Poles are the most eager to travel among Europeans, are we going to have a travel record this Christmas?

As much as 85 percent Poles declared that they intend to travel between September 2022 and March 2023. This is the highest percentage in Europe: we travel more than Spaniards, Germans or French. Many of the planned trips will take place over the Christmas and New Year period. An additional incentive to travel during the holidays may be lower petrol prices, the price of which will increase from January.

Poles will go on holidays

According to a European Travel Commission study conducted in September 2022, as many as 85 percent of Poles announced that they would travel in the next 6 months (September-March). This the highest percentage in Europe, Poles are ahead of e.g. Spaniards (75%), Belgians (73%), Italians (72%), British (71%), Germans (71%) or French (67%). As many as 36 percent of the surveyed Poles said that their trip would take place during the Christmas and New Year period (December-January), while only 2023 percent planned a trip in February and March 20.

Most of Poles plans to go abroad. As much as 64 percent will choose a country in Europe (of which 31% a country bordering on Poland), and 8% will go outside Europe. 24% plan to travel around the country, including visiting family for Christmas. surveyed. It can be seen that after the pandemic period, we are more willing to go abroad - a year earlier, as many as 35% of respondents planned domestic trips. surveyed.

Inflation doesn't help

Poles are very eager to travel, though they spend more and more money because of inflation. Nearly 29 percent of respondents will spend between 500-1000 euros per person on their next trip. With 20 percent to 14 percent on the other hand, the percentage of people who will spend less than EUR 500 per person on a trip has decreased. As many as 25% of respondents are concerned about rising travel costs. Poles (this is the second result in Europe, after Spain - 28%), and regarding the state of their own personal finances - 19%. (third place in Europe after Belgium and Germany).

The increase in costs is the reason that will make it difficult for European tourism to return to pre-pandemic levels in the near future. TDA Travel Intelligence data shows that while bookings in the summer season 2022 were only 3% lower than those in 2019, this winter it is 27 percent. less compared to the 2019/20 season.

About the author

Pawel Majtkowski - analyst eToro on the Polish market, which shares its weekly commentary on the latest stock market information. Paweł is a recognized expert on financial markets with extensive experience as an analyst in financial institutions. He is also one of the most cited experts in the field of economy and financial markets in Poland. He graduated from law studies at the University of Warsaw. He is also the author of many publications in the field of investing, personal finance and economy.