Money Buzz! Europa

Category: Travel

  • In June, only 6.3% of total tourists in Poland were foreigners

    In June, only 6.3% of total tourists in Poland were foreigners

    In June this year, 1.3 million tourists were accommodated in tourist accommodation establishments in Poland and 3.6 million overnight stays were provided for them.

    Compared to June 2019, this was lower by 63.6% and 61.1% respectively.

    In the total number of tourists accommodated, domestic tourists accounted for 93.7% (1.2 million) and the foreign ones for 6.3% (0.1 million).

    Compared to June 2019, this was lower by 57.2% and 88.6% respectively.

    The tourist accommodation establishments were most popular among guests from Germany,
    who constituted 45.3% of all foreign tourists. There were also many people from Ukraine
    (10.9%).

    A decrease in the number of tourists was also recorded in July 2020, compared to the corresponding month of the previous year. The number of persons accommodated was lower
    by about 34.7%, according to estimates.

  • Gothenburg and Malaga, the 2020 European Capitals of Smart Tourism

    Gothenburg and Malaga, the 2020 European Capitals of Smart Tourism

    Gothenburg and Málaga hold the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2020 title, following the 2019 winners, Lyon and Helsinki.

    Launched in 2018, the European Capital of Smart Tourism is an EU initiative that recognises outstanding achievements in smart tourism by European cities.

    The Swedish city of Gothenburg has been working together with a wide variety of stakeholders and sectors to implement a truly integrated approach to smart tourism.

    Gothenburg continuously improves experiences for visitors through digital trends and offerings, such as future-orientated solutions for traffic and transport, open data, as well as sustainability measures.

    Within just a few years, the Spanish city of Málaga has transformed from a traditional sun-and-sea tourism hotspot into a modern and innovative tourism destination.

    The city is a leader in involving the local community through boosting local businesses and continues to improve the experiences of visitors through a strong focus on technology.

  • Italy is the most most popular Ryanair destination for Erasmus students

    Italy is the most most popular Ryanair destination for Erasmus students

    Ryanair and the Erasmus Student Network celebrated today, 15 September, the launch of their fourth year partnership.

    This partnership offers Erasmus students a dedicated ESN booking platform on the Ryanair.com website, where they can avail of 10% flight discounts on 4 one-way flights and a free checked-in bag with every flight booked.

    Italy and Spain are the most popular destinations over the last three years with over 95.000 bookings made on flights to Italy and 80.000 to Spain.

    Erasmus Student Network include people from over 500 Universities across almost 50 countries.

  • Ryanair to add more flights from Liverpool to Vilnius

    Ryanair to add more flights from Liverpool to Vilnius

    Ryanair announced it will add more flights from Liverpool to Vilnius, in light of strong demand from both British and Lithuanian consumers.

    Ryanair will now fly 3 times weekly (+1) from Liverpool to Vilnius from the 25th October as part of its Winter 2020 schedule.

    Ryanair’s British customers can now book a trip to Vilnius as far out as March 2021. The airline launched a seat sale with fares available from just £19.99, for travel until the end of December 2020, which must be booked by midnight Thursday (17 Sept).

  • Bulgaria: 61.9% less nights spent in accommodation establishments in July

    Bulgaria: 61.9% less nights spent in accommodation establishments in July

    In July 2020, only 2.768 accommodation establishments with more than 10 bed-places were open in Bulgaria, says the National statistical institute.

    The total number of rooms in use was 112.9 thousand and the bed-places were 251.4 thousand.

    In comparison with July 2019, the total number of accommodation establishments (opened during the period) decreased by 18.4%, and the bed-places in use by 22.5%.

    The total number of nights spent in all accommodation establishments registered in July 2020 was 2.265,9 thousand, by 61.9% less in comparison with the same month of the previous year.

    The total revenues from nights spent in July 2020 reached 122.4 million BGN, 64.6% less compared to July 2019.

  • 50% off over 750.000 seats on Ryanair flights

    50% off over 750.000 seats on Ryanair flights

    Ryanair is launching 50% off over 750.000 seats for travel in September and Octomber for overs 240 destinations.

    Customers only have 2 days to avail of these special fares and must book their flights before midnight, Wednesday, 9th September.

    Ryanair’s Alejandra Ruiz said: “Customers can book this unmissable half price deal to top holiday and city break destinations across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.”

  • Hungary: 75% less nights spent by international tourists in July 2020

    Hungary: 75% less nights spent by international tourists in July 2020

    In July 2020, as a result of the coronavirus epidemic, international tourists spent 75% and domestic tourists 18% fewer tourism nights in commercial accommodation establishments (hotels, boarding houses, camping sites, bungalow complexes and community hostels) compared to the same period of the previous year.

    82% of all tourism nights were spent by domestic guests.

    Total gross sales revenues declined by 41% at current prices in commercial accommodation establishments.

    Foreign arrivals fell by 76%

    The number of foreign arrivals and tourism nights fell by 76% and 75% respectively, with 166 thousand guests spending 478 thousand tourism nights in accommodation establishments.

    Most guests stayed in hotels or camping sites. The number of hotel nights fell to almost a fifth.

    57-60% declines were seen in camping sites, boarding houses and bungalow complexes, and a 91% fall in community hostels. Budapest recorded the largest, 88%, downturn.

    Domestic guests fell by 12%

    758 thousand domestic guests (12% decrease) spent 2.1 thousand tourism nights (18% decrease). Six out of ten nights were spent in hotels, where the rate of decline was 8.6%.

