Here are the trends making headlines this week:
Gastronomy and urban experiences drive European travel
Interests and hobbies are important factors when selecting a travel destination, according to a new study commissioned by the European Travel Commission. The findings show that gastronomy is the primary motivation for travelling for 15% of travellers (second only to nature), with 55% listing it as a relevant factor. Enjoying city life was a relevant factor for half of the respondents, with 13% listing it as the most important one.
https://etc-corporate.org/reports/tourism-passion-communities/
Tourism boom in Madagascar
Madagascar is set to experience a tourism-driven boom this year, according to a study undertaken by ForwardKeys. Visitor arrivals in 2018 were up 8% on the previous year and up 19% in the first five months of 2019, a growth mostly due to a substantial increase in airline seat capacity. Travellers tend to enjoy the island country for relatively long stays, which serves as a key driver of economic growth for the destination: over three quarters of visitors to Madagascar stay for more than two weeks, while 19% visit for longer than a month.
https://forwardkeys.com/forwardkeys-forecasts-a-tourism-boom-in-madagascar/
Holiday adventures: abroad or at home?
New research from Get Going Travel Insurance looked into whether British travellers can have a better adventure holiday by staying at home or going abroad. According to the findings, Brits should stay at home if they want to go surfing, with Fistral Beach in Cornwall being one of the best options. Whale watching can be experienced in the Shetland Islands and excellent scuba diving can be enjoyed in Devon. On the other hand, those interested in a caving holiday or skiing retreat should plan a trip to Skocjan Caves in Slovenia and Chamonix in France, respectively.
