Just over a year ago, Austrians took for granted the possibility of jetting around the globe or spontaneously going on a short trip as the mood took them. However, the corona pandemic with all its measures showed the limits of freedom of travel - in the truest sense of the word.

A current survey by the online research institute Marketagent together with lifestyle hotels shows how the local population perceives the restrictions on vacationing and what expectations and hopes they have for the travel year 2021. Result: The consequences of Covid-19 not only created more awareness among Austrians of the importance of travel and the like, they should also be enjoyed and appreciated more in the future. Hardly anyone expects a complete return to “travel normality” in 2021, however. Nevertheless, one or the other trip should not be missing this year either. However, concrete planning or bookings will tend to be made spontaneously.

With Covid-19, the word “border” has acquired a new meaning for almost three quarters of the local population (73%). The pandemic severely restricted travel and vacation opportunities in the Corona year 2020 - despite some easing and an easing of the situation in the summer months. “For 8 out of 10 Austrians, traveling is an important way of balancing their stressful everyday life. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that unrestricted (more) traveling 2021 is anticipated: a good 9 out of 10 are very excited, and 78 percent can hardly do it expect, especially women and those under 30 ”, describes Thomas Schwabl, Managing Director of Marketagent. The results of the study show in detail how people feel about traveling in this country this year.

This is how the holiday-ready Austrians experienced travel in 2020

Although the effects of the pandemic are being felt in many areas of life, it was travel that saw the most restrictions for respondents in 2020. 84 percent found this to be strong, while a significantly lower proportion felt restricted with regard to private life (61%), life satisfaction (48%) or professional life or training (32%). For example, 23 percent had to forego their planned vacation entirely, a good third were only able to actually take a small part of them. In 18 percent, at least half of it took place. On the other hand, not even one in five could enjoy most or all of the planned trips (18%). What made a good half of them particularly regretful was the lack of spontaneity and the impossibility of going on vacation where they actually want to go. The measures and restrictions were mainly at the expense of the light-heartedness and the feeling of freedom, especially among women. 46 percent also missed simply traveling the way they used to, when it was still a matter of course.

The fact that traveling and its preparation is not only associated with pure joy, but also with stress, has almost been forgotten. If you look back at the time before Corona from today's perspective, many an annoyance hardly seems worth mentioning, in retrospect two thirds even miss the annoying side effects of vacation planning. One in four longs to pack for a trip, especially the women. Waiting times at the airport or train station now appear to be half as bad for every fifth person, the queue for security checks or long car journeys each 17 percent.

Looking back on traveling in the previous year leaves a somewhat pale aftertaste for some respondents. 23 percent associate this primarily with disappointment, among women even more than one in four (26%). For 18 percent, the issue primarily triggers uncertainty. However, 17 percent respond with understanding for the difficult situation, which required special measures, including the men in particular (22%). For every second person, it was also out of the question to let the Corona spoil their holiday mood: Traveling on a smaller scale was okay for a good 4 out of 10 and was fun, with 8 percent it went even better than expected and that The fun factor was even higher than usual. 46 percent were also able to use the pandemic to travel to and discover many beautiful corners of their own homeland. Overall, a good 6 out of 10 have no regrets about their travel behavior in 2020. Only 15 percent wished they had taken a short trip at the beginning of last year when this was still possible without restrictions. Looking back, 14 percent would have preferred not to book so many vacations in advance. 

2020 vs. 2021: back to unrestricted travel?

After the restrictions last year, Austrians look forward to the 2021 holiday season with great hope. “It's good to see that there is a great longing for vacation, and above all for a hotel stay. With our member hotels, we cover the expectations for relaxation / wellness, beach holidays and active holidays very well and we look forward to our hoteliers being allowed to be hosts again, ”says the CEO of Lifestylehotels.net Hardy Egger.

