More flights were already booked to Greece in July-August than in the same period in 2019.
Last summer, the number of people traveling in Europe clearly increased compared to the summer of last year, reports the economic newspaper Financial Times (FT) citing several statistics he evaluated.
More than 25 percent more flights to Northern Europe were booked for July and August than for July and August of the previous year. On the other hand, there was a 13 percent growth in flight bookings to Southern Europe during the same measurement interval.
Hotel reservations in Europe also returned to almost the pre-coronavirus level. In July, the occupancy rate of hotels was only 4 percent lower than in July 2019.
Tourism grew despite the fact that the costs of movement and accommodation have clearly increased. For example, the price of an average hotel room in Paris was 79 percent more expensive in July of this year than four years ago.
Minister responsible for tourism in France Olivia Grégoire predicted last week that thanks to a busier-than-expected summer, tourism will bring France 67 billion euros in revenue this year. Last year, France earned around 58 billion euros from tourism.
Spain, on the other hand, was visited by 47.6 million people between January and July, which was 21 percent more than a year ago in the same period and almost at the same level as the 2019 measurement.
However, last summer’s hit destination was Greece, which already exceeded the pre-coronavirus level in terms of tourists. About 10 percent more flights were booked to Greece in July-August than in July-August 2019.
The Americans returned for trips to Europe
Tourism in Europe was especially boosted by the strong desire of Americans to travel to the other side of the Atlantic again.
This year, for example, a 16 percent increase in the number of American visitors is predicted in Barcelona and a 13 percent increase in London compared to the 2019 level.
Director of the consulting agency Protourisme interviewed by FT Didier Arino according to US tourists have a lot of purchasing power, which is reflected in the results of tourism companies.
– When American and other customers from further afield return here, we will inevitably see an increase in turnover, says Arinon.
The manager of the Hôtel de Gallifet in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France is on the same lines Kate Davis. He tells FT that tourists from the United States, Australia and Asia are happy to pay 30 euros for a glass of wine, while the French would walk out of a restaurant after hearing the same price.