This summer, vacationing in Europe is expected to become significantly more expensive, as confirmed by Swiss travel operators who predict overcrowded destinations. However, there are affordable alternatives available, along with insider tips from travel professionals.
The ongoing conflict in Iran is impacting holiday choices, leading to increased prices and high demand in popular destinations such as France, Croatia, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. Travel companies like Dertour Suisse and Tui Suisse have noted this trend. Yet, they also highlight that there are still reasonably priced alternatives with lower current demand, including Morocco, Tunisia, Mexico, and Egypt.
For those who cannot or do not wish to spend a fortune on seaside holidays this summer, North African countries present an excellent option. Mexico is also recommended as a distant vacation destination. We consulted travel experts for their secret tips regarding these countries.
Egypt, while hot during the summer, offers comparatively lower prices for hotels and flights than during peak seasons. Travel operators in Switzerland believe that the risk of Egypt being overcrowded this summer is minimal. "The demand for vacations in Egypt is currently quite restrained," says Sonja Ptassek, media spokesperson for Tui Suisse. A similar sentiment is echoed by Matthias Reimann from Knecht Reisen, who notes that Egypt's proximity to conflict regions might deter some potential travelers.
Currently, Morocco is experiencing good demand from both Tui Suisse and Knecht Reisen. Ptassek advises against relying on last-minute deals, as it is expected that prices will continue to rise for popular and highly booked destinations the longer customers wait to book.
Tunisia is seeing a similar trend, with increased interest noted by both travel companies. This North African nation serves as a cost-effective alternative for beach holidays compared to Mediterranean destinations.
How are the rising vacation prices influencing your travel plans this summer? "Mexico is currently very popular," states Ptassek from Tui Suisse. However, a different perspective comes from Globetrotter, where media spokesperson Sandra Studer mentions, "We are not experiencing increased demand for Mexico." Additionally, hotel, car rental, and excursion prices have risen slightly by about five percent, with flight costs also climbing due to rising fuel prices. Nevertheless, if you are planning a long-distance trip, visiting Mexico is still worthwhile.
Destinations such as Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Mexico are becoming more prominent, but does this mean they are emerging as new trend destinations? "It is too early to make such predictions," says Matthias Reimann from Knecht Reisen. "Given the short time since the outbreak of the conflict in the Gulf, it is too soon to assess any significant trends or changes."
"Currently, we do not anticipate that destinations like Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, or Mexico will become overcrowded or significantly more expensive this summer," says Sara Vidal, media spokesperson for Dertour Suisse. "Additionally, many of our customers are opting to travel to North Africa during the milder autumn months, which should help distribute tourist traffic more evenly overall."
As reported by 20min.ch.
