Author: Buy2Greece

At 7 most popular destinations in Europe for travel in 2016 appears Oia Santorini in the ranking of Travelers’ Choice ™ awards yesterday announced the biggest travel platform in the world, TripAdvisor, and was formed based on user preferences – European destination for 2016

Passenger numbers will be double the expected 2015 total of 3.5 billion by 2034 with seven billion people taking to the skies, according to IATA’s 20 year Passenger Forecast Report.

By 2034, the largest passenger markets will be China, the United States, India, the United Kingdom and Indonesia will reach fifth place. Japan is sixth, Brazil seventh, Spain, Germany and France, eight, ninth and tenth. Italy falls out of the top ten.

The five fastest markets for additional passengers over the next 20 years will be, China with 758 million new customers, the United States at 523 million, India is to have 275 million and fourth and fifth are Indonesia and Brazil with 132 million and 104 million, respectively.

“The demand for air transport continues to grow. There is much work to be done to prepare for the 7 billion passengers expected to take the skies in 2034,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer.

Across the regions, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East are expected to have 4.9% growth, with 2.9 billion and 383 million passengers, respectively. Africa could grow by 4.7% for 294 million passengers by 2034.

Latin American should also grow by 4.7% for an annual passenger total of 605 million in 20 years time. Europe will grow the slowest at 2.7% for a market of 1.4 billion, while North America expands by 3.3% to also reach 1.4 billion.

The forecast also found that in the next 20 years the real cost of air travel is expected is reduce at a rate of 1-1.5% per year.

The report also has a section detailing buyer motivations, which says location is the most important buying factor for 66%, price 19%, condition of property 7% and agent reputation 6%.

So, why is the agent reputation figure not higher, we asked? “A lot of buyers looking to purchase a property overseas will be doing so for the first time. These buyers are likely to have a property in the UK so are used to working with UK agents. Agents in the UK work on behalf of the person selling the property and not the person buying. This is very different to agents overseas who will work with both the seller and the buyer.”

Aimee Valaitis says the report reveals interesting trends about the role of technology in buying – 73% of buyers say they find property through the internet, 65% through overseas agents, 13% UK agents, 11% exhibitions and 9% print – plus the details in the word clouds. Most buyers (85%) use desktop computers to search, with half (49%) using tablets and third (32%) mobiles.

“We feel that there are two very surprising findings from this report. Firstly, the number of buyers using mobile and tablet devices to search for property. Buyers are becoming more tech savvy so it’s import that we also keep up with this as an industry. We need to make sure websites, enquiry forms etc. are all mobile compatible so we can make the buying process as easy as possible.

“Secondly, we feel that the word clouds on the country overview pages perfectly demonstrate the inspiration behind buying a property overseas. These word clouds are the responses from buyers when we asked them what inspired them to buy overseas. Spain = Weather, France = Lifestyle, Italy = Love, Portugal = People and USA = Investment.”

The top 10 countries where buyers are looking to purchase a property within the next are: 1.       Spain 2.       France 3.       Italy 4.       Portugal 5.       United States of America 6.       Cyprus 7.       Ireland 8.       Greece 9.       Turkey 10.   Bulgaria

The top 10 regions are: 1.       Andalucía – Spain 2.       Murcia – Spain 3.       Valencia – Spain 4.       Algarve – Portugal 5.       Languedoc-Roussillon – France 6.       Islas Canarias – Spain 7.       Poitou-Charentes – France 8.       Illes Balears – Spain 9.       Aquitaine – France 10.   Provence-Alpes-Côte d`Azur – France.

There were slightly more male buyers taking part (55% v 45%) and most buyers (41%) were aged from 55-64, with 29% from 45-54, 19% 65-plus, 11% from 30-44 and 2% aged under 30.

Two-thirds of buyers purchasing in Spain are looking for holiday homes and 68% are cash buyers. Half of purchasers want to rent their home out when not in use.

In France, 55% are buying second homes with 70% being cash buyers and 59% looking to rent their homes.

There are 61% looking for second homes in Italy, with 59% paying cash and 65% wanting to rent their property when it is not being used.

No:2

2. GREECE

Greece’s financial woes may have dominated the news headlines in 2015 but Australian travellers were not deterred, with Flight Centre bookings up more than 52 per cent.

Greece’s default notice and resulting referendum was a major, world-wide news event with economist worried about the future of the Euro and travel companies concerned about the impact to bookings.

Despite this, Flight Centre bookings surged with the uplift expected through 2016.

Greece is also often found to be a cheaper entry point to Europe than London, Paris or Rome; when it comes to Greece, Flight Centre believes the question really is why shouldn’t you go?

Booking.com