    Unlike hotels, boarding houses registered 2.5% more nights. The number of campsite arrivals was at two thirds of their last July level. Lake Balaton was the most popular region.

  • Tourism services in EU down by 75% in June compared with February

    Tourism services in EU down by 75% in June compared with February

    In June 2020, the tourism services sector fell by 75.0 %. Travel agencies and tour operators fell the most (-83.6%), followed by air transport (-73.8%), accommodation (-66.4%) and restaurants (-38.4%).

    Due to the opening up of restaurants and similar establishments, a recovery was observed in June compared with April.

    The restaurant sector had the largest recovery, followed by the accommodation sector. Air transport had only a slight recovery, while the travel agencies and tour operators sector was on the same level in June as in April.

    The accommodation sector in the EU had a value added of EUR 79.0 billion in 2017, corresponding to a share of 1.3% of value added of the non-financial business economy.

    Restaurants had a value added of EUR 96.4 billion, with a share of 1.6%. The corresponding shares for employment were 1.9% and 4.0%.

    Air transport and travel agencies and tour operator activities had shares of 0.5% and 0.3% respectively of value added of the non-financial business economy. The share of employment for air transport was 0.2%.

  • VR Pilgrim changes the way we travel spiritually

    VR Pilgrim changes the way we travel spiritually

    VR360 Treasures has launched its first mobile application VR Pilgrim that takes virtual reality travel and educational experience to the next level.

    With the new app users become pilgrims who will be able to see miraculous icons and holy relics, enjoy the magnificent views of the Meteora monasteries soaring in the sky, walk with the monks along the Holy Mount Athos and worship the Virgin Mary on Mount Harissa in Lebanon.

    All content is shot in 360° video format, which allows users to fully immerse in the atmosphere of the Christian treasures.

    The project’s library is constantly growing and today accounts over 200 VR films from Greece, Italy and Lebanon.

    Moreover, there are about 30 VR films where monks share their cooking recipes which over centuries were kept in secret.

    Interviewers’ stories and voice-over text in English, Greek, Russian and soon in Chinese let everyone find out many interesting facts that have never been published anywhere before.

    Starets Kirill, Archimandrite of the cell of St. Nicholaos Halkias of Mount Athos, who was directly involved in the filming process, said: “Two years ago, when we blessed VR Treasures for creation of virtual library about the treasures of Athos, no one could imagine how relevant this would become. In the actual situation, VR Pilgrim is the only opportunity to see the holy places with your own eyes”.

    VR360 Treasures is a technological company, which creates exclusive and impressive VR content and apps that can attract the widest audience.

  • AIR SALE! 1 million Ryanair seats at only 5 euros

    AIR SALE! 1 million Ryanair seats at only 5 euros

    Ryanair launched its biggest seat sale of 2020 with fares as low as €5, across 1 million seats, for 48 hours only.

    Any of Ryanair’s 240 destinations can be booked for less than the cost of a pint.

    To avail of these 48 hour special fares customers must be quick and visit the Ryanair.com website to book their flights before midnight, Wednesday, 2 September.

    Ryanair’s Dara Brady said: ”To avail of these special fares customers must be quick and visit the Ryanair.com website to book their flights before midnight, Wednesday, 2 September, for travel in Sept & Oct”.  

  • The number of nights spent in Austria decreased by 17.4% in July

    The number of nights spent in Austria decreased by 17.4% in July

    In Austria, the number of nights spent in July 2020 decreased by 17.4% to 15.50 million, as preliminary results from Statistics Austria show.

    While the number of nights spent by non-resident guests fell by 28.7% to 9.93 million, that of resident guests rose by 15.2% to the highest value ever recorded for the second most important month of the summer season (5.57 million).

    Apart from the increase in nights spent by residents, the relatively small decline in German nights spent by 4.3% to 6.73 million is remarkable in view of the COVID-19 crisis.

    The overall decrease in nights spent in July is mainly due to the absence of guests from other important countries of origin, including the Netherlands (-21.7%), Belgium (-30.3%), the Czech Republic (-28.1%), Poland (-27.8%), Hungary (-43.5%), France (-55.7%) and Italy (-66.4%).

    Nights spent by tourists from the USA, Sweden and Russia even fell by more than 90%.

    Arrivals in accommodation establishments also decreased by 26.6% to 3.95 million, with the number of non-resident guests falling by 40.9% and that of resident guests rising by 9.4%.

    High declines in Vienna, increases of nights spent in Burgenland, Styria and Carinthia

    With -73.3%, the decline of nights spent in the federal capital Vienna was most pronounced in July. Declines were also registered in Lower Austria (-22.0%), Upper Austria (-16.7%), Salzburg (-21.5%), Tyrol (-14.3%) and Vorarlberg (-10.8%).

    By contrast, the July result developed positively in the federal states of Burgenland (+4.1%), Styria (+2.0%) and Carinthia (+0.1%), with nights spent by domestic guests contributing to this growth (+19.7%, +22.8% and +35.6%, respectively).

    The development of nights spent by foreign guests was negative in all federal states.

  • The average price per hotel room in Athens crash under €100 per night

    The average price per hotel room in Athens crash under €100 per night

    The average price per hotel room in Athens was €78.95 in January-July 2020, from €105.57 in the same period last year, shows ekathimerini.com

    In July, it decreased even more at €69.49, from €121.32 a year ago.

    Earnings per available room fell 62% this year, to €30.99, from €81.56 in January-July 2019. In July 2020, earnings were down 76.7%, from €108.69 in 2019 to €25.36 this year.

    Data was provided by the Athens, Attica and Saronic Gulf Hoteliers’ Association and GBR Consulting.