Bookings for intra-European travel witness a boost amidst pandemic

Bookings for intra-European travel over the Easter period have increased by more than 250 percent, while summer bookings are currently 80 percent above 2021 levels, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) said.

Booking data from WTTC’s knowledge partner ForwardKeys, the leading travel data and analytics company, revealed strong recovery for the market.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO shared that the latest booking data shows Europeans are positive about travelling again.

“Bookings for Easter and summer are looking strong. Omicron has affected the start of the year, but as infections peak and the symptoms remain mild people are booking again.

“The problems occur when governments react with travel restrictions. The World Health Organisation says that closing borders is pointless when Omicron is already prevalent in society. All it does is damage the economy and livelihoods,” said Simpson in a statement to the media this week.

As travel restrictions continue to ease and consumer confidence continues to grow, the WTTC expects for the European Travel and Tourism sector to witness an increased demand for travel with a significant boost in bookings in the upcoming months.