The longing for ease

Unwinding in a hyperconnected, volatile world

Today, many of us feel the world speeding up around us. In this reality, travel has started to mean something deeper for people across Europe. Travelers seek moments of calm, clarity, and comfort; they want to slow down, breathe more deeply, and let go of constant demands.

The first edition of DERTOUR Group’s European Travel Trend Report reflects a growing desire to unwind: travelers want holidays that feel effortless from the start. Simplicity guides decisions more than ever, shaping how people plan, book, and experience their trips.

Whether through seamless travel arrangements, supportive expertise, or environments that naturally invite relaxation, the expectation is clear: a holiday should restore, not overwhelm.

This report, based on pan-European insights, is built on a multi-layered methodological framework. It brings together survey data from 8,000 participants across 13 European markets, booking insights from DERTOUR Group data, and the qualitative expertise of destination management companies and the people who see emerging shifts long before they appear in aggregated data. Together, these perspectives uncover key insights into current travel habits and paint a picture of a Europe seeking ease, balance and wellbeing.

A pan-European lens on how travel is changing

As an international travel group operating in 16 European countries, we are uniquely positioned to observe how travel is changing across diverse markets. With approximately 200 companies, more than 20 major tour operator brands, around 30 specialist travel providers and a network of 2,000 travel agencies, we draw on a breadth of insight that reflects our truly pan‑European footprint. Our global agency network of 71 offices across 31 travel countries, our extensive hotel portfolio and our long-standing partnerships allow us to understand emerging traveler needs early and translate them into relevant, future‑ready travel offerings.