
What is the demand for outbound tourism on the European market?
The tourism industry has seen a slow recovery since the increase of vaccination rates and the decrease in measures to contain COVID-19. Interest in nature-based, off-season and sustainable travel has grown, offering new opportunities to attract European tourists. However, a full rebound in long-haul travel behaviour is not expected until 2025. Many younger travellers feel inspired to travel to their bucket list destination. In the light of the pandemic, giving back to local communities is important for European travellers, especially among Western European countries.
Contents of this page
1. What makes Europe an interesting market to target?
The relevance of the European travel market
Europe offers the world’s largest source market for outbound tourism, generating 618 million international tourist arrivals, which was almost 50% of the world’s total before the coronavirus. Asia and the pacific account for 26% of the world’s total number of international tourist arrivals, followed by North and South America with almost 18%.
Out of all 618 million trips by European citizens, 521 million travelled within Europe, 35 million travelled to Asia and the Pacific, 32 million travelled to North and South America, 18 million travelled to Africa and 12 million travelled to the Middle East.
In 2019, total European tourism (air, land and sea) out of Europe counted 496 million trips. It generated 35% of the world’s international tourism expenditure. Of these trips, 14% (70.6 million trips) had a developing country destination, and 86% had a different destination outside the EU. Intra-European travel has not been taken into account. Trips to developing country destinations have been growing with 3% yearly since 2015.
Within Europe, Germany is the largest source market, with 13 million trips to developing country destinations, followed by the United Kingdom (11 million trips) and France (9 million trips).
Recovery of the European outbound travel market
Due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, 2020 became a disastrous year for European outbound tourism. When the first infection was detected in Europe in January 2020, it had a major effect. By the end of March, Europe was considered the active centre of the pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), as its total new infections surpassed those of China. In response, every country in Europe resorted to total lockdowns. This was catastrophic for the outbound tourism market, and numbers plummeted.
The number of trips by aircraft out of Europe reached an all-time low in April and May 2020. While the summer and autumn of 2020 have seen a small recovery in the number of trips, travellers were still very restricted. This was expected to change in 2021. However, travel rates at the start of 2021 were the same as in most of 2020 because of new outbreaks and a slow vaccination rate in most European countries.
Although tourism from Europe dropped majorly, it dropped less excessively than tourism from other regions. European outbound travel dropped with 67% in 2020, which is less than Africa (73%), North and South America (73%), the Middle East (74%) and Asia Pacific (85%).
With vaccination rates rising, the European tourism industry is likely to recover. Experts expect that outbound travel from Europe will further recover in 2022, though perhaps not to pre-coronavirus levels yet. It is very uncertain when the tourism market will fully recover. Among tourism experts, 27% expect Africa to fully recover in 2022, 45% expect this to happen in 2023 and 27% think this will happen in 2024 or later. For the Asian market, these numbers are 14% (2022), 31% (2023) and 56% (2024 or later) respectively.
Variants of the virus, like the Delta variant, continue to make travel prospects uncertain. Travel restrictions can change within the short term. This highly influences travel plans. Therefore, travellers make sure their payment can be refunded and check-in dates are flexible. Because of that, cancellation policies and flexible arrangements are important. Flexible check-in dates and refunds will play a determining role for tourists when booking their holidays. A full recovery of outbound travel is expected in 2025 for long-haul destinations.
How COVID-19 changed the European travel market
COVID-19 has changed Europeans’ perspective of travel in several ways. Travelling solo and trips to connect with loved ones are examples of these travel wishes. The pandemic has had a big influence on Europeans’ well-being. This leads to increased interest in paying attention to mental wellness during holidays.
The desire to see more of the world has increased for many Europeans during the lockdown. They are looking forward to picking their travel plans up again now that more people are vaccinated. Some intend to already travel to far-away destinations by the end of 2021. During lockdown, people have gathered inspiration on where to travel next, mainly through talking to family and friends, watching influencers’ social media channels and looking at old holiday pictures.
For the time ahead, travellers are looking to compensate for their cancelled travel plans. This is especially true among Millennials and Gen Z. Travellers are looking to rebook trips that had to be cancelled in 2020 (40%) or are looking to make up for a celebration that could not take place by going on a trip (38%). Gen Z and Millennials, people with higher incomes and families with children are the most likely to travel in 2021. Furthermore, 54% of vaccinated and 46% of unvaccinated people are looking to travel internationally.
European travellers are looking forward to compensating for lost time with a bucket list holiday, especially 18-24-year-olds. These younger travellers are likely willing to spend more in 2022 on a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Adventure travel will be important for this age group. They are also interested in FIT tourism. Packaged holidays are becoming less interesting for them, because they want to explore the destination on their own. Seniors and people who are travelling to far-away countries are still interested in package holidays. For long-haul destinations, package holidays are expected to increase, as people are looking for financial protection and reassurance after the pandemic.
On the flip side, travellers are expected to go back to familiar favourites. That familiarity invokes trust amongst tourists, as they travel again for the first time after lockdown. Also, 25% of travellers are looking for a countryside holiday, which is more than in previous years. This is especially true for domestic travel, but it is an important trend for outbound travel as well. Many travellers want to travel by car to nearby countries or regions.
COVID-19 has resulted in Europeans placing a high value on spaciousness, nature, air and environmental quality. Overcrowded destinations are avoided, and 32% of Europeans are willing to pay more to avoid crowded destinations. Holiday homes and apartments are in higher demand compared to hotels to avoid crowds. Many Europeans are interested in going off the beaten track to also get a unique and meaningful experience. Getting immersed in the local culture with locals is very appealing to them. Furthermore, 44% of Europeans are considering off-season travel to avoid crowded destinations. Couples are relatively more interested in off-season travel compared to families, with 51% and 38% willing to travel off-season respectively.
The pandemic has emphasised the need for natural, economic and social sustainability. This is also reflected in travel behaviour, as people are more interested in reducing their CO2 footprint while travelling. This means that people are more interested in staying at 1 destination during their holidays. This way, they can reduce their CO2 footprint by using less transportation. Interest in nature-based holidays has also increased. People value basic activities such as hiking and cycling in nature.
COVID-19 has brought uncertainty into people’s working life. Job opportunities and financial stability have decreased, and Europeans want to make sure their money is well spent on their holiday. Many will avoid unnecessary expenditures and put more effort into searching for the best deals.
Working remotely has become the norm during lockdown. This makes it easy for people to leisure travel and work online at the same time, because people are not required to come to the office every day. Italians, Spaniards and British people especially are interested in working away from their home or office desk. People will want to work in a comfortable working area with, for example, a beautiful view. A strong and private Wi-Fi connection is very important to accommodate these travellers. Next to that, people have an increased interest in extending business trips to enjoy more leisure time at the destination as well.
The demand for sustainable niche products
Accelerated by the pandemic, Europeans have an increased need for sustainable niche products and options when travelling.
