The most recent Long-Haul Barometer for March 2023 published by the European Travel Commission (ETC) indicates that visitors from Brazil, Australia, and Canada are changing their itinerary for Europe. Because of the continent’s exorbitant prices, they are avoiding it in favor of less expensive locations.

With the purpose of evaluating long-distance travelers’ travel intentions, the Long-Haul Travel Barometer gathers information from 1,000 online interviews conducted in six major markets: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, and the United States.

Regarding travel to Europe, the survey revealed that Brazilian travelers showed the largest proportion of those reevaluating their plans because of high costs, with a significant 45 percent choosing not to go. Canada trailed Australia by only one percentage point, at 39 percent, and Australia came in second, at 40 percent.

The survey also revealed particular traveler preferences and limitations among Canadians. Ten percent of Canadians stated that they had limited time for vacations, and about twelve percent said they would like to visit other areas. An equivalent proportion indicated plans to travel short distances.

Of the Brazilians polled, 13% are considering short-term travel, and 11% are curious to see places outside of Europe.

Conversely, Australians showed a stronger inclination to travel, with 16 percent saying they would like to see other places and 9 percent saying they have already been to Europe.

Notably, a number of factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic’s aftermath and the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, have contributed to rising prices in Europe.

The European Union’s inflation rate as of June 2023 was 6.4%, which is less than the peak of 11.5 percent that was noted in October 2022.

Compared to their counterparts in Western and Northern Europe, Eastern European countries are thought to offer considerably more affordable travel options. Travelers on a tight budget should consider Albania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, and Hungary. Even though they are well-liked travel destinations, Greece and Croatia continue to provide experiences at lower costs when compared to countries in Western Europe.

On the other hand, France, England, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, and Germany are among the most costly nations in Europe.

In terms of lodging, the average nightly rate in a hotel in Europe is about €79.60. There are, nevertheless, significant differences between the nations. With an average nightly rate of €145.48, Switzerland leads the pack when it comes to hotel stays. Norway, Iceland, and Denmark are next closest with average nightly rates of €116.13, €114.65, and €112.57, respectively.

In Eastern Europe, you can find more affordable options, frequently paying €15 or less per meal, compared to Western Europe, where restaurant meals can cost anywhere from €20 to €40. Takeaway options and street food are usually available for about €10.