TUI Study: Travel behaviour of the Germans over the holiday period

Survey conducted by the tourism group shows: only a minority are grouchy about Christmas

First of all celebrate Christmas within your own four walls and afterwards go away on holiday. That is how the planning of many Germans looks for the coming Christmas holiday and the turn of the year. This is shown by a representative survey commissioned by TUI and conducted by TNS Infratest among around 1,000 persons. According to the results, 61.2 percent of the respondents celebrate Christmas in classical style at home. The Germans are thus also in line with the European trend. Similar results were obtained in Austria and Great Britain, where the study was also carried out by TNS and TUI. In Austria, 63.6 percent of respondents remain at home, while in Great Britain the figures was 68.2 percent.

About one-third of Germans are travelling over Christmas

In Germany, almost one in three persons (29.3 per cent) travels over Christmas to visit relatives and friends, while about five per cent want to go on holiday over the Christmas holidays. The group of those travelling or considering travelling over Christmas (47.9 per cent of the respondents in total) consider relaxation as one of the most important reasons for this: “I want to relax at Christmas and that is easier on holiday”, explained about 33 percent. And when they travel, it is often together with relatives and friends. 38.4 per cent of respondents surveyed said that. Only a small minority appeared to be regularly grouchy about Christmas. “I don't like Christmas”, was the reply of only 9.5 per cent to the question as to why they go on holiday over Christmas.

Similar travel behaviour patterns in other European countries

The numbers of persons who are travelling over Christmas are similar in Austria and the UK as they are in Germany. In the Alpine republic , almost one in three visits family members or friends (27.9 per cent), whereas in the United Kingdom about every fourth person (23.2 per cent) did so. Also with regard to holidays over Christmas the Austrians show themselves somewhat more fond of travel. 6.7 percent of respondents in Austria said they wanted to spend Christmas at a holiday destination. For Great Britain, TNS and TUI registered a figure 5.9 percent on this question.

Sunshine and winter sports destinations top the list

After Christmas around the Christmas tree within their own four walls, far more Germans are likely to be travelling. “Holidays around the turn of the year are very popular with many Germans”, reports TUI. “And sunshine as well as beaches are right at the top of the their lists”. That is proved by taking a look at the Christmas holiday rankings of the world's leading travel company. By far the most popular holiday destination in the cold season is Spain with its islands: almost one-third of all TUI guests spend their holidays there. Especially popular are the Canary Islands, in particular, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Tenerife. 2nd place among the most popular TUI destinations around the turn of the year is taken by Germany, followed by Austria in 3rd place. Both countries are particularly popular with families who like to travel using their own car. Winter sports enthusiasts also find what they are looking for here. Long-distance travel is also booming over New Year - this is shown by the following rankings, which are taken by Thailand (4th place) and the USA (5th place). Egypt lands in 6th place, Portugal is ranked 7th. Also in the top 10 are the long distance destinations of the Dominican Republic (8), the United Arab Emirates (9) and Mexico (10).

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