Summer Vacation: Many Have to Save This Year
The summer vacation is very important to most people. According to the mobility club ÖAMTC, this has not changed this year, even though many things have become more expensive. "96 percent want to travel at least once. The majority of respondents, 70 percent, also want to travel abroad, and about every second person wants to spend their vacation in Austria," explained travel expert Yvette Polasek, referring to the current ÖAMTC travel monitor, for which 1,000 people were surveyed in April.
At the time of the survey, however, only 40 percent had actually already booked. Only four percent of those surveyed online over a month ago are planning no summer vacation or are still undecided.
Some have to save a lot on summer vacation
That not all vacation wishes are fulfilled was also shown by last year's figures: The actual travel activity in summer 2024 was 89 percent, according to the information, but 95 percent had vacation plans. The main reasons against a trip given by the respondents were affordability as well as time and health reasons. 60 percent have to save on summer vacation this year, 20 percent even a lot.
"Travelers see savings potential mainly in accommodation, expenses on site, as well as in the number and duration of trips," reported Polasek. The majority of those saving choose specifically cheaper accommodations or pay more attention to their wallet during restaurant visits or excursions. "Mr. and Mrs. Austrian definitely do not want to give up their vacation."
The median vacation budget this year is 1,233 euros per person - that's 171 euros more than last year, but only nominally. Due to inflation, you don't actually get more for your money. "Travelers in the 60-plus age group and solo travelers plan with an above-average budget, whereas families with children have around 120 euros less per head than the population average," said the ÖAMTC travel expert.
Italy and Croatia in the lead
Significantly more than half of the respondents (58 percent) want to go to the sea in the summer months and enjoy spending their vacation traditionally on the beach. According to the survey, they are most looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the sun on vacation. "They prefer to do this in Italy or Croatia - these are again the top destinations for summer vacation this year," said Polasek. Greece is in third place among the most popular travel countries this year, followed by Germany and Spain.
Well over half (51 percent) of the respondents are also planning a vacation in Austria this summer - the federal states of Carinthia, Styria, and Lower Austria are particularly popular. 71 percent of travelers go on vacation with their own car. Only 37 percent limit themselves to the car - 21 percent combine the car with a plane and 13 percent with the train. "The majority of families with children, namely 75 percent, take advantage of traveling with a private car. This is much less common among solo travelers - about a third of solo vacationers (31 percent) travel by train, 27 percent also rely on the bus," Polasek further reported.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.