As Europe opens up after months of lockdowns and restrictions, interest in travel has risen distinctly, with two-thirds of Europeans intending to take a trip by the end of November.

Only 15 percent remain uncertain, and 15 percent are not willing to travel. This is according to the latest research on “Monitoring Sentiment for Domestic and Intra-European Travel – Wave 7” by the European Travel Commission (ETC), which provides timely insights on the short-term travel intentions and preferences of Europeans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The speedy progression of COVID-19 vaccinations in Europe coupled with the recent introduction of the EU Digital COVID Certificate and the upcoming summer season are boosting Europeans’ travel spirit. 70 percent of respondents are already making travel plans for the next six months, up from 56 percent in February of this year and also at the highest point since August 2020.

Over half (57 percent) of Europeans feel much more optimistic about planning trips in the coming months thanks to vaccination rollouts, while 25 percent are neutral and 18 percent remain unconvinced. Notably, in many cases, inoculation has a direct impact on travel arrangements, with 54 percent intending to book a trip once they have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Similarly, the recent EU actions to coordinate rules and revitalise travel across the bloc are already showing positive results. The introduction of the EU Digital COVID Certificate has received a wide acceptance among Europeans: 57 percent of respondents feel that the certificate will facilitate the planning of their next trip, while only 18 percent express the opposite opinion.

Europeans eager to travel soon are most enthused about summer journeys: 31 percent planned to travel during June and July and 41 percent during August and September, while the other 16 percent intend to take a trip in autumn. The survey also shows a significant rise in the interest for outbound travel; half of the respondents wish to visit another European country (51 percent), while 36 percent favour domestic trips to enjoy their own countries’ attractions. Europeans travelling abroad this summer prefer Southern destinations, such as Spain, Italy, France, Greece, and Portugal for their next trip.