Air travel is responsible for a lot of CO2 emissions, and people are increasingly becoming aware of this. For this reason, travellers are likely to stay closer to home to avoid harming the environment so heavily. To reduce their carbon footprint, 37% are willing to pay more. Almost 60% of travellers are willing to take fewer trips and spend more time at single destinations, especially Polish, Spanish and Dutch travellers.
Over half (51%) of European travellers plan to travel more in the off-season or are willing to pay more to visit less crowded destinations (37%). This is partly to reduce overtourism, but also to decrease the chance of COVID-19 infection.
The pandemic has had a huge impact on some local communities, especially those which are largely dependent on tourism. Because of this and to compensate for their long-haul travel, 1 in 3 people would like to spend more money to benefit the social and economic situation of local communities. This percentage is even higher for travellers from the United Kingdom (40%), France (40%) and Germany (40%).
Sustainable wildlife tourism is a major niche market for European travellers. European tourists are increasingly concerned with the well-being of wildlife and are willing to pay more to see animals in the wild instead of in zoos. They find it increasingly unacceptable when animals are used for entertainment purposes. For example, 88% of German tourists agree that tour operators should avoid activates that cause suffering for wild animals.
Offering vegetarian food is a must when offering packages for Europeans. Of the European population, 4.6% is vegetarian or vegan, and among highly educated and Western European travellers, this is even higher. Germany, the Netherlands and Austria are the countries with the highest percentages of vegetarians. Offering sustainable culinary options can make you really stand out from the competition. More information on how to do so can be read in our studies on the opportunities for food tourism from Europe.
Tips:
- Promote off-season trips to baby boomers and off-the-beaten-track trips to Generations Y and Z. This offers chances for a more sustainable all-year-long income while at the same time reducing overtourism and reducing the chance of COVID-19 infection.
- Develop a diverse offering at a single location. Reduced travel reduces the CO2 footprint. Also, promote the idea that staying longer in 1 place results in the opportunity to really get to know a certain place and its community. This will be especially appealing to Generation Y and Z travellers.
- Work together with the local community and make sure they benefit from the tourists you attract, for example by letting them sell locally crafted products. For many other opportunities, read our study on opportunities in the community-based tourism market.
- Get accredited certifications to communicate to visitors that the activities or products you are providing are sustainable. For example, Fair Trade Tourism provides certificates for social, economic and environmental sustainability and provides separate certificates for sustainable accommodation, activities and food services. Read our study on how to be a sustainable tourism company to learn more about sustainable certification.
- When offering wildlife tourism or birdwatching tourism, only do so in a sustainable manner, without causing harm to animals or their habitat. European travellers are frontrunners in this respect and will not accept mistreatment of animals. For more information on how to tap into this market in a sustainable manner, read our studies on wildlife tourism and birdwatching tourism.
Developing country destinations most visited by Europeans
While domestic and intra-European travel is becoming more popular, this chapter mainly focuses on Europeans going on long-haul travel to Africa and the Middle East, Asia and Latin America. Furthermore, the top 6 developing country destinations (Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, Thailand, Ukraine and China) make up over 50% of the trips to developing country destinations.
Turkey was by far the most popular developing country destination among Europeans until 2019. Because of political instability in 2016 and 2017, Turkey has seen a dip in incoming European tourists. However, there was a resurgence in arrivals in 2018 and 2019. The recovery of the tourism market in Turkey for 2021 was positive, but due to wildfires that took place during the summer, this forecast has been heavily dented.
Morocco has seen a stable number of European tourist arrivals over the past years. Many tourists that visit Morocco are people that were born in Morocco but now live abroad. Many tourists are also French. This is likely because of their colonial history and the many people that speak French in Morocco. Egypt has seen a steady increase in tourist arrivals over the years. The number of tourist arrivals since lockdown has also increased during 2021. Many Europeans are looking to spend their holidays along the Mediterranean Sea when they go to Egypt. The interest in Egypt as a destination has increased after the decrease in terrorist attacks.
Africa and the Middle East
After the threat of Islamic State (IS) had decreased, Africa and the Middle East recovered as important destinations for European tourists. Up until 2020, Africa and the Middle East received the most tourists from Europe in comparison to other parts of the world. In 2018, they saw the largest increase in European arrivals, with a 25.8% growth rate. Turkey, Morocco and Egypt are the top 3 developing country destinations that Europeans like to travel to.
Some destinations in Africa and the Middle East received many more European tourists than in previous years. Tunisia, for example, had an increase in tourist arrivals of 55% in 2018 and 18% in 2019. After 2 deadly jihadist attacks on a Sousse beach and Bardo National Museum in Tunis aimed at tourists in 2015, tourism to Tunisia decreased tremendously. It recovered in 2018, with tourist arrivals surpassing 2014, before the attacks took place.
Niger and Comoros have seen an increase in European tourist arrivals between 2018 and 2019, with a growth rate of 22% and 23% respectively. Niger increased its focus on assets that are appealing to tourists, such as local culture. The Comoro Islands have promoted themselves as an appealing destination for tourists interested in culture, wildlife and nature tourism.
Africa’s tourism market will have a hard time recovering from COVID-19. This is because the amount of domestic and regional travel is lower compared to other world regions, and people from Europe are looking for more security by staying closer to home. Overall, Africa will see major losses in the tourism industry in 2021. A 78% drop in tourism expenditure is expected in North Africa and a 69% drop in South Africa. The quickest resurgence in the African tourism market is expected to be within the wildlife and nature tourism market.
Figure 3: Wildlife watching offers 1 of the largest niche markets in Africa

The decline in tourist arrivals will be especially hard for Cabo Verde, where tourism was responsible for 71% of the total export and 93% of international guests. Mauritius is facing hard times because 10% of its GDP comes from tourism and 34% of its export products are within the tourism industry. In the Middle East, it is going to be especially tough for Jordan, where tourism makes up 12% of its GDP, 36% of its exports and 72% of international arrivals.
Asia
Thailand, China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam saw a steady increase in tourist arrivals in the years leading up to 2020. Asia witnessed the first cases of COVID-19 and was therefore also the first region to commence lockdown. In June 2021, many Asian countries suffered high infection rates again, and 70% of Asia’s borders have been closed for non-essential travel. Quarantine upon arrival is necessary in almost all countries. This is devastating for the tourism market in Asia. Until domestic vaccination rates and vaccination rates from incoming tourists rise, the tourism industry will continue to suffer majorly in Asia. Tourism arrivals were down 75% in the first half of 2020 in comparison to 2019.
The Philippines was the most sensitive to the decrease in arrivals, as tourism accounts for 9% of its GDP and 10% of its exports. Thailand will have a hard time as well, as 7% of its GDP and 20% of its exports consist of tourism products and services.
Thailand’s Phuket province reopened its borders on 1 July for people who are fully vaccinated. Thailand is looking to reopen its national borders entirely in mid-October for vaccinated people.
