Every year, ÖAMTC-Touristik conducts a survey on travel planning - representative of the Austrian population, this year again 1.000 people were asked about holiday destinations, budget and type of planned travel. It is particularly interesting that only seven percent of those surveyed are certain that they will not be traveling this year.

The particularly high desire to travel in 2022 is also reflected in the fact that two thirds of those surveyed stated that they even wanted to take more than one holiday trip this summer. Holidaymakers are particularly looking forward to enjoying the sun, relaxing and spending time with their loved ones. Exciting detail: Only five percent consider it important not to be constantly available online when on holiday.

Sun, sand and sea: Italy and Croatia are top destinations

“Every second person, exactly 53 percent, is drawn to the sea this year. The classics Italy and Croatia are once again top destinations abroad. On the other hand, a quarter of travelers would like to spend their holidays at the lake, in the mountains or in a city,” explains Magdalena Draxler, ÖAMTC tourism specialist. After Italy and Croatia, the most popular holiday destinations are Greece, Germany, Spain and Turkey.

Of those surveyed, 43 percent were abroad last year, and 56 percent plan to do so this year. “Young travelers between the ages of 16 and 29 – specifically 66 percent – ​​are drawn abroad more than is the case with holidaymakers in the 50+ age group. Only every second person in this age group is planning a trip abroad,” says the mobility club’s tourism expert. Holidays in Austria are almost as popular: 46 percent want to spend their holidays in Austria, preferably in Styria, Carinthia, followed by Upper Austria and Tyrol.

Families travel more often by car – singles tend to travel by train

How Austrians go on holiday this year also depends on whether they are traveling alone or with their family. “Seven out of ten travelers plan to drive away in their private car this year. Families with children use their private cars significantly more often for their summer holidays – specifically 79 percent. Solo travelers use the car only half as often, but every second person traveling alone uses the train,” the ÖAMTC expert evaluates the survey data. Austrians who travel several times tend to use the plane (13 percent) and the train (10 percent) instead of the car.

Travel budget of Austrians largely unchanged

Two-thirds of the vacationers surveyed stated that they planned a similar budget as usual. The average holiday budget for the summer of 2022 is around EUR 1.000 per person. Travelers over the age of 60 have an above-average budget (with + Euro 242), while families with children have to make do with about Euro 200 less per capita compared to the average population. "Even if the majority has the same amount of money available for vacation as usual, 53 percent of people who have no vacation plans or are still undecided give financial reasons for doing so. One in three names Corona as a reason not to travel,” says the tourism expert. It remains exciting to see whether the current price developments will affect the budget planning of those wanting to take a vacation up to the actual time of travel.

Very few people change their travel behavior due to current events

The corona pandemic has had a major impact on travel behavior over the past two years, and in 2022 new uncertainties were added. Only two out of ten travelers intend to change their travel habits. They stated that they either traveled more spontaneously, went on vacation more often in Austria or took out corona insurance. "The confidence of all travel enthusiasts that the summer vacation can take place in the planned form is high: seven out of ten are (very) optimistic, only six percent pessimistic," says the tourism expert.