Long-haul travel sentiment up, but Canadians are watching their finances: ETC

The European Travel Commission (ETC) has published its latest “Long-Haul Travel Barometer,” shedding light on long-haul travel intentions in key overseas markets – Canada included – for the May-August period.

In Canada, more than half of respondents plan to travel, with Europe being the preferred destination.

The intentions for overseas travel were particularly strong among 18-49-year-old travellers, says the ETC.

At the same time, some 22 per cent of respondents in these markets were interested in exploring other non-European destinations.

For the Australian market, these destinations are mainly located in East Asia and North America, while Canadians prefer Caribbean destinations.

Sentiment for long-haul travel is stable in Canada, and has gradually increased since the autumn of 2021.

While the number of people eager to visit Europe between May and August 2023 is not as high (37 per cent) as in the other markets, the share of those answering “very likely” has increased by four per cent compared to the same period in 2022.

With the stronger Canadian dollar relative to the euro and the resumption of air routes and flight frequencies between major European destinations (ie: Germany, Spain, Greece) and Canada, intentions may solidify further, the ETC says.

For respondents not currently planning overseas trips, personal finances (39 per cent) are cited as the primary obstacle for long-haul travel.

However, “a sense of optimism remains,” as 18 per cent of respondents consider travelling to Europe in 2024.

The summer months remain most popular for European travel, with a stay of one-two weeks and 74 -er cent of travellers planning to spend $100+ (EUR) per day.

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.