Travellers shift to smaller, cheaper European destinations
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Apr 28
Travellers shift to smaller, cheaper European destinations
4 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Apr 28
July US-Europe flights are down more than 11% year on year, while searches for smaller cities have risen 35%, with Slovenia, Latvia, Albania and Montenegro drawing attention.
Travel firms reported a 286% booking jump for Slovenia, and data showed average short-term rentals below €100 a night in Albania, Latvia and Lithuania.
The shift reflects overtourism, higher airfares, Iran war-related fuel costs and EES border delays, as travellers favour safer, simpler itineraries offering culture, coastlines and lower prices.
With soaring airfares and border delays, how might travel habits and the European tourism map evolve if global tensions or EES issues persist?
Could today's hidden European gems like Slovenia and Albania soon face the same overtourism challenges as Paris and Rome if current trends continue?