The increase in foreign trips – Poland is a leader
According to Polish travel agencies, 2018 was very successful in outbound tourism. Also, the IPK International research agency, citing its long-term global research, diagnoses that Poland was last year a leader in Europe with a 10% increase year-on-year in this type of tourism.
In 2018, the number of foreign trips in Europe increased by 5%. It was two percentage points less than a year earlier. Sweden and Russia recorded a steady increase in trips, while Italy, Germany and Austria were slightly smaller. However, an increase below the average of 5% occurred in Denmark, Great Britain and Switzerland.
Among European destinations Turkey, which managed to regain confidence among travelers, became a clear winner, noting almost 30% increase in arrivals. A high, 19% increase occurred in the first eight months in Greece. In the corresponding period, the United Kingdom noted a decrease in visitors by around 3%. After years of strong growth, the number of arrivals to Spain stabilized.
Round trips have become fashionable among Europeans (an increase of 5%). Still the most popular holiday in the sun on the beach recorded the largest increase, because 8% in the first eight months of 2018. Although not as strongly as in previous years, but also the number of city-break tours increased (by 6%).
The number of traditional business trips decreased by 5%, and travels related to congress tourism increased by 3%. Expenses and longer stays of European travelers resulted in an 8% increase in total turnover in this segment, which refers to the first eight months of last year.
The prospects for European tourism in 2019 are very promising. According to research carried out by IPK International and commissioned by ITB Berlin, further growth is expected. Experts are of the opinion that 2019 will be good for the foreign travel market in Europe and predicts its growth at 5%. The number of Russian tourists is expected to grow the most dynamically, by 7%. Positive forecasts also come from Denmark, France, Switzerland, Spain and Belgium. It is estimated that in Germany, the outbound tourism market will increase by 4% in 2019.
