For the first time, holidaymakers are increasingly favouring car and train travel according to the ITB World Travel Trends Report.
In Europe from January to August 2008 holiday trips by car and train increased by five per cent compared with the same period in 2007. At 50 per cent, air travel still retains a larger share than car travel, which stands at around 30 per cent.
The now published report was conducted by the consultants IPK International and commissioned by the ITB Berlin.
“This year, the long standing preference of holidaymakers for air travel has come to an end for the first time. This is a remarkable development, particularly in view of the record fuel prices this summer,” said Dr Martin Buck, director of the competence centre, travel and logistics at Messe Berlin, and responsible for the ITB travel trade show.
The report suggests this slump in air travel growth can be mainly attributed to the price increases charged by airlines due to the higher cost of kerosene. “However, the inconvenience experienced by passengers as a result of increased security measures and flight delays has contributed to airline travel becoming less attractive of late“, said Buck.
2008 was the first year that the market share occupied by low cost airlines contracted. In relation to 2007 holiday flights with low cost airlines fell by one per cent. By contrast, flights with traditional carriers rose by three per cent. Currently, low cost airline flights retain a 36 per cent share of the markets in which the survey took place, with traditional carriers making up 64 per cent.
“However, it is becoming increasingly clear that there are barely discernible differences between low cost airlines and carriers operating a traditional airline business,” said Buck.
The rising popularity of travel by train in the first eight months of 2008 can also ascribed to higher flight prices, delays, and the inconvenience experienced by passengers at airports. Also, Europe’s modern high speed trains and rail services were now becoming attractive again.
The ITB Berlin 2009 will be held on March 11 to 15 at Messe Berlin. Parallel with the trade fair is the ITB Berlin Convention 2009, at which leading representatives of various forms of transport will be discussing issues affecting the industry.