February 10, 2021
UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2020
A comprehensive round-up of international tourism in 2019 revealing that all world regions experienced growth in arrivals which reached 1.5 billion, generating $1,481bn of international tourism receipts. The report contains numerous infographics and tables detailing the economic value of the sector and performance of different world regions in 2019, along with the leading destinations and most valuable source markets.
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February 10, 2021
ETC Long haul travel sentiment barometer 1/2021
Findings from an online survey exploring the intentions of those in Brazil, China, Japan, Russia and USA to take a long-haul trip in the first four months of 2021 and the concerns that potential travellers are expressing.
While those in China were keen to start exploring outside their region those in Japan were most hesitant. Among those indicating a lack of travel intention concerns regarding exposure to COVID-19 was a key barrier with this group also expressing uncertainty about a visit to Europe within the next year or two.
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February 10, 2021
Tourism Ireland Covid-19 Research late 2020
Online research undertaken in late 2020 across key source markets for Ireland (GB, USA, Germany and France) that found continued unease with taking European holidays at present but reaffirmed that most retained a strong underlying appetite for travel. Many expected vaccination to be mandatory for future travel, although not all said they were willing to receive a vaccine.
While suggesting there is a glimmer of hope for travel to resume, the research indicates that its restart date may still be some while off.
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January 27, 2021
ETC Monitoring sentiment for domestic and intra-European travel Wave 4
The fourth of six planned waves of online research looking at the extent to which Europeans are planning travel, their concerns and what factors are likely to influence behaviour. With fieldwork during November and early December the study found sentiment to have improved slightly compared with the month before on the back of encouraging vaccine developments.
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January 11, 2021
Expedia Traveller Sentiment Report
A comprehensive 54-page study that primarily presents findings from fieldwork conducted in October 2020 covering 11,000 respondents spread across 11 markets.
Key findings include the onset of ‘pandemic fatigue’ leading to pent-up demand, a strong desire to protect any risk to both individual health and financial loss, with marketing content that reassures on both these fronts beneficial.
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January 11, 2021
ETC Monitoring sentiment for domestic and intra-European travel Wave 3
The third of six planned waves of online research looking at the extent to which Europeans are planning travel, their concerns and what factors are likely to influence behaviour. With fieldwork during October and early November the study found sentiment to be deteriorating on the back of rising infection levels and the reintroduction of lockdowns.
Little change was found in what is worrying consumers (air travel, quarantine, getting sick while away) or those factors likely to encourage them to book travel (flexible cancellation policies, removal of travel restrictions and vaccine deployment).
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January 11, 2021
UNWTO Barometer Dec 2020
A comprehensive 12-page summary of how international tourism has been performing in different markets during 2020, revealing a likely decline of 70%-75% globally by the end of 2020. Slow virus containment, travel restrictions and lacklustre consumer confidence are cited as the major challenges, but optimism of a rebound in the second half of 2021 remains, although pre-pandemic volumes are not expected until 2023 or 2024.
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January 11, 2021
Group NAO Tourism Taxes by Design
A detailed study that came about on the back of an ever-growing number of tourism taxes but coincided with the dramatic decline in tourism flows due to the pandemic.
The research is wide-ranging, looking at examples of different forms of tourism tax, the wide range of rationales used for their introduction, the evidence about their effectiveness and an analysis of how tourism taxes can be introduced in a way that is underpinned by stakeholder support and consumer willingness to pay.
Findings from an extensive survey of DMOs is also included, revealing the significant funding shortfalls that many currently face.
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January 11, 2021
ECM Benchmarking Report 16th Edition
The freely available Executive Summary provides a glimpse into the much more detailed analysis available from the full purchasable report.
While only scratching the surface of the data and analysis available within the full report the Executive Summary highlights that 2019 was a year of growth for European city destinations, that this growth outstripped regional performance and that all major source markets generated increased levels of visitation than in 2018.
