the high prices of air tickets during the peak summer tourist season.
Many Japanese tourists say East Asian destinations remain their top choices. Photo: Clement/Unsplash.
Many tourists from other countries and people living in Europe are also having difficulty planning summer trips. Sarah Ferguson is a resident of Florida (USA) but moved to Amsterdam city since April 2021. However, this person said that she has not been able to return to the US with her family because she cannot afford the cost of six plane tickets.
As costs rise, discount programs such as loyalty programs or lower hotel standards are preferred by tourists. In addition, tourists also choose less expensive restaurants and choose self-service dining establishments to optimize costs.
According to ETC, cutting shopping expenses by 37% is the top budget strategy for foreign tourists.
Furthermore, through the survey, many tourists said they prioritize choosing destinations that protect cultural and natural heritage.