Asian countries are cheap to visit for Europeans. The continent’s rich nature, cultural heritage and opportunities for luxury travel make it an interesting destination when restrictions have decreased. While cities in Asia used to be high in demand, it is likely that nature-based activities will see an increase in demand when the measures allow it.
Latin America
International tourist arrivals in Latin America saw steady growth up until 2019.
Mexico is by far the most popular travel destination in Latin America among Europeans. Tourist arrivals in 2020 decreased with almost 60%, which is lower than the world average. Mexico did not see a total lockdown, which let it maintain some parts of the tourism industry. Meanwhile, the country has seen an 80-100% recovery rate in the tourism industry in 2021, which is unique in the world.
Figure 6: The Day of the Dead festivity in Mexico offers culture and spirituality and attracts many tourists

Source: Photo by Dina Julayeva on Shutterstock
Latin America is expected to see the largest resurgence in sustainable travel, especially because sustainable awareness has increased during COVID-19. Conserving biodiversity, protecting local communities and indigenous people have attracted tourists’ interests. El Salvador saw a tremendous increase of 29% in European tourist arrivals between 2018 and 2019. Traditional and colonial culture and nature travel are the main reasons for people to travel to El Salvador. Tourist favourites include the majestic volcanoes, craters, birdwatching opportunities and black-sand beaches.
Nicaragua had the largest decrease in European tourist arrivals, with 26% fewer tourists in 2019 compared to 2018. This decline was partly caused by the protests against social security reforms.
For many islands in Latin America, like Saint Lucia, Dominica and Antigua & Barbuda, the coming period will be tough, as tourism is a large part of their total exports. Panama is going into hard times as well, as 9% of its GDP and 28% of its total exports consist of tourism. Another country that is getting it tough is Jamaica, since 54% of its exports and 9% of its GDP come from tourism.
Tips:
- Promote different seasonal highlights of the travel destination to tourists, so they feel welcome all year round.
- Focus on providing a dynamic local experience to European tourists to promote a longer stay at your destination. For example, encourage them to join local events, projects and workshops.
- Ensure that the destination’s environment lives up to European hygienic standards. Organise small-scale group activities so people do not have to worry about getting infected during their holiday. For information on hygiene and safety protocols, visit the website of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
- Provide antibacterial gel at activities and at the accommodation. Many people are also more interested in renting cars to avoid public transport. Provide car or bike rentals so people can get around on their own.
- Read our study on trends to better understand how the European travel market is changing and for tips on how to adapt to these changes.
2. Which European markets offer the most opportunities for tourism suppliers in developing countries?
Germany, the United Kingdom and France are the most important source countries for developing country destinations, followed at some distance by Spain, Italy and the Netherlands. Besides offering the most trips to developing countries, these source markets also have a relatively high budget and an above-average interest in sustainable travel.
Germany
With almost 13 million trips to developing countries in 2019 (12% of all German outbound trips), Germany is the largest European source country.
Just like for most Europeans, Turkey is a popular destination among Germans. Turkey is expecting 2.5 to 3 million German tourists in the second half of 2021 if the pandemic allows it. This is close to the number of tourist arrivals before the pandemic. Turkey’s nice climate, beautiful nature, interesting cuisine and culture, great beaches and cheap flights from European source countries make it an appealing holiday destination. Germany alone provided 27% of the trips to Turkey in 2018. The high ratio of German visitors can be explained by the large number of Turkish migrants living in Germany.
To see how many Germans travelled to your country in 2019, hover your mouse cursor or pointer over the countries in blue in Figure 8.
The favourite destination of German travellers differs per niche market. Germans who enjoy nature and cultural activities tend to travel to China. Another popular nature-based destination is Thailand, which also serves well as a luxury travel destination. Next to Thailand, German travellers visit destinations in Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia for luxury travel as well. To participate in local cultural activities, Germans prefer destinations in the Middle East, Morocco, Namibia and Kenia.
Germany saw a rise in domestic tourism during 2020, with 45% of travel being domestic. In 2019, this was 26%. This is likely to be because of the pandemic, but it is a trend that is likely to persist when the pandemic is over. At the beginning of October, 77% of the population was fully vaccinated. Mostly because of vaccinations, air travel out of Europe from Germany was almost 10 times higher in May 2021 compared to 2020. However, this number represents only 15% of the total trips before COVID-19. In July 2021, passenger numbers out of Europe showed further recovery up to over one-third of the pre-COVID-19 passenger flows.
Table 1: The number of Germans travelling outside of Europe by air
Month |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
January |
6,322,720 |
6,423,267 |
848,268 |
February |
5,919,529 |
5,958,139 |
636,531 |
March |
7,198,047 |
3,080,015 |
890,297 |
April |
7,791,196 |
137,090 |
964,301 |
May |
7,664,710 |
146,225 |
1,136,260 |
June |
8,412,173 |
510,461 |
1,796,977 |
July |
9,343,396 |
1,227,113 |
3,493,451 |
August |
9,633,553 |
1,641,557 |
|
September |
8,829,200 |
1,329,745 |
|
October |
8,944,404 |
1,219,459 |
|
November |
6,816,603 |
692,767 |
|
December |
6,993,276 |
916,619 |
|
Source: Eurostat
German tourists generally do not like uncertainty. They like to prepare and tend to read a lot before their trip. They are, like most Europeans, direct in their communication and are well known for their tendency towards organisation and punctuality. Trying local food and hiking in nature are among their favourite activities. German tourists are more interested in beach tourism than other tourists with other nationalities. Germans are also the ones taking the most cruise trips in the world.
Germans want to include a lot of nature activities. Their love for the outdoors also reflects their values related to sustainability. They find it very important not to disturb nature, as 57% believe their holiday trip should be as environmentally friendly as possible and 23% said that they consider sustainability during their holiday planning. Another 4% state that it plays a determining factor. Next to experiencing nature, they also enjoy beach holidays, relaxing holidays and family holidays.
Booking accommodation and flight-tickets separately (FIT tourism) has seen a slight increase between 2010 and 2018. However, Germans still prefer to book package travel including both transportation and accommodation. In 2019, popular tour operators were Tui (17.9% market share), DER Touristic (8.5% market share), FTI (7.9% market share) and Aida Cruises (5.2% market share). Most Germans book their trip online (42%) or face-to-face (40%). Important online and offline travel agents active in the German market are DER Touristic, RTK Group, TUI, BCD Travel and LH City Center. Booking through phone calls or email is the least popular.
The average number of days Germans go on holiday is almost 10 days. German travellers enjoy staying in hotels, with 66% of them having stayed in a hotel during their last trip. A large decisive factor for travel destinations is their budget. They largely spend their money on their hotel stay, flight and food.
German travellers value the opportunity for outdoor and other activities, feeling taken care of, cultural experiences and a feeling of having a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience during their travel the most. These are the most important determinators while choosing a destination.
