EU’s (32%), and 54% for travel and accommodation – reflecting the relatively mature state of travel e-commerce in Britain. Germany and France were on half the UK rate for accommodation bookings. The age profile of those purchasing travel online is striking – two-thirds of those aged 25- 44 and half those aged 45-54 in the UK did so, while the rate under 25 was below half. Other markets reflect the same profile at lower rates. Online travel purchasing has risen


consistently year on year, yet the most- mature major market (the UK) saw a decline of one to two percentage points last year. This may not be statistically significant, but overall travel rates did not decline. Broken down by age, the decline appears more striking – falling seven points among 45-64-year-olds and two points among under-25s. This might reflect declining demand in these age groups, but could a degree of dissatisfaction be a factor? It would bear further study.


‘Larger attack surface’ A downside of digitisation and proliferating data is the growing challenge of cybersecurity. Major data breaches at British Airways and Marriott highlighted the risks. The pair may be unfortunate to have become the first major companies to suffer serious breaches this side of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) coming into force in mid-2018. But the GDPR made certain they would feel the weight of the penalties EU regulators can now impose. The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) gave BA notice of a £183 million fine after hackers stole the data of 500,000- plus customers, reporting it found “a variety of information compromised by poor security arrangements”. Marriott was served notice of an ICO fine of £99 million for a breach of the reservations database at recently acquired brand Starwood, with the data of up to 383 million guests compromised. Both companies insisted they would challenge the fines, but the general trend is clear. As a leading aviation consultancy noted: “Fast internet and digital engagement [creates] a larger attack surface for cyber criminals.”


EUROPE’S top-three outbound markets by overnights trips and spending: The UK market fell 20% following the financial


crash and recession of 2008-09 (Figure 8). Germany and the UK dominate outbound spending in Europe (Figure 9)


Upbeat assessment The European Tourism Commission (ETC) gave an upbeat assessment of current visitor trends in Europe in a second-quarter review of the sector. But its report was tinged with caution. It suggested demand would “maintain an


upward trajectory” and noted: “All reporting destinations registered significant increases in tourist arrivals early in the year. European airline growth outperformed global air passenger growth and that of other regions.” However, the ETC also reported: “Growth


rates by destination are slower than in previous years [and] the region will struggle to remain resilient as trade tensions disrupt the global economy. Year-to-date growth in all reporting destinations was significantly


FIGURE 8: TOP-THREE OUTBOUND MARKETS, 2008-18 All trips


Receipts million 100 86.2m 86m 82.7m


20 40 60 80


69m 66m 55.6m 56.5m 60m 25.5m 25m 24.6m 27.3m 23.8m 23.5m 28.4m 26.3m 2008 2010 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 71m 73m 72m 83m 84m


20 40 60 80


€72.5bn €67.5bn £37bn €71bn €77bn €70bn €70.5bn £32bn £32bn €26bn €24bn €24bn


£35.5bn €27bn


£39bn £44bn £45bn £46bn €23bn €24bn €28bn €27bn 2008 2010 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018


FIGURE 9: EUROPEAN OUTBOUND MARKETS BY SPENDING, 2018


Spending on overnight trips €bn


10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80


0 €80bn €64bn €40bn €11bn€15bn €35bn €28bn €14bn€11bn€11bn


France Germany Italy Spain UK


Benelux Nordics


Czech/Slovakia Figures rounded Source: Eurostat/UNWTO


Switzerland Austria Poland/


Market share of total European outbound spending


3.5%


11% 4%


3% 8.5% 3%


€326bn TRAVEL SPEND


EUROPE’S OUTBOUND


20% 4% 12% 6% 25% Eurostat/ONS Source: 91m 92m € billion 100 £87bn


Germany UK France


Travel Weekly Europe Report 2019 | 9


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