Long-Haul Travel to Europe Gets a Reality Check in 2026

16
Feb 2026

Long-haul travel to Europe is slowing down in 2026 as rising costs and tight vacation time push more people toward domestic and regional trips.

A new report shows that interest in visiting Europe has dipped, especially among travelers from Australia, Canada, and the U.S.

Travelers dial back

Demand for long-haul trips is losing steam in 2026 as more travelers prioritize cost, safety, and flexibility over far-flung destinations.

A survey from the European Travel Commission and Eurail showed that only 59% of respondents plan to take a long-haul trip this year—down 5 percentage points from 2025. 

Interest in Europe specifically slipped to 42%, with Australia, Canada, and the U.S. showing the sharpest declines.

China remains the most Europe-leaning market at 59%, but even that dropped slightly from last year. Brazil followed with 54%, while Japan came in lowest at 20%. 

In many markets, high prices, limited vacation time, and regional alternatives are pulling travelers away from Europe.

Cost crunch hits hard

Across the seven surveyed countries, high travel costs are the biggest reason people are staying grounded.

More than half of those skipping long-haul trips cited affordability as the main barrier. Young travelers between 18 and 34 were especially cost-sensitive—48% said that Europe was out of budget.

Brazilians were the most price-conscious overall, with 68% citing high expenses as a deterrent. Australians leaned more toward domestic travel instead, while South Koreans and Japanese travelers said time off was the bigger issue.

In China, travelers appeared more wary of geopolitical tensions than in other markets.

(Image courtesy of Gustavo Fring via Pexels)

Safety tops checklist

Safety is now the number one factor for choosing a European destination, cited by 51% of respondents. The perception that Europe is politically stable, personally safe, and less prone to natural hazards helped it rank highest among global regions. 

Chinese travelers expressed the most confidence in Europe’s safety, while South Koreans and Japanese were more cautious.

Europe’s “safe” image isn’t uniform, though. Personal safety scored high across most countries, but responses varied when it came to public security, tourism infrastructure, and friendly local environments.

Some Americans also expressed concern about not feeling welcome in Europe, a factor that ranked fourth among U.S. respondents.

Shift in booking habits

Just 36% of long-haul travelers have already locked in their Europe plans for the year, down from 39% in 2025. Full-package tours are losing ground, especially in China, where the share of travelers booking complete bundles dropped from 74% to 46%. 

Partial packages—like flight and hotel combos without rigid schedules—are becoming more popular, especially with younger travelers looking for flexibility.

U.S., Canadian, and Australian tourists still prefer to book trips independently. Nearly half of American respondents said that they plan to organize everything separately, from flights to excursions.

(Image courtesy of RDNE Stock project via Pexels)

Slow travel gains steam

While leisure remains the main reason to visit Europe, making up 75% of planned trips, travel behaviors are changing. Business travel is up slightly at 9%, with Australia and South Korea leading that trend.

There’s also growing interest in slower-paced travel, especially among travelers over 50. The number of people planning “slow” travel—longer stays focused on relaxation and local experiences—rose to 26%, up from 22% in 2025.

Dining was the top spending category for 70% of travelers, followed by tourist activities and shopping. Chinese and Japanese visitors still ranked shopping high, though interest declined overall. 

Americans prioritized accommodation more than other nationalities, while Brazilians reported the highest daily budgets.

Challenge on crowd control

Overcrowding is a growing concern but isn’t driving travelers away completely.

Only 5% said that they would switch destinations if a place was packed. Most would rather go during off-peak months or explore quieter neighborhoods nearby.

Still, tolerance for crowds dropped among Chinese travelers, whose willingness to deal with busy spots fell from 48% to 33%. Canadians and Brazilians showed a clear preference for shoulder-season travel, hoping to avoid crowds and score better deals.

(Image courtesy of Daria Obymaha via Pexels)

Trains take lead

When it comes to traveling across Europe, trains are holding strong. Most respondents favored rail for its value, comfort, and safety. 

Train passes were especially popular among Japanese and Brazilian tourists, while full-service flights still appealed more to travelers from the U.S. and Australia.

Chinese travelers were the biggest fans of low-cost airlines, with 64% saying that it was their top option for country-hopping in Europe. Meanwhile, Canadians showed a rising interest in train reliability.

Values over views

Personal values are starting to shape destination choices just as much as attractions. 

Seventy percent of Chinese travelers said they prefer locations that match their values—like sustainability or inclusivity—over places with iconic sights.

Younger respondents across markets felt similarly, with 63% prioritizing value alignment over photo ops.

In contrast, Americans leaned the other way: 53% said that activities and experiences mattered more than values.

(Image courtesy of Margis 233 via Pexels)

Border tech raises questions

Upcoming systems like the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) are also likely to affect long-haul trends. 

EES, which rolls out fully by April 2026, will digitally track non-EU travelers crossing Schengen borders, replacing manual passport stamps with biometric data like fingerprints and facial scans. 

While the goal is smoother border checks, the shift to automation may introduce delays at first, especially during peak seasons.

ETIAS, launching in late 2026, will require travelers from visa-exempt countries—including the U.S., Canada, and Australia—to apply online before entering most of Europe.

Though the process is meant to be quick and low-cost, the added step could deter spontaneous trips or complicate travel for less tech-savvy tourists.

Both systems are aimed at tightening security and preventing overstays, but they also signal a more regulated and data-heavy border experience.

Policies shape travel mood

Long-haul travel is also being shaped by broader EU immigration policies. Countries have taken different approaches to handling migration, from tightening asylum procedures to expanding regularization efforts for undocumented workers.

While these policies mainly target non-tourist migration, the public discourse around them can influence how Europe is perceived abroad.

Travelers from Asia and the Americas may be paying closer attention to how welcoming Europe feels, not just at the border, but in its politics and public messaging.

If immigration debates grow more polarized or visible in mainstream news, they could make certain nationalities think twice about booking a trip.

On the flip side, smoother processing systems and clearer rules could help ease those concerns over time.

(Image courtesy of Valentin Ivantsov via Pexels)

Expectations evolve, but travel endures

Travelers are becoming more selective about where they go, how they book, and what they spend. With safety, affordability, and flexibility leading decisions, long-haul travel in 2026 is more cautious but still very much alive. 

While fewer people are committing to big trips early, Europe remains a strong contender—just one that now has to compete with closer, cheaper, and more personalized alternatives.

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