Vacation spending by German-speaking Swiss: an average of 3,000 francs!

Vacation spending by German-speaking Swiss: an average of 3,000 francs!

A current survey on travel culture in German-speaking Switzerland shows that the middle class has their travel budgets well under control. A study by Swiss Bankers, which was carried out by Appinio and included around 1,600 respondents aged 14 to 99, showed that most German-speaking Swiss have a holiday budget of between 2,000 and 4,000 francs. What is particularly noteworthy is that 36% of travelers stay within this budget range, while 28% spend less than 2,000 francs. 17% of those surveyed have a budget of 4,000 to 6,000 francs, and around 20% even spend more than 6,000 francs on travel. This illustrates the diversity of people's willingness to travel, while the majority also shy away from large expenditures.

The average travel behavior of German-speaking Swiss is also revealing. The average travel duration is just under 11 days, with longer trips being the exception. Around a quarter of travelers say they will be traveling for more than two weeks. Travel planning is often done in advance: 33% book 4 to 6 months in advance, and the majority plan their trip at least a month in advance. Bookings during this period are particularly common among the 25 to 34 and 45 to 54 age groups.

Popular travel types and booking methods

The results of the Swiss Bankers Travel Study 2024 underline the preferences of German-speaking Swiss. Beach holidays are very popular with 61.2% of those surveyed, followed by city trips, which account for 51%. Hiking holidays are attractive for 32%, while cruises and cycling holidays are less popular. Respondents also state that they often travel in family or friendly groups; 54.2% prefer families as travel partners, followed by couples at around 33%.

The booking methods also highlight a significant detail: 68% of travelers use a laptop, computer or tablet to make their bookings, while less than 6% use the phone or travel agents. This shows that digitalization has also had a significant impact on travel behavior. It is also noteworthy that people traveling alone are often older, as around 17.5% of respondents traveling alone are in the senior age group.

Sustainability and future developments

Another interesting focus of the survey is the topic of sustainability. For 34% of the generation aged 65 and over, sustainability in travel is a relevant topic. This could indicate that there is a greater awareness of eco-friendly travel options among this age group, which could influence future trends. Overall, the comprehensive data demonstrates a diversified travel culture in German-speaking Switzerland, which takes into account both financial aspects and personal preferences and values. The survey shows that German-speaking Swiss like to plan in advance and also use the advantages of digitalization to plan their trips.

For more information on the survey results and travelers' preferences, the studies can be found at Bluewin and Swiss Bankers can be viewed.