Europe’s tourism recovery is maintaining its momentum despite economic headwinds, reaching about 95% of 2019 levels of international tourist arrivals. Though inflation and increased travel costs are squeezing consumers’ wallets, travel spending is still prioritised over other discretionary expenses. The latest data available shows that one-quarter of reporting European destinations have surpassed pre-pandemic levels of foreign arrivals.
Europe’s tourism rebound predicted to continue into 2023
The outlook for travel to Europe is promising despite global pressures such as high inflation, the war in Ukraine and consequent energy crisis, and the looming economic recession. The latest data indicates a recovery of 75% of 2019 travel volumes to Europe in 2022. This strong tourism rebound is expected to continue well into 2023, though at a slower pace. Looking forward, international travel to Europe is forecast to reach pre-pandemic levels in 2025, while domestic travel will fully recover in 2024.