Destination Europe – Destination Reset

Ready or not here they come! How potential visitors approaching the prospect of travel in Post-Covid period!

Countries around the world are using different approaches to begin reopening their economies. In some destinations – especially those most reliant on travel and tourism – attractions, retail stores, tour operators, accommodations and parks and beaches are now able to open with physical distancing and capacity regulations in place. destinations around the world are applying global safety and hygiene stamp identifying places that are prioritizing traveler safety standardized health and hygiene protocols.

The European Union recommends a series of new health protocols, including increased physical distancing in restaurants and hotel lobbies, as well as a wider adoption of face masks. Some European airlines have announced that they will require face coverings on all future flights.

The scale of this economic challenge is particularly pronounced in Europe, where the tourism industry “is dependent on a strong summer season,”

As international travel resumes — whether that is weeks or months away—it will have to contend with an entirely new landscape. Airlines that haven’t gone bankrupt could still be grounded. Hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions might still be off-limits. New health and safety guidelines could mean a radically new standard for traveling altogether. The European Union recommends a series of new health protocols, including increased physical distancing in restaurants and hotel lobbies, as well as a wider adoption of face masks. Some European airlines have announced that they will require face coverings on all future flights.

In the summer months, the feeling of traveling to Europe is weak in the six major long-distance markets monitored. The travelers are showing growing interest in destinations that are less crowded and more accessible.

The European Travel Commission (ETC), the European Touristic Association (ETOA), Eurail B.V. to consider and respond to the effect of the COVID 19 pandemic on international travel. And in Europe’s main markets overseas – Brazil, China, India, Japan, Russia and the USA – it is also continued to follow up on improvements and developments in travel sentiment.

The latest Long-Haul Travel Barometer (LHTB) results indicate that the trust that is being monitored in the six markets in Europe is weak in summer 2020. What is critical though is that people on some markets are finally beginning to dream of resuming travel after more than two months of confinement. The way their plans are implemented depends ultimately on the evolution of the COVID-19 outbreak and travel constraints in the coming months.

Key Findings:

• China: In China, people began expressing enthusiastic interest in the coming months about the resumption of overseas travel. More than one in two interviewees reported that, between May and August 2020, they would be attempting to visit a European destination. However, the low value of the travel sentiment (101p) reflects their unease about the feasibility of such a tour. In addition to China’s emergence from virus limitations, consumer trust began to improve and more people started to think about travel. 41% thought about adjusting the dates and the route they chose to take to Europe and 36 percent considered just changing the date.
• India: The survey also offers optimism for travel to Europe with 55% of respondents expressing hope of visiting the region in the following months. Of those who did not plan to travel to Europe now, 53 percent noted that they had planned a real trip in the summer before restrictions had been implemented.
• Japan: In Japan, there was only 9 percent of those surveyed who expressed their intention to visit Europe in May-August 2020, and their indices have shrunk to their lowest level (94p) since 2015. In Japan there has been very little market optimism over the last few months and many have, naturally, opted to limit non-essential expenditure plans, including overseas travel. Indeed, a considerable number of Japanese respondents (85 percent) indicated that, regardless of the pandemic of COVID-19, they had no plans to travel for a long haul in the summer of 2020.
• Brazil, Russia and the U.S.: In the following months travelers are still not willing to consider seriously a trip to Europa due to low sentiment index values in Brazil (91p), Russia (89p) and the U.SA (93p). The concerns about job security and personal income among consumers in these countries have increased dramatically since the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic. Economic issues like these mean that immediate priorities can shift to and from work.

What impact do decisions on travel have in the context of the COVID-19 crisis?

While the security and safety issues remain one of the top priorities for travelers in Europe, what matters to visitors when choosing which places to visit in the post-COVID 19 world has been expected to change. A number of world-famous attractions, traditionally the main driver of destination choices, have been overcome by visiting destinations that are less populous and more affordable.

The spread of the COVID 19 and the negative media coverage of Europe’s particular destinations have necessarily led to a decline in potential travellers’ plans to visit some of Europe’s most attractive destinations, including France , Spain, Italy and Germany. However, it should be noted that, although the trend is down, these destinations still lead all respondents in the ranking of “must travel” to EU countries.

Experience is one of the key topics of foreign travelers who are hoping to visit the Area during the summer and continue to learn about Europe’s rich cultural and historical heritage, to explore the fascinating natural environment, taste its special cuisine and immerse themselves in the style of European City life.

Source: https://etc-corporate.org/uploads/2020/06/ETC_Long-Haul_Travel_Barometer_2_2020.pdf