The average budget for the next main trip was €1,583 in 2020, which is a decrease compared to €2,467 in 2019, although this amount will be higher for long-haul destinations. The booking process of German travellers usually takes 1 week or 1 to 3 weeks. They are likely to make their decision based off of reviews, information provided and deals. Germans look to book their travels through online travel agencies, search engines or travel comparison websites.
Germans are among the most willing to travel off-season, with almost half of them being willing to do so. Also, 39% of Germans are willing to pay more to avoid crowded destinations, and almost 60% of Germans are willing to stay at 1 destination during their travel.
Germany is the largest economy in Europe, with a GDP worth 3.3 trillion euros in 2020. It has experienced a smaller decrease in GDP during the pandemic compared to other European countries, with a growth rate of -4.8% in 2020. In 2021 and 2022, the growth rates are expected to be 3.6% and 4.6% respectively. Germany’s strong economy and its vast population make it an interesting and stable source market. In July 2021, almost half of the population was fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Tips:
- Attract German tourists with active outdoor activities while also providing them the opportunity to relax.
- Avoid surprises and provide a lot of information on activities, payment and accommodation to attract German tourists. They like to know what they can expect when travelling.
- Visit the Reisanalyse website or read the DRV German travel market report to gain more insights into the German tourism market.
United Kingdom
With over 11 million trips to developing countries in 2019 (19% of all British outbound trips), the United Kingdom offers the second-largest European source market. In 2019, 88% of people in the United Kingdom took at least 1 trip, with the average person taking almost 4 trips per year. Families with children over 5 years old enjoy most trips.
To see how many British people travelled to your country in 2019, hover your mouse cursor or pointer over the countries in blue in Figure 9.
Just like for Germany, the most popular developing country destination for British people is Turkey, with 6% of people travelling there in 2018-2019. Asia is also an increasingly popular destination, along with North and South America. Compared to other age groups, 18-24-year-olds are increasingly interested in travelling to Africa. The most popular African destinations are Morocco, South Africa and Egypt.
Beach holidays and city trips are popular among British travellers. Adventure holidays are also seeing an increase compared to the years before: 10% took a lake or mountain trip and 7% took a camping trip, the latter being especially popular amongst the age group 55-64. Adventure tourism trips are increasingly popular among 18-24-year-olds. Wellness travel has also been rising in popularity. Many couples enjoy a romantic getaway.
The average budget for the next main trip was €2,155 in 2020, which is more or less the same as in 2019. Their stable holiday budget is an exception in Europe, probably caused by the high vaccination coverage at a very early stage.
Online bookings are by far the most popular, with 83% booking their trips this way. Consulting travel company websites and professionals have seen a rise, while social media are used less for travel information. British travellers have become more aware of fake news and fake reviews on social media, which makes them wary of using it for travel recommendations.
Holiday bookings through phone calls have seen a slight rise from 15% in 2018 to 17% in 2019. These bookings are mostly made by elderly people above 75 years old. In-store bookings have decreased from 15% to 12% between 2018 and 2019. High-end accommodation is the norm for British travellers. Package holidays, especially all-inclusive, are popular. However, booking transportation and accommodation separately is equally popular. These 2 forms of travel have not seen major changes in the past years.
Among the British, 50% have either been on a cruise and are likely to go again or have not been on a cruise but are interested in going on 1. Most people are interested in ocean cruises, followed by adult-only, river and land-based cruises.
British people care about sustainability. They find it important that the money spent on holidays contributes to the local community. Next to that, they find it important that plastic pollution is minimised and that the local animals are treated with respect. Half of British travellers find travel companies’ green credentials important.
Some of the leading certification programmes are:
- Travelife, offering a certification programme for tour operators, travel agents, hotels and accommodations;
- Earthcheck, offering a science-based approach to increase efficiency, maximise the guest experience and minimise the environmental footprint;
- Green Globe, a global certification with a focus on hotels, resorts, attractions and conference centres.
It is important to realise that opting for certification has a big influence on your company. It usually requires hard work to obtain, but it can be of great support in increasing the sustainability of your business and marketing your company.
British people on average spend 8 days at their destination. Most British travellers stay at a hotel, while few of them stay with family or friends, a resort or an alternative accommodation. Most of the money spent goes to hotels, followed by flight expenses.
Compared to the French and Germans, British people tend to consider deals and low costs more as a determining factor for their travel decisions. However, they value the activities at the destinations and the cultural experience the most.
British travellers usually book their trip within 1 week or take 1 to 3 weeks to do so. Next to money deals, British people find reviews and information important decision-making factors. British people are mostly influenced by reviews on travel review websites, followed by search engines and online travel agencies. They usually also book their travels through online or offline travel agencies. Therefore, most British travel agents adopt a multichannel approach, offering their services both online and offline. Large travel agents offering online services are Hays Travel, Travel Counsellors and Tui.
A little over 45% of British people are willing to take more off-season trips, while 42% are willing to pay more to avoid crowded destinations. Almost 60% are willing to stay at 1 destination per trip instead of travelling to multiple destinations.
The United Kingdom is the second-largest economy in Europe, with a GDP of 2.3 trillion euros in 2020. While the GDP decreased with 9.8% in 2020, it is expected to grow significantly in 2021 and 2022, with 7.2% and 5.5% respectively.
Tips:
- Select the green certification you want to acquire with great care. Certification programmes are very different in terms of cost, required effort and appeal. A certification programme needs to fit your organisation and ambition. More information on increasing sustainability and certification can be read in our new study on How to be a sustainable tourism company.
- Increase your marketing and sales channels. In addition to the online travel agencies mentioned, add your company to many other sites, free or otherwise. A list of websites where you can add your company is offered by Tourismtiger.
- The demand for adventure tourism and birdwatching tourism is the largest among British travellers. Organise adventure-based activities to attract British tourists.
- Take a look at the sustainability trends in European tourism. British tourists are not the only tourists that care about sustainability.
- Provide information in accurate English. English is spoken by most European travellers, and it is the most accepted language.
France
With over 9 million trips to developing countries in 2019 (20% of all French outbound trips), France offers the third-largest European source market. Former French colonies such as Morocco and Tunisia are favourite French destinations, as they offer no language barrier and many French people have roots in these countries. To see how many French people travelled to your country in 2019, hover your mouse cursor or pointer over the countries in blue in Figure 10.
After a partial recovery in December 2020 and January 2021, air travel out of Europe declined again in early spring 2021. In June 2021, the number of passengers went up again, to about one-sixth of the pre-COVID-19 passenger flow.