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January 11, 2021
Tourism Ireland Covid-19 Research 2020
A short but detailed summary of research conducted by Tourism Ireland in September across eleven European and long-haul source markets. The study found that those who travelled in summer 2020 had largely enjoyed their experience, but that sentiment had worsened compared with earlier in the summer due to higher incidence of coronavirus. The study identifies a strong preference to drive to a destination and that the majority were optimistic about undertaking international travel before the end of 2021.
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January 11, 2021
ETC European Tourism Trends and Prospects Q3 2020
A regular report produced by European Travel Commission that is packed with commentary, tables and charts looking at the performance of Europe during the third quarter of 2020. The analysis features projections for potential recovery paths, the performance of the aviation and accommodation sectors and a look at wider economic issues.
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November 24, 2020
Amadeus Report – global traveller survey
A summary report showcasing the findings from recent research that explored the concerns and requirements of international travellers across six separate markets (France, Germany, India, Singapore, UK and USA - separate reports for each market are also available).
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November 11, 2020
ETC Monitoring sentiment for domestic and intra-European travel Wave 1
The first of six planned waves of online research looking at the extent to which Europeans are planning travel, their concerns and what factors are likely to influence behaviour. On a positive note the research finds that most remain enthusiastic about travel, and more than half intended to travel within the next six months (the fieldwork was undertaken in August 2020). On the downside this perhaps reinforces the trend for periods of optimism regarding a travel bounce-back to be dashed by events.
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November 11, 2020
WTTC: You have reached your destination
WTTC has recognised the need for public and private sectors around the world to learn from each other rather than ‘reinvent the wheel’ in terms of best practice in delivering travel and tourism, with this report highlighting fascinating examples from destinations around the world under a variety of headings including ‘prioritising the sector’, ‘planning for sustainable and inclusive growth’ and ‘securing and facilitating travel’.
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November 11, 2020
STR Webinar COVID-19 impact on Europe hotel performance
The final STR webinar of 2020 to focus on how Europe’s hotel sector is performing against the backdrop of the pandemic and many countries moving back towards lockdown. The hour-long webinar is an easy listen, although the findings are downbeat, showing Europe to be the only world region where occupancy rates are in retreat and where the upcoming period looks exceptionally challenging.
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October 12, 2020
UNWTO Measuring Sustainable Tourism Brochure
The brochure presents the aim of creating a common statistical language for measuring the impact and contribution that tourism makes to the economy, society and environment, thereby allowing for a fuller account to be taken of sustainability issues when crafting tourism policies.
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October 12, 2020
USTOA Member Survey August 2020
A brief description of findings from the latest USTOA survey of its Active Members, with commentary comparing results in August and those of the earlier survey wave in May/June. While much of the report consists of data tables headline findings are annotated, the most noteworthy of which is that while more respondents reported bookings in the past 60 days were increasing than declining the gap had narrowed significantly since the previous survey.
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October 12, 2020
ETC Handbook on COVID-19 Recovery for NTOs
A hefty tome that looks at what European NTOs have been doing in the sort-term to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic, but takes a long hard look at the future, seeing the current crisis as an opportunity for NTOs to pivot towards a more sustainability-focussed view of how tourism can develop, thereby benefitting not just visitors but local communities, economies and the environment.
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October 12, 2020
Tiquets – Tourism Trends 2020 Report: The European Traveller’s Mindset Post-COVID
Results from a survey of 300 respondents spread across five countries looking at travel intentions for the remainder of 2020 and what museums and attractions could do to attract visitors back.
While an easy and comparatively upbeat read, it should be noted that this analysis is based on a small sample and reflects the sense of optimism felt at the time of the survey in high summer - traveller intentions may have shifted somewhat as summer turned to autumn.
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September 17, 2020
WTTC Recovery Scenarios 2020 & Economic Impact from COVID-19
Analysis conducted by WTTC presented in the form of a 5-page report with accompanying infographics for each world region in addition to a global summary.
