Travel-hungry Europeans are defying local crises and political unrest, having undertaken record numbers of trips this year. Compared to last year, in 2014 the number of foreign trips rose by three per cent, reaching a new record. According to the ITB World Travel Trends Report, conducted by IPK International and commissioned by the world’s leading travel trade show, destinations such as Greece, Spain and the UK profited from this boom. All signs point to growth in 2015 as well.

Europeans refused to be deterred from traveling this year. Despite Europe’s weak economic growth and risks such as the crisis in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East and the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa Europeans traveled longer distances and more often. Compared to last year there was a three per cent rise in foreign trips, which on average were shorter. By contrast, spending per overnight grew by four per cent.

This year the number of trips undertaken in Europe, by far the largest market in terms of volume, grew by three percent. In 2014 long-distance travel was even more popular with Europeans.

Overall, during the first eight months of this year the number of international tourist arrivals in Europe rose to 413 million, an increase of 4.2 percent. Southern and Northern Europe both registered the highest growth rates, at plus seven per cent respectively. Countries ahead in the rankings included Greece, Spain, Turkey, Germany and the UK.

ITB Berlin, www.itb-berlin.com