Table 2: The number of French people travelling outside of Europe by air
Month |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
January |
5,218,945 |
5,337,094 |
1,176,735 |
February |
4,877,132 |
5,000,877 |
624,387 |
March |
5,803,598 |
2,578,930 |
683,337 |
April |
6,323,895 |
79,550 |
643,098 |
May |
5,827,685 |
98,871 |
712,102 |
June |
6,653,316 |
229,345 |
1,255,420 |
July |
7,532,238 |
921,994 |
|
August |
7,762,743 |
1,365,332 |
|
September |
6,437,195 |
884,201 |
|
October |
6,225,661 |
930,451 |
|
November |
5,086,229 |
558,072 |
|
December |
5,483,487 |
1,093,945 |
|
Source: Eurostat
The average budget for the next main trip was €1,522 in 2020, which decreased from €2,201 in 2019, although this amount will be higher for long-haul destinations.
French people usually speak little English compared to other European citizens, which makes it important to address them in French. The French share some cultural aspects with the Germans. For example, both are very straightforward in their communication (you may also consider it rude). The French, however, are open for more spontaneity during their holidays compared to Germans.
French people take almost 4 trips on average per year. French people mostly enjoy relaxing and sight-seeing holidays, followed by family visits. Just like the British and Germans, romantic getaways are also well liked among the French. French people spend around 10 days at the holiday destination on average.
The French are also the most open to alternative accommodation compared to other countries, although around 50% of the travellers prefer to stay in hotels. They are the most likely to stay with family or friends during their trip compared to other European countries, and 48% of French tourists claim that family/friends is/are the most important reason for their travel. This is relatively high compared to the average EU citizen (38%). Especially former colonies, like Morocco and Tunisia, receive these visitors.
Natural features/nature (58%) and cultural and historical attractions (36%) are mentioned most often as reasons to return to the same destination for a holiday in a poll by Eurobarometer (compared to 45% and 31% for the EU in total). Therefore, nature and cultural trips offer the most opportunities when targeting the French market. The French have a very high preference for beach holidays as well.
Figure 11: Many French people prefer nature combined with beautiful beaches

Source: Photo by Pe Seth on Unsplash
The size of the budget is crucial for 77% of French travellers to how they spend their holidays. However, they also consider the destinations’ activities to be 1 of the most important factors in choosing their destination. Other determining factors are the feeling of having a ’once in a lifetime’ experience, cultural experiences and outdoor activities. French travellers usually book their trip within 3 weeks.
French tourists have very specific needs and find those very important. They value freedom during their trip and therefore prefer to travel independently and not join group tours. Furthermore, they also care more for family entertainment compared to German and British people. Activities for the whole family are thus important to them. Lastly, they do not like crowded places, as they would rather get a fresh view on something unique.
Before French people go on holidays, they like to look up reviews and information on the destination online and search for deals before making their final decision. Most French travellers use search engines such as Google to decide on their holiday. They also make use of travel agencies and airline websites. When looking for French sustainable tourism companies, a good starting point is the Agir pour un Tourisme Responsible (ATR). The largest French airline, also focussing on long-haul destinations, is Air France-KLM.
Almost half of French travellers are willing to travel off-season, with 28% willing to pay more to avoid crowded destinations. Also, 51% are willing to stay in a single destination instead of multiple destinations. Almost 40% of French people are willing to pay more to support the local community.
France is the third-largest economy in Europe, with a GDP of 2.3 trillion euros in 2020. The GDP decreased with 7.9% in 2020 but is expected to grow with 6% and 4.2% in 2021 and 2022 respectively. France has a population of 67 million.
Tips:
- Provide activities suitable for the whole family to attract French tourists. They care for their family members’ enjoyment as much as their own. Next to that, take them off the beaten track and ensure some unique sights and experiences.
- Provide a mini guide for French tourists, containing broad information about their destination in their own language. Highlight interesting places to visit, pricing information and information about local culture.
- Read the Market and Trade Profile: France by VisitBritain for a detailed profile of French travellers, insights into their booking behaviour and details on how to reach them.
- Attract the French with beautiful nature trips. Do so by writing travel blogs. An interesting platform in France is Votretourmonde.
Italy
With 4.3 million trips to developing countries in 2019 (16% of all outbound trips), Italy offers the fourth-largest European source market. Italy is known as 1 of the first places in Europe where COVID-19 occurred, and it has seen a serious impact with a relatively high death rate and high economic consequences. The Italian vaccination rate is comparable to Western European countries, with 78% of the adult population having been fully vaccinated as of October 2021. As of May 2021, the Italian outbound travel market has failed to recover.
Table 3: The number of Italians travelling outside of Europe by air
Month |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
January |
3,132,218 |
3,288,478 |
279,691 |
February |
2,872,340 |
2,802,820 |
242,365 |
March |
3,492,567 |
581,336 |
245,867 |
April |
4,108,789 |
33,801 |
272,551 |
May |
4,312,445 |
39,904 |
320,850 |
June |
4,793,995 |
111,470 |
|
July |
5,235,232 |
581,650 |
|
August |
5,504,025 |
56,553 |
|
September |
4,913,096 |
814,938 |
|
October |
4,436,775 |
544,673 |
|
November |
3,225,225 |
218,718 |
|
December |
3,373,373 |
291,905 |
|
The most important developing country destinations were Albania, Egypt, Morocco and Turkey. The main African destinations (besides Egypt and Morocco) are South Africa, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritius and Ethiopia. To see how many Italians travelled to your country in 2019, hover your mouse cursor or pointer over the countries in blue in Figure 12.
The overall holiday budget of Italians has dropped from €1,757 in 2019 to €1,377 in 2020 and is lower than the budgets of German, British and French tourists.
Italian tourists still prefer travel agencies over online bookings, as only 39% of Italians are booking online compared to the 49% average in Europe. Many Italians also tend to travel in larger groups, often with large (multi-generational) families and prefer an Italian-speaking guide. Margins for tour operators and travel agents are generally lower for larger groups. However, their large group sizes offer some economies of scale.
Italians feel a need for a more personalised booking service because they prioritise the authenticity of their holiday. The preferred accommodation types for Italian travellers are hotels and tourist villages. The popularity of such accommodation also increased in 2018 by 6.7%. Italians have the highest preference of all Europeans for beach tourism.
Almost 40% of Italians are willing to take more off-season trips, while 28% are willing to pay more to avoid crowded destinations. Also, 56% are willing to stay at 1 destination per trip instead of travelling to multiple destinations.
Italy is the fourth-largest economy in Europe, with a GDP of 1.7 trillion euros. The GDP decreased with 8.9% in 2020 but is expected to grow with 5.0% and 4.2% in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Italy has a population of 60 million.
Spain
With 3.7 million trips to developing country destinations (17% of all outbound trips) in 2019, Spain is the fifth European source market. Just like Italy, Spain has been hit very hard by the pandemic. The overall holiday budget of Spaniards has dropped from €1,798 in 2019 to €1,347 in 2020, which is comparable to the budget of the Italians but lower than the budgets of German, British and French tourists. The Spanish vaccination rate is relatively high, however: 83% of the adult population was fully vaccinated by October 2021. Mainly because of that, the number of trips out of Europe was also higher than in Italy during the first months of 2021.