Results from WTTC and Oxford Economics modelling covering a baseline, upside and downside scenario are showcased. As its starting point the study notes that swift and coordinated action by governments to safely restart travel and tourism will be crucial in minimising the economic fallout brought about by the crisis.
Since the analysis was conducted in June the downside scenario would appear to be far more likely than the upside scenario.
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September 15, 2020
STR webinar on COVID-19 impact on European hotel performance
A comprehensive analysis looking at the latest trends in the hotel market in Europe that notes areas catering for staycation leisure demand enjoyed an August performance ahead of that which was expected, city destinations more reliant on corporate and international demand saw little in the way of recovery. The webinar includes a look ahead and concludes that while recovery will not be easy and is likely to take until 2023, it remains a realistic goal
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September 10, 2020
UNWTO on COVID-19 and Transforming Tourism
A detailed study showcasing tourism’s vital importance to economies and societies that considers how recovery from COVID-19 can be harnessed as an opportunity to better reflect local values, create decent jobs, lessen the sector’s carbon footprint and protect the wider environment.
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September 10, 2020
UNWTO Recommendations on Urban Tourism
A short 10-page report that builds on a series of Urban Tourism Summits held in recent years as well as research conducted by UNWTO itself in order to make a series of recommendations on how destinations can develop urban tourism in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner.
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September 10, 2020
Airlines for Europe position paper on Sustainability and the Environment
Containing a range of insights and data this paper examines what it is European airlines are already doing to move towards a low-carbon economy, but equally points out the need for political leadership to foster wise regulation, more efficient use of air space and to support research and development in terms of alternative fuels.
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August 18, 2020
Global WebIndex Report – Travel in 2020
A helpful summary of intention to travel and some of the measures that may boost confidence based on an extensive online survey from spring 2020. Highlights include that as well as personal health, financial wellbeing was becoming a concern, and that while ‘touchless travel’ facilitated by digital technology could provide a solution, this will bring issues around inclusiveness as not all have access, or are able to utilise such technology.
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August 10, 2020
Cambridge University Institute for Sustainability Leadership – Climate Change: Implications for Tourism
A report that succeeds in its task of making the IPCC Assessment Report findings much more digestible to the layperson within the tourism sector, describing the scale of likely impact that climate change will have as well as setting out some of the adaptations and mitigation measures that could help deliver a more resilient industry. The report includes a helpful two-page infographic looking at various tourism sub-sectors.
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August 10, 2020
Cambridge University Institute for Sustainability Leadership – Rewiring the Economy: Ten Tasks, Ten Years
A report from 2017 that put forward ten tasks to be carried out within a decade by leaders in the fields of government, finance and business, with the aspiration being to ensure economic development benefits rather than harms broader needs such as healthy ecosystems, climate stability and wellbeing.
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August 10, 2020
Cambridge University Institute for Sustainability Leadership – Working towards a climate neutral Europe: Jobs and skills in a changing world
A discussion relating to how the interplay between megatrends such as demographic and technological change and ongoing policy development to bring about a climate neutral European economy will likely shape the job market, and the skillsets needed by workers, across Europe over the next three decades. While a number of ‘case studies’ are presented none of these relate directly to the travel or tourism sector.
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August 10, 2020
Euromonitor Travel 2040: Climate Emergency
A white paper describing a vision of how consumers might book and experience travel two decades from now, with a focus on how technology may help alleviate growing consumer concerns regarding the environment.
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July 9, 2020
UNWTO Barometer
A valuable summary from UNWTO of the impacts on international travel in the first quarter of 2020 and a look ahead to what the full impact may be during the remainder of the year. The headline is that international arrivals look set to decline by between 58% and 78%, and that as many as 120 million direct tourism jobs are at risk.
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July 9, 2020
Arival tours and activity reopening survey
A fascinating poll of attractions and tour/activity providers exploring their expectations regarding a reopening date, likely demand after reopening, the nature of measures they are planning on introducing in order to comply with health and safety protocols and the degree to which they will not be rehiring staff.
