Family Trips on the Rise, Spain Top Choice

Family travel is growing steadily with Spain topping the list of choice destinations, according to the World Travel Monitor survey conducted by IPK International and commissioned by ITB Berlin.

Findings reveal that despite declining birth rates, all the more families are going on holiday together with some 78 million European family units traveling abroad in 2015.

Europe is the preferred destination for family vacations with 90 percent spending their holidays there, while Spain hosts 15 percent of the total followed by France. Germany has also grown into a favorite ranking third with the number of family tourists there almost doubling. The hottest family destinations outside Europe are the US, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Thailand.

The three markets recording the highest demand for family travel are Germany, the UK and France.

Beach holidays lead the way with a main motivation to relax, sunbathe, and swim. More than 50 percent of families choose to stay in hotels.

“Tour operators must pay attention to the needs of both families and children. Good Wi-Fi reception at a destination is important, for example. The growth in hotel overnights shows that families have increasing requirements when it comes to their holidays. Not only attentive staff or good care for their children is important, they also want to experience unforgettable, special moments that let them come together as a family,” said Dr Martin Buck, senior vice president Travel & Logistics at Messe Berlin.