Munich instead of Malle: Around 45 percent of Germans want to spend their holidays in Germany again this year, according to a survey by the ADAC. Instead of flights, they also want to rely more on cars and trains. However, the reasons are not of a sustainable nature, but of a financial nature.
Despite Corona, the energy crisis and inflation, Germans’ desire for vacation remains unbroken. One in three sees a greater need to travel in 2023, according to an ADAC survey of 5,000 people on Wednesday. The crisis years have therefore increased the importance of vacation again. About every second person is planning a similar budget for the holidays as in 2022. While 23 percent expect larger expenses, almost a quarter of those surveyed will have to make do with less money on vacation. Cutbacks are planned here in terms of comfort and travel time. According to the survey, a third of this group assumes that they will have to do without a trip for financial reasons.
According to the study, Germany as a travel destination emerged as the winner from the crisis. Around 45 percent of people want to spend their holidays in Germany again this year, often after positive experiences after global travel restrictions in the Corona period. According to a study by the Automobile Club, the car and train modes of transport relevant for home holidays are becoming more popular, while air travel is declining. In the virus pandemic, more and more people opted for individual travel, far fewer for package tours.
According to the survey, little is known about the connection between vacation and work (also known as workation). This means working at a holiday location instead of at the employer’s location or in the home office. “But at least two-thirds of those who could use this opportunity are very interested,” writes the ADAC. Almost every tenth already works at a holiday destination or has a concrete promise from the employer that this would be possible. In addition, security aspects are becoming more and more important when booking – such as an uncomplicated and plannable arrival and departure.
According to the survey, intact nature is important to Germans at their holiday destination. But other factors for more sustainability such as mobility, certain (organic) foods or the CO2 footprint played a lesser role. Only five to ten percent would be willing to pay a relatively moderate premium for more sustainability. It is clear that this topic costs money, said ADAC Tourism President Karlheinz Jungbeck. But tourists are not willing to pay this, and providers are also unable to do so due to a lack of capitalization. The question therefore arises as to whether the government can better support the tourism industry in the transformation to more sustainability.
The high inflation continues to reduce the purchasing power of consumers and thus also weighs on travel budgets. Goods and services cost an average of 8.7 percent more in February than a year ago. Food prices even went up by almost 22 percent and energy by a good 19 percent.