Table 4: The number of Spanish people travelling outside of Europe by air
Month |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
January |
4,383,085 |
4,394,426 |
443,270 |
February |
4,242,094 |
4,339,972 |
297,916 |
March |
5,129,133 |
2,327,467 |
385,693 |
April |
6,376,033 |
20,117 |
372,514 |
May |
7,098,008 |
41,236 |
474,549 |
June |
8,151,476 |
87,345 |
892,364 |
July |
8,802,776 |
982,599 |
|
August |
8,950,989 |
885,164 |
|
September |
8,039,387 |
566,052 |
|
October |
7,080,990 |
510,976 |
|
November |
4,699,075 |
418,386 |
|
December |
4,743,033 |
633,791 |
|
Morocco in particular is an important destination. Due to strong historical ties, tourism for the purpose of visiting family, friends and relatives offers opportunities for Moroccan suppliers. Other important destinations are Mexico, Thailand, Turkey and China. Many Spanish-speaking countries, including the Dominican Republic, Peru, Ecuador and Cuba, are also in the top 10 destinations. To see how many Spanish people travelled to your country in 2019, hover your mouse cursor or pointer over the countries in blue in Figure 13.
Almost 40% of Spanish people are willing to take more off-season trips, while 26% are willing to pay more to avoid crowded destinations. Also, 67.6% are willing to stay at 1 destination per trip instead of travelling to multiple destinations.
Spain had a GDP of 1.1 trillion euros in 2020. The GDP decreased with 10.8% in 2020 but is expected to grow with 6.2% and 6.3% in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Spain has a population of almost 47 million.
The Netherlands
With 3.5 million trips to developing country destinations (17% of all outbound trips) in 2019, the Netherlands is the sixth-largest European source market. Although the Dutch market is recovering, most trips are domestic or within the EU. Table 5 shows an insight in the development of travel outside of Europe during and before the crisis. Comparable to Germany, Dutch passenger flows out of Europe recovered up to about one-third of pre-COVID-19 levels by July 2021.
Table 5: The number of Dutch people travelling outside of Europe by air
Month |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
January |
3,049,553 |
3,062,466 |
479,671 |
February |
2,882,633 |
2,782,264 |
253,771 |
March |
3,303,335 |
1,543,341 |
343,299 |
April |
3,496,555 |
84,354 |
409,091 |
May |
3,588,542 |
120,621 |
505,398 |
June |
3,638,333 |
242,817 |
731,381 |
July |
3,847,435 |
531,976 |
1,283,552 |
August |
3,921,758 |
699,591 |
1,578,151 |
September |
3,640,163 |
538,515 |
|
October |
3,681,255 |
520,768 |
|
November |
3,145,228 |
482,190 |
|
December |
3,257,107 |
661,193 |
|
The most important aspects of choosing a destination for Dutch tourists are the variety of possible activities in the destination and a sunny destination. Turkey is by far the most important developing country destination. The main African destinations are Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Gambia and Tunisia.
To see how many Dutch people travelled to your country in 2019, hover your mouse cursor or pointer over the countries in blue in Figure 14.
Dutch people tend to be price-conscious holiday bookers who aim for good value for their money. The largest age groups of Dutch tourists are 65+ and the age group 45-64. The age group 45-64 spends the most on holidays, with an average of €1,687. Online bookings are the most popular among the Dutch, as 80% of all bookings are made online. The largest travel agents active in the Netherlands are TUI Netherlands, BCD Group, D-rt Group, Corendon and Sunweb Group.
The Dutch are in general very direct in their communication. Dutch tourists are often good English speakers, and some speak German and French as well.
Almost 47% of Dutch people are willing to take more off-season trips, while 30% are willing to pay more to avoid crowded destinations. Also, 64% are willing to stay at 1 destination per trip instead of travelling to multiple destinations.
The Dutch vaccination rate is relatively high, however: 79% of the adult population was fully vaccinated by October 2021.
The Netherlands has a GDP of 798 billion euros. The GDP decreased with 3.7% in 2020 but is expected to grow with 3.3% and 3.3% in 2021 and 2022 respectively. The Netherlands has a population of 17 million.
The Dutch GDP per capita is higher compared to other important European source markets, which means that the Dutch have a relatively high income and have more money to spend on holidays.
Eastern Europe
Before the coronavirus, Eastern Europe was an ever-growing market and had the highest growth rates of trips to developing countries from Europe. People from Poland took 28% more trips to developing countries in 2018 than in 2017. In some other countries, this growth rate was even higher. Bulgarian citizens travelled 27% more to developing countries, the Czech Republic had a growth rate of 36% and Lithuania even had a growth rate of 56%.
Countries from Eastern Europe take relatively many trips to developing countries compared to other European countries. Polish travellers take 24% of their trips to developing countries, Bulgarian tourists take 26% of their trips to developing countries, Hungarian citizens 29% and Greek travellers 34%. Most travellers in these countries are first-generation travellers. They generally focus on standardised holidays like sun & beach holidays and round trips.
It is important to realise that tourists from these countries focus on a few developing country destinations. Most of their destinations are neighbouring destinations. Out of all Hungarian trips to developing countries, 82% were to Ukraine. Bulgarian tourists visiting a developing country also have a very specific focus – about 90% visit Turkey. While Greek tourists also show much willingness to visit Turkey (48%), many Greek tourists travel to the neighbouring Albania (38%). Polish developing country travellers mostly visit Ukraine (47%), followed by Belarus (18%) and Turkey (12%).
Tips:
- Focus on 2 or 3 European priority countries. Focus on Eastern European countries if they are nearby. They show great willingness to visit your country.
- Check your country’s air connectivity when selecting a target country in the EU. Can travellers easily reach your country, and are flights affordable?
- Stay informed on the travel recommendations and restrictions of the European source markets you target, as these are often changed in short periods of time and have a big influence on tourism flows. Information can, for example, be found on the Dutch, British, Swedish or German Ministry of Foreign Affairs web pages. Information can also be found on third parties’ sites like World Nomads, which offers an overview of all travel restrictions and border closures worldwide. Also, our study on how to manage risks provides good information on how to react to the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Which tourism products (or services) from developing countries are most in demand in European markets?
When attracting European tourists, it is very important to know which markets offer the most opportunities. Therefore, we have provided a top 6 of the most interesting markets.
Several niche markets in the segment of nature tourism, such as (1) wildlife watching and bird watching, (2) walking, (3) adventure tourism trips and (4) ecotourism, offer the most opportunities. These niche markets are high in demand, especially right after border restrictions are lifted, because these niche markets include activities in spacious, off-the-beaten-track destinations and therefore cause less concern for coronavirus infection. Despite the high demand, we do not consider sun & beach tourism as the market offering the most opportunities, because it is mainly dominated by large suppliers offering fixed packages. Within the sun & beach tourism market, Generations Y and Z in particular offer opportunities for small-scale suppliers of sustainable trips.
