Improved air connectivity and seat capacity are helping to make travel easier, both regionally and internationally, as airlines respond to traveller demand. Plus, interest in Asia-Pacific destinations is continuing to accelerate from its popularity surge last year.
Alongside booking windows stabilising year-on-year, we're seeing increases in search volumes to destinations closer to home, like EMEA travellers choosing Europe, as well as a shortening of trip lengths, especially for long-haul travel, as travellers increasingly look for value.
Booking Windows
There’s a return to traditional seasonality as travellers across EMEA, AMER and APAC book further ahead than this time last year. The start of the year is a peak booking time and indicative of traveller confidence for the months ahead. Analysing the share of booking windows and comparing them year-on-year provides a view on travel propensity, as well as travellers behaviour.
Booking windows at the start of 2024 remain similar to the same period last year, but there’s a +1% rise in the longest booking windows of 60-89 and 90+ days, with 90+ days making up 37% of demand in this region.
Fewer travellers from the Americas are booking travel earlier compared to this time last year. There’s a +3% growth in windows of 90+ days, with small declines in the mid-length windows of 30-59 days and 14-29 days. 90+ days represents a third of demand.
Favourite Continents to Explore
At 53%, more EMEA travellers (+4%) are choosing Europe as a summer holiday destination in 2024 compared to last year.
The only other increase in popularity (+1%) from last year is Southeast Asia, which sees 12% of EMEA travellers choosing to visit the region.
This shift is being primarily driven by a -4% decline in North America. It’s likely the strength of the US Dollar is encouraging some travellers in this region to seek more affordability and low-cost travel closer to home.
Outside of this changing demand, the continent destination choice is broadly in line with 2023.
Like last year, the most popular region for AMER travellers between June and August is Europe, though it’s down 1% from 2023, alongside the Middle East and North Africa. 2% fewer travellers are choosing to visit North America and Africa.
So where are AMER travellers turning to? There’s a +3% increase to South America, a +2% increase to North Asia and +1% increases to Southeast Asia. The shift in destination mix to South America is likely due to its increasing popularity among US and Canadian travellers, as well as the availability of more affordable flights.
Most Popular and Top Trending Destinations Worldwide
Spanish and Greek destinations make up six of the top 10 global list for travellers across EMEA in 2024, with an average trip lengths of around six to eight days, indicating a desire to holiday in Europe.
Bangkok is the highest ranked long-haul destination, with New York City and Sydney also making the top 10, with average trip lengths of between 11 and 15 days.
‘Everywhere’ remains very popular as travellers search for destination inspiration, coming to Skyscanner without a destination or specific dates in mind.
Across the board, average trip lengths are flat year-on-year for short-haul destinations, while for long haul they’re down by one to two days overall.
Rapidly rising destinations for EMEA travellers include a mix of long-haul beach and city spots, plus lesser-known places in Europe.
Victoria, the capital of Canada’s British Columbia, and Marmagao, in India’s southern state of Goa, have accelerated in interest by over 1,600% compared to the same period last year, with Panama City growing by over 1,300%. All have an average trip length of around two weeks.
Three European destinations make up the top 10: Bol, on the Croatian island of Brač; the Kosovan capital of Pristana; and Lampedusa, the largest of the Italian Pelagie Islands. A littler closer to home, all have an average trip length of seven to 12 days.
Average trip lengths are down for each destination, except for La Romana in the Dominican Republic and Pristina, where they’ve stayed the same, and Tulum, Mexico, which sees a slight increase to 10 days.
Global cities make up AMER travellers’ most searched-for summer destinations in 2024, with five continents making the top 10.
‘Everywhere’ tops the list, followed by Tokyo. European capital cities such as Rome, Madrid, Paris and Athens are all popular, with an average trip length of 12 to 15 days.
Within the region, San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina and Orlando, Florida claim the fourth and fifth spots, with shorter trip lengths of seven and nine days respectively.
Asian destinations include Manila and Bangkok. Unsurprisingly, they boast longer trip lengths of around 20 days and 15 days respectively. Across the board, however, average trip lengths have declined from 2023.