This goes hand in hand with a third of respondents who have high expectations of travel this year (36%). Compared to the previous year, almost 7 out of 10 would like to go on trips more often this year and catch up on missed opportunities, 23 percent would like to go on vacation about the same frequency. For this purpose, the travel budget is a good half higher than in 2020, especially among men, almost 6 out of 10 want to spend more money on a nice holiday this year. With 4 out of 10 nothing changes in this regard. 57 percent also hope to be able to go on vacation again in 2021, wherever they want to go. 55 percent can hardly expect to be spontaneous at the same time. Almost half of them are looking forward to the light-heartedness and feeling of freedom when traveling, 44 percent sun, beach and sea. The women in particular are looking forward to the latter aspects with great anticipation. 

But Corona could have a far greater impact on vacation planning. "As a result of the pandemic, some trends in travel behavior are expected for 2021: The more than half of those surveyed expect more attention to safety and hygiene (55%) and more bookings from hotels that allow flexible cancellations (52%) . A third predict an increasing interest in smaller, individual guesthouses and hotels. But more conscious travel and enjoying the vacation could develop into a trend, according to every second person ”, describes Marketing Agent Marketing Manager Lisa Patek. For three quarters of those surveyed, Covid-19 resulted in travel no longer being taken for granted and the possibility being valued more. 7 out of 10 would therefore like to enjoy their holidays even more consciously in the future and indulge themselves more.

The respondents still remain largely realistic: Less than a tenth expect that travel in 2021 will (almost) be possible again in the form it was before Corona. 31 percent suspect that it could be at least partially that way. 6 out of 10, however, prefer not to have any illusions and hardly expect to return to normal travel in 2021.

An outlook on vacation planning and Co. in 2021

But what specific vacation plans for the current year are the Austrians currently forging? Basically, the majority of the local population would like to travel again this year (97%). 56 percent can imagine going on a wellness vacation, a good every second one a beach vacation or vacation by the sea, which is especially preferred by women (54%). A little less than half of the respondents look forward to an active, hiking or sports holiday (47%) and a city trip (45%). A good one in three would also like to spend a couple or romantic holiday again - definitely child-free (34% each). 85 percent prefer to travel by car. Nevertheless, 47 percent also prefer the plane. The majority, however, are not planning long-distance travel. A good two thirds are looking forward to a home vacation, 66 percent would like to travel within Europe. One in three will mainly head for neighboring countries such as Germany or Slovenia. Holidays in Austria and the surrounding area should last an average of a week (7,7 days). Trips to other continents will probably remain the exception this year. Most often, a trip to Asia is still on the plan (10%).

It gets more complicated when it comes to vacation planning and booking. The sometimes unpredictable developments in relation to the corona numbers and measures make it difficult to plan ahead and fix dates in the distant future, which the survey results make clear. Austrians prefer to be spontaneous, especially on shorter trips. Only 2 in 10 would start planning 3 to 6 months before departure or earlier. A good one in three feels that it is sufficient to deal with it 1 to 2 months before the holiday, and every fifth person even 2 to 3 weeks is enough. A good tenth is particularly spontaneous and would only plan and organize the short trip a week to a few days before departure. This is also reflected in the bookings: only 17 percent would book at least 3 months in advance, a good 3 out of 10, however, only 1 to 2 months and more than a fifth only 2 to 3 weeks before the start of their vacation. A full 17 percent are spontaneous in person on short trips and book a maximum of one week in advance. In the case of longer vacations, the respondents rely on a slightly longer lead time: 45 percent would start planning at least 3 to 6 months before departure, a quarter 1 to 2 months beforehand. The situation is similar with the bookings of larger trips: 4 out of 10 want to book 3 months or more before the start of the holiday, 27 percent 1 to 2 months before departure. However, 12 percent would not fix a longer stay until 2 to 3 weeks before the start of their vacation.

When choosing a vacation home, a good half each pay special attention to the price-performance ratio and flexible cancellation conditions, with men paying more attention to the money, while women prefer to play it safe when it comes to cancellation conditions. For 48 percent, a spa and wellness area should not be missing and a good 4 out of 10 pay attention to the balcony or terrace in the room and the type of catering.