Survey Shows Great Travel Enthusiasm in Summer 2026

"It remains the case: People want to travel - and this is true across all age groups and regions," said Gottfried Math, Managing Director of TUI Austria, during a press conference at ROBINSON Cyprus, the most popular ROBINSON Club among Austrian TUI guests in the summer. "The survey results confirm that vacations are an indispensable part of life for many."

Vacation in Summer 2026: The Trends

With 50 percent, the traditional beach vacation is particularly popular among 25- to 44-year-olds. This is followed by city trips at 37 percent and nature vacations in rural areas, by lakes, or in the mountains at 30 percent as popular travel options. In the summer of 2026, 58 percent of respondents will use airplanes for their travels. Medium-haul flights are especially popular among 18- to 34-year-olds. Overall, 47 percent plan a medium-haul flight, while 18 percent are considering a long-haul trip.

"The demand for medium-haul destinations like Greece, Turkey, or Spain remains consistently high," said Math. "We have structured our summer flight program accordingly and offer around 270 weekly connections from Austria." 39 percent of vacationers do not place particular importance on sustainable tourism, while a significantly increased environmental awareness is noticeable among the 18- to 24-year-olds. However, only 12 percent are willing to pay a higher price for environmentally friendly offers.

Price Awareness Influences Vacation in Summer 2026

The survey highlights: Price awareness has a significant impact on the choice of travel destination. 31 percent of participants intentionally travel in the off-season to save money. 30 percent look for special offers and discounts, 22 percent use early booking discounts. However, 17 percent do not have to consider the budget when planning their vacation. "We see that many customers pay very close attention to their vacation budget," explains Math. "With attractive early booking offers and a wide portfolio for different price ranges, we offer suitable options for every life situation." Nevertheless, the demand for additional services during vacations is clearly noticeable: Many travelers are happy to invest in special experiences such as excursions in small groups, rooms with sea views or direct pool access, rental cars, or private transfers - offers that can be specifically booked with TUI to enrich the vacation individually.

According to the latest survey results, consumers intend to save in various areas of life in 2026. 18 percent want to spend less money on restaurant visits and going out. 13 percent plan to reduce their spending on electronics, and 11 percent want to save on clothing and shoes. The area of vacation and travel is also not untouched: 10 percent of respondents state that they want to reduce their spending in this area. "This is not currently reflected in the figures for the summer of 2026. Per capita spending on summer vacations has increased by 4.3 percent compared to the previous year, and we are also seeing a single-digit percentage increase in guest numbers," says Math.

Summer is Travel Time Even in 2026

"People want to travel - the survey shows this very clearly," said Math. "And they do: despite economic challenges, with growing interest in quality, individuality, and flexibility." With a wide range of flights, an appealing hotel portfolio from TUI, and individually designed tours through the new TUI tours platform, TUI looks optimistically towards the summer of 2026. Information and booking at any TUI travel agency can be found here.

(Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.