Rest and relaxation, get away from it all and reduce stress: these are the main travel motives for Austrians this year as well. Only very few want to be dissuaded by Corona, which according to Branimir Toncinic, President of Corps Touristique, will not change even through Omikron and possible other restrictions. “People long for a normal environment,” he said in a press conference on Thursday. You could already see that in the last lockdown, when travel abroad was allowed and many people flocked out of the country.
However, for those who do not want to travel in 2022, the virus is the biggest obstacle. 41 percent gave Corona as a reason against a trip, for financial reasons only 15 percent decided against it. This circumstance is also reflected in the travel budget, which is estimated at around 3,000 euros on average and has even increased compared to the previous year (2,760 euros).
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Corona also keeps travel enthusiasts busy
However, those who love to travel are not carefree when it comes to Corona. Many Austrians only book their trip if there are short-term cancellation options and they get their money back if the worst comes to the worst. In addition, a large percentage wants to avoid crowds as much as possible. In addition, many people would like to be able to test on site and insist on strict compliance with corona rules and hygiene measures.
In addition to beach and bathing holidays (65 percent), city trips are in demand in 2022, which, according to the study, are being planned by almost half (47 percent) of those surveyed. After Italy, Croatia and Germany, Greece and Spain are also among the planned destinations. The most frequently used means of transport to get there will remain the car, but according to the study, a slight slump is to be expected for air travel.
Travel agencies more important again
In principle, various booking platforms and direct bookings with the provider are still very popular when it comes to the preferred booking types of the 1,600 people surveyed. However, the personal booking in the travel agency has become more important again, according to the study. On the other hand, there was no change in the most popular accommodations: in addition to holiday apartments and private accommodation, 4-star hotels in particular were preferred this year.
As in the previous year, the travel time is likely to be pushed back, which will probably shift from the main holiday season in summer to autumn. “As long as the weather is still good in autumn, the will to travel remains great, especially if there is still vacation left,” explained Toncinic. The busiest travel months for private trips abroad in 2022 are likely to be August and September.
Source: Nachrichten
