LONDON/MUNICH: Despite security warnings from European authorities, holiday travel within the continent surpasses 2022 levels, with a projected 22% increase, according to travel data firm ForwardKeys.
Christmas markets and tourist sites in cities like Munich and Paris are bustling, driven by post-pandemic demand. Executives and analysts attribute the surge to people reuniting with family for the first time since the pandemic.
Security concerns persist, with European officials warning of an increased risk of attacks related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Recent militant attacks in France and Belgium have prompted heightened threat alert levels in several countries, and Italy has reintroduced border controls with Slovenia due to the perceived risk of militant entry.
Despite these concerns, there has been a slight uptick in ticket cancellations over Christmas, rising from 2.4% to 3% since November 24, according to ForwardKeys.
“Although this number is small, this could be an impact of the terrorism warning sent throughout Europe since the start of the recent conflict in Israel,” said Juan Gomez, an analyst at ForwardKeys.
‘Travel continues’
However, travelers kept flooding well-known locations, showing greater confidence in the security measures put in place throughout European centers.
Gwen Fitzgerald, who visited a Christmas market in Munich this week from Boston, said, “I feel very safe and very conscious of the state of the world. And it’s certainly something I think about daily, both conflicts in Europe and the Middle East. But I also really am desperate for joy at the same time.”
Additionally, Christmas arrivals to countries like Sweden, Austria, and Italy have increased by at least 25% annually.
According to travelers, there was a greater sense of calm, and they felt secure sticking with their plans despite the increased warnings in recent years and the increased security surrounding Europe.
“When we are here, and we stay just one day downtown, we see a lot of police and security, we feel safe,” said Danny Sanchez, a tourist from Villareal, Spain, visiting the Munich market.
