Poles foreign holidays 2020 - report of the Polish Chamber of Tourism
The holiday season 2020 is Turkey's return to the podium of the most popular holiday destinations, just behind Greece, the high dynamics of Tunisia and the Balkan destinations, and the growing tendency to shop as part of early booking, combined with an extremely attractive last minute offer.photo by Fotolia
The report "Foreign holidays of Poles 2020" prepared by the Polish Chamber of Tourism is based, among others data Travelplanet.pl . Applies to trips with travel agencies from April 28 to August 31, 2018, booked until August 20, 2018. Shows the dominant trends, preferences of Polish tourists and tendencies that will play a role in the next holiday season. Great industry resultsThe fact that the summer season in tourism promises to be exceptionally good already in February was indicated by early booking data (an increase of approx. 45%). January turned out to be a record month in which offices recorded over 50% dynamics (according to TFG). The excellent results of the offices are indirectly confirmed by the Tourist Guarantee Fund data for the first half 2018, which shows that 1.4 million people decided on charter trips, i.e. 36% more than in 2017.
To sum up last year in tourism, there were talks about increases of around 20% when it came to organized tourist events. As noted by the president of the Polish Chamber of Tourism, Paweł Niewiadomski, the great results of this year's presale confirmed this tendency, one could only be afraid of weaker - as in the previous year - last minute offer sales . This scenario did not work - exceptionally favorable prices of lastes meant that sales were at a very high level . Hence, double-digit increases in foreign trips, reaching 40%, should be expected.
Turkey's triumphant return, headlamp alignedThe clients of Polish travel agencies most often decided to vacation in Greece , Turkey and Bulgaria . Egypt and Spain close the top five most frequently chosen foreign destinations, just like a year ago . Four-star hotels and the all-inclusive formula, which was chosen by as much as 75% of customers, enjoyed the greatest popularity in the offer.
After two weaker years, Turkey has once again found itself on the podium of the most popular tourist destinations of Polish tourists, and Antalya with the Turkish Riviera is the region most often chosen for summer holidays with a market share of around 11%. This result is affected by affordable 4 * and 5 * all inclusive hotels and some calming down of the political situation in the tourist areas of this country.
Greece remains the leader of summer trips, although early reservations already showed a slight glut of trips to this country. For this, Turkey's return to the position of runner-up took place with an impressive increase in trips to this country.
Contrary to the fears, Turkey was only slightly harmed by problems with the crash of its currency. Tourists, when going to Turkey, usually buy trips to the highest standard - in 5 and 4 * hotels with all-inclusive meals. Therefore, the first place of the Turkish Riviera as the most popular region for holiday rest is not surprising. Holidays in Alanya , Antalya, Kemer or Side were spent more than every tenth customer of Polish travel agencies.
Cheaper offensive directionsIn terms of dynamics, Tunisia, catching up, came first . This direction returns to the top ten, before 2015 it was usually in 5th place. It is worth noting that she did it with a bang - the increase in trips to this country is five times.
Turkey and Albania , which is growing into another hit of the Mediterranean coast attracting with a Mediterranean climate and favorable price, can also boast good results . This country has used its chance of the last two years, "getting into the shoes" of the then great absentees, namely Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia.
The popularity of other Balkan countries is also growing (except for Albania, e.g. Montenegro ); in the case of Croatia , the negative dynamics in travel agencies is influenced by the fact that this is the direction chosen more often by individual travelers with their own travel.
European directions have lost their position in strengthening Turkey and Egypt. While cheaper Bulgaria enjoys unflagging interest, Spain, Italy and Portugal have already found themselves in terms of dynamics. This shows the still high demand for relatively cheaper tourist products during the holidays.
Foreign holidays this year turned out to be cheaper. The average booking price fell by 253 PLN in the summer season, for example, a tourist paid 180 PLN less for a single event. It was influenced by two main factors: a return to the forefront of cheaper destinations, skilfully combining a competitive price with a high standard of accommodation, such as Turkey and Egypt, and still high interest in Bulgaria. Another factor was the well-prepared and extremely affordable last minute offer. Tourists definitely benefited from this year's 'price race'.
The increase in the popularity of Turkey and Tunisia, as well as the high position of Bulgaria and Albania - and the offers for all these destinations are the cheapest in certain holiday standards - meant that this season holidays were 180 PLN cheaper than in the previous season. This is partly due to the record percentage of early bookings, but one should not forget about the surprisingly large last minute discounts, which are the result of the extremely fierce price competition of tour operators.
More frequent and shorter holidaysData from the PIT report show that Poles prefer to drive more often, but for a shorter period. Two-week leave in the high season is planned by less than every fifth family. Departure time is also shortened - 80% of the booking is trips up to 7 days, of which nearly three quarters are weekly trips. Longer holidays (two weeks) are most often chosen by families with children in July and August.
If the vacation is comfortableTourists expectations regarding leisure conditions are rising. Hence, directions that offer full comfort combined with an attractive price are very popular. Poles pay attention to the location and standard of the hotel, additional attractions or meals. They expect access to wi-fi, sunbeds on the beach and by the pool, and a wide range of optional excursions.
All-inclusive holidays are standard today, not a luxury. Although it seemed impossible, the all inclusive share increased even to nearly 77%. Polish tourists prefer to go on a week-long vacation to hotels of high standard, in total 4 and 5 * hotels are chosen by two-thirds of travel agency clients. Adding to this the dominance of air travel - compared to last year, this type of transport was chosen by almost 95% of travel agency customers - it is beyond dispute that Poles like to relax in full comfort.
Pole reserves in advancePoles are buying more and more and earlier. Nearly 10 percent customers are ready to book summer vacation almost a year earlier (October, November, December). Compared to the previous year, the number of reservations made more than three months before the departure date increased by over 25%.
The situation was similar in the 2017 season, which meant that the last minute offer for the most popular destinations was scarce and not very attractive in price (except for Egypt and Turkey). These experiences meant that for the 2018 season, the organizers prepared a rich and affordable last offer.
Reverse bus tourism?The dominance of air travel is beyond dispute - this type of transport has been chosen by almost 95% of travel agency customers. Although increases are recorded in each tourism segment, it is another year indicating a decrease in the share of coach tourism in holiday trips. It covers only 2.2% of total sales (this percentage was 3.2% last season).
Seven-day and longer trips predominate (almost 60% of the total trips). Croatia leads the most popular destinations for bus tours , followed by Italy, Bulgaria, Albania and Greece, which are also growing in this segment.
The year 2020 confirmed the trend for early booking of holiday trips. The data shows that the very high interest in last minute offers is still lower than last year. It remains to be decided whether such good results of early booking will be repeated next year and whether clients of travel agencies will be convinced by shopping in the first minute. Especially with such good lasts prices that they had at their disposal this yearPlease select a valid form