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July 9, 2020
UNESCO museums report
A mix of advocacy for the importance of museums to cultural life and findings from a UNESCO survey to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the sector and what actions had been taken to mitigate enforced hibernation. Almost all museums in Western Europe have been forced to close their doors, and some estimates suggest as many as 10% may not reopen.
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July 2, 2020
Tim Fairhurst on tax and tourism: A destination management problem?
Tim Fairhurst, ETOA’s Director of Policy, gives his opinion on city taxes and calls for transparency and reciprocity in their allocation.
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July 2, 2020
Eurostat tourism industries analysis
A useful, if at times somewhat technical, article that describes the number of ‘tourism industry’ enterprises and number of persons employed by these enterprises in the EU27 countries as of 2017. Detailed tables are presented, including those setting out figures for individual EU27 Member States. The article highlights that almost 12 million people were employed in ‘tourism industries’, that’s one-in-five of all those working in the service sector.
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July 2, 2020
Euromonitor themes transforming consumer markets
A thought piece that has as its primary focus consumer behaviour in a post-pandemic world, and while not centred on issues key to the travel and tourism sector there are some important propositions regarding how long-lasting impacts from the pandemic may influence future lifestyles. In short consumers are expected to be more risk averse and focus more on their health and financial wellbeing.
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July 2, 2020
USTOA Member Survey June 2020
A set of charts and tables that describe the findings from a USTOA survey investigating the extent to which tour operators were seeing demand return, and when DMOs reckoned their destination would reopen. Topics include expectations on group size restrictions and whether national or international protocols were set to be adopted.
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June 22, 2020
David Edwards on Tourism Statistics
A useful companion document for those reading tourism statistics, with a digestible look at why data from different places doesn't always match up.
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June 19, 2020
ETOA Seminar: Brexit – What the travel industry needs to know
The full-length recording of our one-day Brexit seminar on 31st October 2019. Starting points for each each session are given.
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June 19, 2020
Tom Jenkins International Mountain Tourism Day 2020
ETOA's Tom Jenkins explores the value of the mountain tourism industry; its role in Europe-China tourism development and its role in recovery post-coronavirus.
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June 19, 2020
Tom Jenkins message to the Cultural Tourism Industry Recovery Conference in China
ETOA CEO Tom Jenkins delivers a message to the Cultural Tourism Industry Recovery Conference in China.
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June 19, 2020
Tom Jenkins BBC Radio on “Covid corridors”
ETOA CEO Tom Jenkins on BBC Radio with Jose Ramon Bauza, MEP talks about the revival of Europe as a destination and calls for a common approach to opening up, avoiding "Covid corridors".
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June 19, 2020
Journal of sustainable tourism – COVID-19 and intention to fly
A data-driven academic journal article in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism on the ways that COVID-19 has affected passengers' motivation and intention to fly. Has useful summary videos of the findings.
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June 19, 2020
Skift on the pivot to domestic travel
A short article from Skift, looking at which countries might gain and which lose if all international travel demand shifts to domestic.
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June 19, 2020
PhocusWire on tours and activities recovery products
An interesting article from PhocusWire about what entrepreneurial businesses in the tours and activities sector are doing to adapt their product to at-home experiences and crowd-beating apps.
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June 18, 2020
Doug Lansky on the new normal of tourism
An interesting video from Doug Lansky with input from tourism officials in Bhutan and Amsterdam on how destinations could re-invent themselves and re-think their strategies in a post-coronavirus environment.
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June 18, 2020
Doug Lansky on how coronavirus may help destinations address capacity management
A thought-provoking take from Doug Lansky on the opportunities coronavirus could present for destinations to address overtourism and capacity management.
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June 18, 2020
ETOA Snapshot – Working with visitor attractions
Jorge Traver, ETOAs Country Representative for Spain, summarises how we work with visitor attractions.
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June 18, 2020
ETOA Snapshot – Operational challenges
Sofie Jensen, ETOA's Head of Operations and Destination Engagement summarises the operational challenges faced by our members.
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