The Europ Assistance - Ipsos Holiday Barometer (now at its 16th edition) is back this year to reveal how citizens in Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Austria), and in United States and Brazil, plan to spend their summer holidays, exploring trends such as destinations and work-life balance.
- What’s new?
Fewer Europeans will go on summer holidays in 2016: just 54% of them can afford the travel expenses, 7% less than in 2015.
The share will be higher in United States and Brazil, with 61% and 64% expected to travel.
- Where will Europeans go?
The majority of French (64%), Spanish (69 %), and Italians (74%) will remain in their own countries.
Southern Europe will also be favoured this year by Germans (36%), Belgians (39%) and Austrians (51%).
North Africa and Maghreb (29%) as well as Turkey (24%) will be avoided due to concern about the risk of terrorist attacks.
- Seaside or mountain?
Every year, Europeans invariably prefer the seaside (67%), far more than the mountains (20%), countryside (17%), cities (17%) or touring holidays (17%).
Americans and Brazilians are on average much more drawn to other destinations. 43% of the Americans and 42% of Brazilians are planning a city stay for their holidays this summer.
- Work and social networks: who stays connected?
Germans holidaymakers (80%) are the most likely to make a clear break from work during their holidays. On the opposite side we have Belgians 56% and Americans (53%).
Executives and independent workers (52% and 60%) are less likely to completely log off than employees and manual workers (70%).
Trends are quite similar with regards to social networks: on average in Europe only 39% of holidaymakers will stay connected (28% in Germany).
60% of Americans and 65% of Brazilians would not consider holidays without keeping the link with their social networks.
