The travel group TUI announced nothing less than a "perfect" holiday season on Mallorca a few days ago when it had an airplane christened with the name of the island at the airport there.

Increasing booking figures for even slightly longer stays made the market leader rejoice.

However, a new study shows that the Germans are by no means ignoring the topic of vacations when saving because of the rise in inflation.

Timo Kotowski

Editor in Business.

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Three out of four citizens want to cut back on travel in the future, according to a study commissioned by the auditor and consultant PWC, which is exclusively available to the FAZ in advance.

"The high inflation threatens to quickly dampen the flare-up of travel desire," says Ingo Bauer, Head of Transport and Logistics at PWC Germany.

1021 people were interviewed for their representative study.

The result: 72 percent want to limit themselves with individual trips within Germany, 75 percent with long-distance trips and even 76 percent with package tours in Europe - including Mallorca.

Recently more new bookings than 2019

The holiday industry, on the other hand, has recently been downright euphoric.

The sales figures of the travel market researcher TDA showed that in the months of February to April the booking turnover for the summer was consistently above the comparative values ​​of 2019.

Less had been booked by January, since then the backlog of the old normal has melted.

The value of all bookings received was recently only 23 percent below the pre-Corona comparative figures.

Findings from the holiday and travel research community added hope.

In its annual travel analysis, it showed record values ​​when it comes to whether citizens have the desire, time and money to travel.

But this year the analysis could have a blemish: most of the surveys took place before Christmas – German households only noticed afterwards that money was becoming scarcer due to rising prices.

PWC followed up at the end of April.

PWC specialist Bauer therefore does not really want to join in the industry jubilation.

He has no doubts about his great desire to travel.

"People are ready for vacation after two years of balconies," he says.

But private finances could thwart plans from now on.

And despite all the catching-up tendencies, the industry is still missing a fifth of the sales to the old normal.

"Many people are still hesitant to travel because the pandemic has not officially been declared over," says Bauer.

Deceptive Numbers?

In his view, the booking statistics can prove to be deceptive.

The fact that inflation did not leave any clearer traces is also due to the fact that holidaymakers still redeemed credit they received in the past for unusual trips.

"In addition, there are now generous cancellation regulations, which leave a question mark on many a trip - especially when the first additional payments due to increased energy prices hit the household budget," he says.

Tour operators had given customers more options for short-term cancellations.

So-called flex tariffs give holidaymakers the right to cancel free of charge up to four weeks before the outward journey for an additional charge.

The regulation was intended as a way out if the number of infections skyrocketed.

But it can also be used for other reasons – when the money in the account is running low.

Package tours booked well in advance have usually only been paid 20 percent by customers, the rest is due 28 days before the outward journey.

"In this context, pure booking figures do not reflect the exact situation today," says Bauer.

Noticeable savings after the summer

Nevertheless, he still sees a short recovery period for the travel industry.

"Our survey shows that cuts in vacation planning are currently being considered, but these will not yet have a major impact on this year's summer vacation." The situation is different for more spontaneous short trips.

Around 60 percent of those surveyed want to afford fewer short trips, visits to events or amusement parks in the current year.

For long vacation trips, the turning point threatens after the summer.

If inflation continues to develop as strongly as it has recently, it will have “noticeable effects”.

"Expenditure on vacation and gastronomy is being weighed up against other consumer goods," says Bauer.

And a third of Germans already want to postpone purchases such as furniture or interior fittings.

Instead of a major travel waiver, Bauer expects citizens to develop individual savings strategies with a view to vacation.

"Every second person tends to save on the length and comfort of the trip rather than forgo the vacation altogether," he explains.

Recently, the prices that holidaymakers pay on average for a trip have risen.

"For a seven-day trip including a flight, for example, vacationers pay an average of 11 percent more than in 2019," reported market researcher TDA.

Not only more expensive tickets, but also the desire for higher quality holidays played a role.

Now there is a threat of a trend reversal: less luxury in order to at least get some rest.

According to the PWC study, 78 percent of those surveyed are willing to save on holidays in high-quality resorts with wellness areas.

With a view to holiday homes where they can cater for themselves, 68 percent think of saving.

73 percent intend to fly less during the holidays, but only 61 percent plan to cut back on car trips.

And there is something else that stands out about vacation savings strategies: the tighter travel budgets become, the more willingness to make vacations sustainable with a view to climate protection decreases.

Just 62 percent want to make compromises here.