New study: Germans’ interest in travel abroad remains high despite Covid-19 pandemic

Last updated on 12 August 2020

ITB Berlin is to publish a special study by IPK on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on international travel behaviour – Germans’ interest in travel abroad remains high despite no vaccine being available – Car journeys and holidays close to nature are regarded as very safe – Great importance is attached to measures minimising the risk of coronavirus infection.

The reputation of Germany as the nation with the world’s keenest travellers is still intact – that is one of the findings of a global survey on travel in times of corona conducted by IPK International, in which ITB Berlin also participated. According to the survey, interest among Germans in trips abroad is much higher than in most other countries. The survey also revealed that travel types and destinations vary greatly. Furthermore, the interviewees attached great importance to measures reducing the risk of infection.

Germans’ interest in outbound travel is above average

When asked what their travel intentions were in times of corona 70 per cent of German outbound travellers said they would continue to travel abroad – despite no vaccine being available.

This puts Germany visibly above the European average and in particular above the global average. Close to 20 per cent of the interviewees said, they could only imagine travelling within Germany. Ten per cent said they did not want to travel at all in these times of the coronavirus; nearly 90 per cent gave coronavirus-related health risks for their decision.

Over 80 per cent still want to travel this year – Spain is ahead

Over 80 per cent of Germans intending to travel abroad in times of corona said they wanted to holiday before the end of the year. Spain was their preferred destination (with the Canaries at the top of the list), followed by Italy, France and Austria.

Compared with pre-coronavirus levels the interest among Germans in visiting Switzerland, Greece and Denmark is also above average. By contrast, interest in destinations outside Europe is still below average. In September IPK International intends to conduct a second survey to re-assess destinations’ prospects and to find out if there are any changes.

Car journeys and holidays close to nature are regarded as very safe

When asked about the perceived risk of coronavirus infection through tourism products and services, German outbound travellers ranked car journeys as safest (only four per cent saw a higher risk of infection here).

Holidays close to nature, apartments and camping were considered to be equally safe and the majority also regard sun and beach holidays as rather safe.  By contrast, most interviewees saw air travel, cruises and large events in particular as presenting a high risk.

Improving perceived safety has top priority

Despite their keen interest in travel abroad even in these times of the coronavirus, a majority of Germans (85 per cent) are anxious, as are people in other countries, and see travel as posing an additional risk of infection (80 per cent). Thus any measures capable of improving perceived safety are very important for winning over those interested in travel as customers.

Germans attach particular importance to keep minimum distance, in restaurants and on transport such as trains and flights. 90 per cent of German outbound travellers saw these measures as important. Wearing face masks and generally observing hygiene rules was also considered essential.

Destination rankings in terms of infection risk

How do German outbound travellers rate individual destinations in terms of the risk of coronavirus infection? Germans rated their home country as the safest destination by far, followed by the country’s neighbours Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Austria. South Korea, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates led the ranking among long-haul destinations.

Is a recovery to be expected? Will the general mood change?

These are the issues which IPK International will investigate in a second survey in September. As part of its representative survey of the population in 18 markets the institute will again pose a range of questions on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on international travel behaviour and deduce its findings and trends accordingly.