(5) Tangible (built) heritage and intangible culture tourism also offer opportunities, but mainly for when the fear of COVID-19 infections has reduced. This is because of the urban setting in which this tourism often takes place, and right now, many people will avoid crowded cities to avoid infection. (6) Wellness activities and fitness are likely to be in high demand in the short run. Europeans want to take care of their mental wellbeing after stress has taken a toll during lockdown.
In this chapter, we will further discuss the niche markets offering the most opportunities, structured by the market segments these niches belong to.
Nature tourism
Compared to other segments, nature tourism is expected to recover fastest, because rural destinations are expected to gain popularity. In 2021, 56% of travellers are looking to spend their holidays in rural destinations and doing simple outdoor activities such as hiking.
Almost all (96%) European tour operators offer services related to 1 or more niche markets within nature tourism. Nature tourism is often part of a longer, more diverse trip. For example, people like to combine a city trip with an escape to more rural destinations. Therefore, it is important to offer a diversity of products and services to attract Europeans.
Nature tourism covers many niche markets. Table 6 offers an overview of the niche markets within nature tourism and the percentage of European tour operators active in this niche.
Table 6: Percentage of European tour operators active in a primary nature tourism niche market
Niche market |
Definition |
Percentage of European tour operators active in this niche |
Sun & beach tourism |
Sun & beach tourism refers to holidays taken for the purpose of staying at or near beaches. |
65.6% |
Wildlife watching |
Wildlife watching involves viewing wildlife in their natural habitat. It includes different types of safari such as 4x4, walking, fly-in, river/canoe and horseback safaris. The niche also includes trips to view marine life. |
57.7% |
Walking |
Walking tourism refers to trips in which walking in the natural environment forms a significant part of the trip. It includes hiking and trekking, long-distance walking and specialist techniques such as Nordic walking. |
49.8% |
Ecotourism |
Ecotourism refers to an environmentally based tourism experience that is sustainable, has low impact on the natural environment and helps to preserve the long-term nature of the community/project/site. |
42.3% |
Bird watching |
Bird watching is defined as tourist travel for the specific purpose of observing birds in their natural habitat. The niche is sometimes referred to as birding or avitourism. |
37.3% |
Fishing |
Fishing tourism involves travel with the primary purpose of fishing. This can be in either freshwater or saltwater. Fishing is sometimes referred to as angling. |
13.6% |
Cycling |
Cycling tourism refers to recreational travel involving leisure cycling as a fundamental and significant part of the trip. It includes cycling types such as road cycling, mountain biking and cycle touring. |
9.3% |
Source: Molgo / ETFI
Table 6 gives you a general idea of what Europeans like when on vacation, as well as an indication of how European tour operators cater to European tourists. However, you need to realise that the competition in these markets is also large. This means you need to find ways to distinguish yourself from your competitors.
What you can do with Table 6 really depends on the niche market your company is in. If you operate in a very popular niche market, you could target almost all European tour operators with an appealing offer, if they are active in your country. However, you need to really focus on your unique value proposition (to find out what that is, read our report on how to determine your unique value proposition).
When operating in a more specific niche market, you really need to find those tour operators that fit with your product. These might be:
- Tour operators that offer your product in your market already. In this case, a decent offer might be very interesting if it is comparable to or better than that of your competitors;
- Tour operators that offer your product in another destination. You might be able to convince tour operators to add your destination to their current offering;
- Tour operators that offer similar products for your destination. If you are operating in sailing tourism, for instance, you could target tour operators that sell activities in other water sports or even have a diverse offering in sun and beach tourism.
Wildlife watching and bird watching
Wildlife watching is the second-largest niche market and is the largest in most sub-Saharan African countries. Within wildlife watching, there are different target groups. Most European travellers enjoy seeing animals such as the Big 5. However, lesser-known animals are also interesting for wildlife travellers, especially wildlife enthusiasts. Wildlife enthusiasts usually have specific interests and are keen on learning a lot about local wildlife. Expertise and knowledge are therefore very important when attracting wildlife enthusiasts.
Specialist niches within birdwatching are hardcore birding, enthusiastic birding and casual birding. Hardcore birders have very different demands compared to enthusiastic and casual birders. While hardcore birders travel for the sole purpose of birding, enthusiastic and casual birders are also interested in other activities. This niche market requires a lot of expertise and knowledge about local birds and birdwatching.
Provide nesting sites, feeders and hides and make sure there are fresh water sources that attract birds. This will optimise the likelihood of spotting birds. Avoid disturbing the birds, as it will frighten them off and will put off birdwatchers, as they find it very important to treat wildlife well.
The United Kingdom and Germany offer the main source markets for wildlife watching and bird watching.
Walking tourism
Walking tourism is the third most offered niche market by tour operators and can be divided into several specialist niches: Nordic walking, long-distance walking and hiking/trekking. Specific passion groups are walking charity events, coastal walking and walking on volcanos. For most target groups, walking could be an interesting add-on to your current services. You could also offer a specific hike for a specialist target group.
Some examples:
- Offer a few days’ hike along local villages including a homestay for a Generation Y or Z target group interested in community-based tourism.
- Organise a 1-hour trip with a guide for a multigenerational target group to add an activity suitable for everybody.
- Organise a coastal walk to diversify your sun and beach offering.
Ecotourism
Ecotourism refers to an environmentally based tourism experience. These trips have low impact on the natural environment and help preserve the local environment or benefit the local community and economy. Specialist niche markets within this niche are agritourism, rural tourism, dark sky tourism and camping.
Europeans tend to be aware of their possible impact on the climate and the environment. Europe is therefore the largest market for sustainable tourism and is even expected to have a 51% market share in the segment. Among European retailers, 85% have reported increased sales on sustainable products in the past 5 years. Especially French and Dutch retailers report that they have seen increased popularity concerning sustainability.
COVID-19 has increased sustainable awareness. People are looking to give back to local communities and decrease their environmental footprint. This brings many opportunities for the ecotourism market. Immersion in the local culture and participating in outdoor activities is very appealing to many Europeans.
Adventure tourism
Adventure tourists are adventurous people and are eager to undertake unique and extreme activities. These tourists are likely to be among the first tourists to discover or rediscover remote and long-haul destinations. Moreover, adventure tourists are usually more loyal to their tour operator. This is because they trust their tour operators more compared to other tourist segments. If a tour operator considers a destination safe and border restrictions allow it, these tourists will go.
The adventure tourism market is expected to recover at a faster pace than other tourism markets. It is even estimated that travel spending on this segment in 2021 will be close to the pre-COVID-19 level, with only 7% less than in 2019. Most adventure tourism activities are outdoors and at a safe social distance. This makes it desirable for people to undertake this kind of holiday post-lockdown. Especially 18-to-24-year-olds are eager to go on adventure holidays, especially after COVID-19 travel restrictions. These holidays usually include a once-in-a-lifetime or bucket list experience.
