For the tourism year 2023/24, which began in November, the German Travel Association (DRV) expects four percent more turnover in the market for holiday and private trips for one night or more than in 2023. At the same time, a slight decline in travelers is expected, the DRV announced on Thursday with.
As early as 2023, 15 percent fewer people traveled with organizers than before the corona pandemic. The DRV explained that the decline should no longer be as severe as in the previous year. “Obviously, many German citizens could no longer afford a vacation trip in 2023 due to increased costs,” said DRV President Norbert Fiebig. It is not yet possible to predict how an increase in aviation tax planned by the federal government will affect prices and demand. Fiebig warned that the government should not make travel even more expensive.
Package holidays are 17 percent more expensive than in 2020
The reason for the reluctance is price increases. According to the Federal Statistical Office, package holidays cost 5.3 percent more in November than in the same month last year and around 17 percent more than in 2020. The DRV expects a “moderate” price increase for 2024. In addition, fueling, heating and buying groceries, which are more expensive due to inflation, are also putting a strain on many household budgets. In general, according to the DRV, experts assume that less travel is being done or the length of stay is being saved per person and household. The booking data suggests that vacation and leisure trips will be reduced more significantly in the current winter season, but high demand is expected for the summer. “But the experts are sure that the majority of the population will not give up traveling,” emphasized the DRV.
Destinations in Turkey and Greece remained one of the growth drivers for air package holidays. When it comes to long-distance travel, the DRV expects eleven percent more vacationers and 18 percent more sales in the summer travel half-year. “Many long-distance travel destinations such as the USA, Australia, Thailand or Indonesia have only gradually recovered after the corona pandemic,” said Fiebig. Tourism companies are looking forward to the new travel year with confidence, as demand is particularly high in the summer months.
According to the DRV, people would spend a total of 78 billion euros on travel services booked before their vacation. This applies to package tours from organizers and individual holidays. The assessment for the 2023/24 tourism year is based on a new market forecast that the DRV developed with industry experts. In future it will be published at the beginning of the year and before the summer holidays.