Most Austrians like to plan their holiday themselves. They usually go to different destinations every year and stay in resorts that offer quality services for a good price. Most of them also travel by their own cars. Austrian holidaymakers check the weather conditions of the destination before deciding to go there, too.
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How, where and why did the Austrians go for vacation in 2010? Tourism analysis prepared by ÖAMTC and published on Traveller-online.at presented results of a research that was based on personal interviews carried out in January 2011. The research shows that the Austrians have changed their holiday planning behavior in recent years. Last year 52% of respondents arranged the holiday by themselves, without any help of a travel agency. In 2005, it was only 36 percent. Five years ago, almost half of the travelers decided to go for a package holiday, however, only 29% did the same last year. One in ten individual travelers has at least used the booking or other supplementary services of travel agencies.
This year 39% of respondents have already planned their vacation, 32% are still unsure and 29% is not going on holiday at all. For the Austrians the most favorite destination is their own country followed by Italy (17%), Croatia (8%), Spain (7%), Turkey (7%) and Greece (6%). Almost 14% of the Austrians plan to travel to non-European countries. The whole 45% of respondents choose to go to different destination than last year. However, a quarter of all of them travel to their favorite beach every year. About 29% alternate the destination of their holiday between 2 or 3 countries. The age does not play an important role concerning the holiday planning behavior. However, the desire for exploring new places increases with the education of travelers.
Before making final decision, a third of travelers look for the information about the weather conditions in the destination of their vacation. Historical sights are important to 15% of travelers, the currency, customs and traditions to 14%, local cuisine and drinks to 13%, tolls and preventive vaccination to 10%, security to 6% and local traffic regulations to 5%. Only 6% of holidaymakers look for no information at all.
Balance between the price and service is the most important for the Austrians. A perfect holiday destination should fulfill following requirements:
1) Conditions of the destination - beautiful landscape, guaranteed sunshine, good bathing possibilities                                                                                                                                                           Â
2) Convenient offers - value for money, comfortable accommodation, possibility of daily arrivals                                                                                                                                                                    Â
3) Good local infrastructure – easy access to eating facilities and health care, clean sanitary facilities                                                                                                                                                                 Â
4) Accommodation – friendliness of the staff, comfort
Among the means of transport, car is the most popular. 41% of respondents prefer to travel in their own cars when going on holiday, compared to only 35% in 2004. Plane is a favorite means of transport among 42% of travelers while bus is used only by 4% and train only by 2% of all travelers. Only 4% of travelers consider environmental friendliness when choosing the means of transport.