Most European tour operators offer services related to 1 or more niche markets within adventure tourism. This includes niche markets that have a crossover with segments of nature tourism or cultural tourism, like wildlife watching, walking and many more.
Table 7: Percentage of European tour operators active in a primary adventure tourism niche market
Niche market |
Definition |
Percentage of European tour operators active in this niche |
Adventure tourism trip |
Adventure tourism holidays are characterised by adventure activities, the natural environment and cultural experiences. |
32.3% |
Adrenaline (hard adventure) |
Adrenaline activities refer to hard adventure activities which require a high level of expertise to take part in and usually involve an element of personal risk. |
10.4% |
SAVE |
SAVE tourism includes 4 major travel profiles: Scientific, Academic, Volunteering and Educational. The sector is characterised by the acquisition of knowledge for personal or professional reasons, and volunteering is the most common link between all 4 profiles. |
5.4% |
Adventure tourism trip
The most popular niche market within the adventure tourism segment is the adventure tourism trip. Adventure tourism trips are characterised by adventure activities, the natural environment and cultural experiences. Adventure tourism trips are distinguished by their diverse offering, can include activities such as walking and cycling and mostly offer a combination of nature and culture. An adventure tourism trip could include visiting a city on the day of arrival, cycling through nature and spending the following night in a homestay in a small village, from where activities are initiated such as wildlife watching, fishing and getting in contact with locals.
The United Kingdom and Germany offer the largest markets for adventure tourism trips, followed by France, Italy and Spain. Within those countries, your ideal target market depends on your offering. Generation Y and Z tourists offer opportunities, because they are the most eager to explore, the most open to new activities and the most eager to join physical activities. They will be the most open to very active holidays, especially if they are without children. Generation X will have more money to spend, and European baby boomers are still very active despite their old age.
Tips:
- Consult the CBI infographic, for a clear overview of all segments and niche markets in tourism. Focus your services on a specific niche or specialist niche market. With a clear focus, it is easier to distinguish yourself from your competitors and attract a specific target group. Inform yourself about the niches available in tourism, to be able to make a clear choice.
- Develop or adjust your current offering to create a unique and appealing product, especially if you are a small supplier in a mainstream market. Read our study on how to get started developing your tourism product.
- Develop a marketing strategy. Find out which target groups fit with your offering and think about how you can target your potential customers. Read our reports on finding buyers to learn how.
- Read more about the market potential and market entry of a niche of your choosing. The CBI website offers many in-depth studies on, for example, sun and beach tourism, wildlife tourism, adventure tourism, birdwatching tourism and cultural tourism.
Cultural tourism
Cultural tourism refers to travel where tourists want to learn about the destination’s culture. The trip will include tangible and intangible features of a country’s history, heritage, culture, lifestyle, art, architecture or religion.
Table 8: Percentage of European tour operators active in a primary cultural tourism niche market
Niche market |
Definition |
Percentage of European tour operators active in this niche |
Intangible culture |
Intangible cultural heritage refers to experiencing the living culture of local people, such as attending music festivals. |
51.6% |
Tangible (Built) heritage |
Tangible (built) heritage refers to visits to cultural attractions that involve built heritage, such as a museum, or a man-made architectural structure, such as the pyramids. |
50.5% |
City breaks |
City breaks refer to short break travel in town/city destinations and involve cultural activities around tangible, intangible and food and drink activities, both during the day and at night. |
30.5% |
Food & wine |
Food tourism refers to people that like to experience culture through its cuisine. It is sometimes referred to as culinary tourism or gastronomy tourism. Wine and other beverages are often included. |
25.1% |
CBT |
Community-based tourism (CBT) refers to tourism experiences hosted and managed by local communities. This directly benefits the local community and its economy. The trips are sustainable and responsible. |
21.1% |
Religious/spiritual |
Religious and spiritual tourism refers to travel for religious or spiritual purposes, such as undertaking a pilgrimage and visiting sacred sites. |
5.4% |
Tangible (built) heritage and intangible cultural heritage
Tangible (built) heritage refers to visits to cultural attractions that involve built heritage. Museums and man-made architectural structures such as pyramids are examples of tangible heritage. Interesting specialist niche markets are museums, art galleries, historic properties, places of worship, architectural tourism and other visitor attractions.
Intangible cultural heritage refers to experiencing the living culture of local people. Attending music festivals is an example of intangible cultural heritage. This niche market can be divided into the specialist niches music festivals and events, films, DNA/genealogy, battlefield tourism, dark tourism and other festivals/events.
Creating attractive descriptions of all tangible and intangible cultural sites in the area is an easy way to create content for your website. This also increases the likelihood of people finding your website via search engines, and it makes your accommodation or organised trip more attractive as well.
The tangible and intangible culture niche markets both mostly take place in urban settings and are expected to recover at a slower rate. People want to avoid overcrowded places in the near future because of the threat of COVID-19 infection. Therefore, tangible and intangible tourism mainly offer opportunities in the long run. It is important to pay extra attention to COVID-19 measures and apply them. For example, make sure there is enough space and hand sanitiser and make sure social distancing can be adhered to.
Figure 15: The Indian Holi festival, intangible culture offering great appeal but also high risk of COVID-19 infection

Source: Photo by Lakov Filimonov on Shutterstock
Wellness tourism
The overall wellness of Europeans has decreased because of the impact of COVID-19. This can only partially be explained by economic reasons such as loss of income and decreased job security. Many Europeans feel less satisfied with their health and their relationships with others, leading to feelings of loneliness, stress and depression. Therefore, many Europeans want to focus on their mental and physical wellness during their holiday. Wellness tourism is expected to grow with an annual growth rate of 7%, to $1.1 trillion globally by 2028.
Examples of wellness holidays are:
- Yoga or meditation retreats, fully focussing on mental wellness;
- Luxurious sun and beach trips, focussing on relaxation, combined with culinary activities, beauty treatment and massages;
- Escape to nature trips, combining a digital detox with exploration and enjoying nature;
- Sports trips, combining physical activities and working on your health with healthy food and the opportunity of meeting new people.
Figure 16: Combining nature with spirituality is often seen as a great way of dealing with stress at home

Source: Photo by Mor Shani on Unsplash
Tips:
- Include community-based tourism in your offering. Collaborate with local businesses, guides, experts, providers of local food and local accommodation and local farms. This way, you can optimally create a unique, varied and sustainable experience for tourists. Take a look at the website of Tourism for SDGS for an example in East Africa.
- Inform tourists about local events. This gives tourists an opportunity to connect with locals and the culture in a unique way. Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) tourists are a great way to attract tourists who can continue to be ambassadors for your destination in Europe.
- Invest in sustainable products and try to eliminate single-use plastics where possible. This is also attractive for tourists, especially because many tourists are becoming aware of sustainability. They find it important that the destination is also making an effort to minimise environmental impact.
This study has been carried out on behalf of CBI by Molgo and ETFI.
Please review our market information disclaimer.
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