Europeans travel more | 92% within the EU
Source: Tornos News
European Union residents made 1.19 billion trips in 2024 – both personal and business – up 4.4% on the previous year, according to new Eurostat data. Despite the increase, most Europeans continue to prefer destinations within the EU, with 92% of trips being intra-European.
Of the total trips, 850 million (71%) were domestic, while 250 million (21%) were to other EU countries. The data shows that European travelers continue to choose mainly nearby and familiar destinations.
Romania, Spain and Greece lead the way in domestic travel
Romania recorded the highest share of domestic travel (90%), followed by Spain (88%) and France, Portugal and Greece (85%).
In contrast, Luxembourg (5%), Belgium (23%) and Malta (35%) had the lowest shares, as their smaller markets are mainly focused on travel abroad — within the EU, however.
More spending on international travel
Although most travel takes place within the borders, spending is much higher on travel outside the country.
In 2024, EU residents spent €257.2 billion on domestic travel and €360.7 billion on international travel.
Accommodation and transport absorb the largest share of expenses:
For domestic trips: 33.9% (€87.2 billion) for accommodation and 21.3% (€54.8 billion) for transport.
For international trips: 35.4% (€127.7 billion) for accommodation and 31.9% (€115.1 billion) for transport.
The data suggest that trips abroad usually involve longer stays and higher travel costs, while domestic trips rely more on short breaks or private means.
Travelling close to home
Eurostat notes that the preference for nearby destinations is in line with post-pandemic trends:
cheaper options, easy access and stability in intra-European travel.
The single market and free movement within the EU further strengthen this dynamic.
Europe remains one of the world’s most active travel destinations
With 1.19 billion trips and a continued focus on intra-European travel, the European Union remains one of the most active and interconnected tourism areas in the world — supporting thousands of businesses in sectors such as hospitality and transport.
The original article: belongs to Tornos News .
