European cities that never go out of style, warm-climate destinations and a strong comeback from Asia: these are the main trends shaping Italians' travel habits for the cold season, according to data revealed to Guida Viaggi by eDreams Odigeo.
Pablo Caspers, chief air supply & advertising officer at eDreams Odigeo, details the trends for the coming months, stressing that the desire to travel does not end with the summer holidays. "For the winter season," explains Caspers, "we have already observed two main trends: in addition to the classic cities, there are trips to destinations with a mild climate and coastlines – fitting into a holiday schedule that goes beyond the traditional August break – and a strong interest in Asia." When analysing the actual booking data for the period from November to February, geographical proximity tops the list of preferences: Spain is ahead with 13%, followed by Italy and France, both with 10%.
Paris and London lead; significant growth for Palermo and Marsa Alam:
When examining the cities most sought after by Italian travellers, Caspers points to the preference for large urban classics and beach destinations for winter. "The most popular cities are Paris, London, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Sharm El-Sheikh," says the executive. However, the real surprise lies in the growth rates, which show significant increases for specific destinations: "Bookings for Palermo (+162%), Marsa Alam (+97%) and Rome (+90%) are registering strong increases."
Although bookings confirm a clear preference for short- and medium-haul travel, online searches carried out in recent weeks reveal the desire for long-haul destinations and emerging destinations. "If we look at the searches made in recent weeks for winter travel," concludes Caspers, "Spain (9%), the United States (7%) and Thailand (6%) stand out."
Finally, eDreams executive Odigeo highlights the leading position of Asian destinations in Italians' search preferences: "Bangkok is the most searched city of all, while the destinations with the fastest growth in search volume are Warsaw (+74%), Singapore (+42%) and Tokyo (+41%)."