Improved air connectivity and seat capacity are helping to make travel easier, both regionally and internationally, as airlines respond to traveller demand. Plus, interest in Asia-Pacific destinations is continuing to accelerate from its popularity surge last year.
Alongside booking windows stabilising year-on-year, we're seeing increases in search volumes to destinations closer to home, like EMEA travellers choosing Europe, as well as a shortening of trip lengths, especially for long-haul travel, as travellers increasingly look for value.
Booking Windows
There’s a return to traditional seasonality as travellers across EMEA, AMER and APAC book further ahead than this time last year. The start of the year is a peak booking time and indicative of traveller confidence for the months ahead. Analysing the share of booking windows and comparing them year-on-year provides a view on travel propensity, as well as travellers behaviour.
Booking windows at the start of 2024 remain similar to the same period last year, but there’s a +1% rise in the longest booking windows of 60-89 and 90+ days, with 90+ days making up 37% of demand in this region.
Fewer travellers from the Americas are booking travel earlier compared to this time last year. There’s a +3% growth in windows of 90+ days, with small declines in the mid-length windows of 30-59 days and 14-29 days. 90+ days represents a third of demand.
Favourite Continents to Explore
At 53%, more EMEA travellers (+4%) are choosing Europe as a summer holiday destination in 2024 compared to last year.
The only other increase in popularity (+1%) from last year is Southeast Asia, which sees 12% of EMEA travellers choosing to visit the region.
This shift is being primarily driven by a -4% decline in North America. It’s likely the strength of the US Dollar is encouraging some travellers in this region to seek more affordability and low-cost travel closer to home.
Outside of this changing demand, the continent destination choice is broadly in line with 2023.
Like last year, the most popular region for AMER travellers between June and August is Europe, though it’s down 1% from 2023, alongside the Middle East and North Africa. 2% fewer travellers are choosing to visit North America and Africa.
So where are AMER travellers turning to? There’s a +3% increase to South America, a +2% increase to North Asia and +1% increases to Southeast Asia. The shift in destination mix to South America is likely due to its increasing popularity among US and Canadian travellers, as well as the availability of more affordable flights.
Most Popular and Top Trending Destinations Worldwide
Spanish and Greek destinations make up six of the top 10 global list for travellers across EMEA in 2024, with an average trip lengths of around six to eight days, indicating a desire to holiday in Europe.
Bangkok is the highest ranked long-haul destination, with New York City and Sydney also making the top 10, with average trip lengths of between 11 and 15 days.
‘Everywhere’ remains very popular as travellers search for destination inspiration, coming to Skyscanner without a destination or specific dates in mind.
Across the board, average trip lengths are flat year-on-year for short-haul destinations, while for long haul they’re down by one to two days overall.
Rapidly rising destinations for EMEA travellers include a mix of long-haul beach and city spots, plus lesser-known places in Europe.
Victoria, the capital of Canada’s British Columbia, and Marmagao, in India’s southern state of Goa, have accelerated in interest by over 1,600% compared to the same period last year, with Panama City growing by over 1,300%. All have an average trip length of around two weeks.
Three European destinations make up the top 10: Bol, on the Croatian island of Brač; the Kosovan capital of Pristana; and Lampedusa, the largest of the Italian Pelagie Islands. A littler closer to home, all have an average trip length of seven to 12 days.
Average trip lengths are down for each destination, except for La Romana in the Dominican Republic and Pristina, where they’ve stayed the same, and Tulum, Mexico, which sees a slight increase to 10 days.
Global cities make up AMER travellers’ most searched-for summer destinations in 2024, with five continents making the top 10.
‘Everywhere’ tops the list, followed by Tokyo. European capital cities such as Rome, Madrid, Paris and Athens are all popular, with an average trip length of 12 to 15 days.
Within the region, San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina and Orlando, Florida claim the fourth and fifth spots, with shorter trip lengths of seven and nine days respectively.
Asian destinations include Manila and Bangkok. Unsurprisingly, they boast longer trip lengths of around 20 days and 15 days respectively. Across the board, however, average trip lengths have declined from 2023.
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