The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how people in Europe plan trips. 51% of European travelers delayed vacations due to the pandemic, but 57% have now restarted the planning process. Many travelers are booking trips closer to travel dates (45%) and preferring flexible cancellation policies (61%). The shift to remote work has also impacted travel, with 33% of Europeans now working remotely and over 40% saying it allows them to travel more or take longer holidays. Post-pandemic, most Europeans plan to travel within Europe (53%) or their own country (20%), primarily by car (44%) or plane (30%), spending between 500-1000 euros (25-31%).
1. HOW HAS COVID-19 CHANGED THE WAY WE PLAN A
TRIP?
COVID
CREATED
NEW
TRENDS
of European travellers delayed
vacation because of the
pandemic
51%
of European travellers are
restarting their planning
process
57%
Europeans frenquency of vacation pre-pandemic
Time since last travel
3%
19%
48%
25%
3%
2%
Monthly
Quarterly
2-3x/year
Yearly
Every few
years
Never
38% 19% 11% 19%
Other a
year ago
6-12
mounths
ago
3-6
mounths
ago
1-3
mounths
ago
48%
61%
45%
of travellers are booking their
trips closer to travel dates
than usual
of travellers are planning
trips where they are blending
work and leisure
of travellers are only
interested in flexible
cancelations
Microsoft Advertising
Source: Microsoft Advertising Travel Research Study, Aug 2021
2. Microsoft Advertising
HYBRID WORK AND ITS IMPACT ON
TRAVEL
Travellers planning trips blending work and leisure
thanks to hybrid work
Travellers insights among europeans currently working
remotly
56%
Millennials
50%
GenZ
36%
GenX
32%
Boomers
33%
of Europeans
currently work
remotely
53%
46%
47%
42%
of travellers affirm remote work gave them the
flexibility to travel more often
of travellers say remote work enabled them to take
a holiday that they would not have been able to
take if they were working on location
of travellers declare remote work gave them the
flexibilityl to travel for long periods of time
of travellers affirm remote work allowed them to
take or plan a longer holiday
Source: Microsoft Advertising Travel Research Study, Aug 2021
3. Microsoft Advertising
HOW WILLL POST-PANDEMIC TRAVEL IN EUROPE LOOK LIKE?
Where do Europeans plan to travel: How do Europeans plan to travel:
53%
20%
44%
3%
15%
30%
42%
13% Within Europe
Within UK
Locally
Outside Europe
Source: Microsoft Advertising Travel Research Study, Aug 2021
4. Microsoft Advertising
HOW MUCH BUDGET EUROPEAN TRAVELLERS WILL SPEND IN THEIR NEXT
TRIP(€)?
GenZ
Millennials
GenX
Boomers
18%
24%
31%
11%
7%
8%
Under 500€ 500-1K€ 1K-3K€ 3K-7K€ 7K-10K€ Over 10K€
8%
25%
38%
19%
5% 5%
Under 500€ 500-1K€ 1K-3K€ 3K-7K€ 7K-10K€ Over 10K€
11%
19%
47%
14%
4% 5%
Under 500€ 500-1K€ 1K-3K€ 3K-7K€ 7K-10K€ Over 10K€
6%
18%
52%
19%
3% 2%
Under 500€ 500-1K€ 1K-3K€ 3K-7K€ 7K-10K€ Over 10K€
Source: Microsoft Advertising Travel Research Study, Aug 2021