Europeans want to go on more holidays in 2014. This is according to a European survey carried out by holiday review site Zoover. An overall majority indicated that they intend to go on more holidays in 2014 compared to last year. Holidays in 2013 were also very highly rated on Zoover. With an average score of 8.1, holidays in 2013 received the highest ratings ever.
To gauge travel sentiment Zoover asked more than 1,000 holidaymakers if they intend to go on more or fewer holidays in 2014 and if these would be more expensive or cheaper, more far-flung or closer to home. More than 35 percent plan to go on more holidays, while 11 percent are planning to take fewer holidays.
More expensive holidays
What is striking is that most people don’t necessarily want to take cheaper holidays (13.2 %), but in fact slightly more are going for more costly alternatives (14,2 %). However most holidaymakers (15.2 %) are choosing to holiday closer to home.
Holiday plans 2014 %
1. More holidays 35,3
2. Closer- to- home holidays 15,2
3. More expensive holidays 14,2
4. Cheaper holidays 13,2
5. Fewer holidays 11,4
6. Further-from-home holidays 10,7
Scandinavians on holiday the most, French go for fewer but more expensive
Swedes and Danes want to go on holiday the most, 53 percent indicated this. They intend going further away but ideally want to do this for a lower price. 24% of French respondents chose for fewer holidays in 2014, but the holidays they are booking are more expensive (38%).
Holidays in 2013 highly rated
With an average score of 8.1, holidays in 2013 received the highest ratings ever. Zoover has been keeping track of the average holiday rating since 2006 and took account of all holiday reviews in 2013 including winter sports, summer holidays, city breaks etc.
According to researchers at Zoover, this positive assessment is mainly due to the wonderful summer weather in most of Europe, precisely during the summer holidays. Of course the extra effort made by travel companies is also a contributing factor. Since the crisis began it has become more difficult to maintain customer loyalty, which has led to more travel organisations taking that extra step. The survey considered almost 2 million consumer ratings on holiday review site Zoover. In 2012, holidays were also well rated with a generous score of 7.9.
Zoover media is the largest leisure site in the Netherlands. Alongside Zoover it also operates the Dutch labels Holiday Reiswijzer, weeronline.nl and MeteoVista. Zoover is active in 25 countries, with 150 million visitors annually. It is the most visited leisure industry website in the Netherlands. The website contains more than 2.3 million reviews covering more than 357,000 accommodations and attractions in more than 45,000 destinations worldwide.
