• Analysis of booking windows, top and trending destinations across EMEA

Global travel leader, Skyscanner, today released its latest Horizons report, highlighting insights into booking windows, destination choices, and trending destinations across the EMEA region.

The analysis is based on Skyscanner’s proprietary forward-looking Travel Insight data, comparing traveller behaviour and search trends year-on-year.

Read the full report HERE.

Booking windows reflect confidence to plan ahead

Across the board, travellers are planning further ahead compared to the previous year, marking a return to traditional seasonality in 2024.

Travellers in EMEA are exhibiting strong confidence, with increases in trips booked further in advance (greater share of 60-89 day and 90+ day booking windows).

Destination choices highlight regional preferences

A significant 53% of EMEA travellers are opting to explore Europe, marking a 4% increase from the previous year.

According to Skyscanner’s Travel Trends Report 2024*, there’s an increasing demand of UAE and Saudi travellers craving culture, with many European capital cities trending for 2024. In addition, Italy is one of the most alluring holiday destinations, with its iconic monuments and irresistible cuisine, appearing three times on Saudi’s top trending destinations list.

Shorter trip lengths to top destinations

Across all regions, average trip lengths are slightly down or flat year-on-year for many popular destinations.

Spanish and Greek destinations dominate the most popular destinations searched on Skyscanner, with Bangkok, New York City and Sydney also popular for long-haul travel.

Trending destinations

Destinations with the biggest year-on-year increases in search volumes reflect a mix of wanting to explore new places, as well as those with new route connections.

Victoria, Canada; Marmagao, India; Panama City; Bol, Croatia; Pristina, Kosovo; and Lampedusa, Italy are all experiencing significant search volume growth with EMEA travellers

Ayoub El Mamoun, Skyscanner Travel Expert: “Our latest Horizon insights reveal a travel landscape that is both familiar and evolving. While traditional seasonality is returning and popular destinations remain in demand, travellers are also seeking value and exploring options closer-to-home. Across Skyscanner’s platforms we have seen incredible demand at the start of the year and we expect this to continue as we head into the summer.”

At the start of 2024, Skyscanner saw record travel demand, outperforming the global flights market and was the fastest growing metasearch in 2023.**

Skyscanner continues to be a strategic partner for some of the biggest brands, airlines and DMOs in the world; working with companies from across the travel ecosystem including DMOs like Visit California to promote destinations, powering the next generation of AI travel tools such as Bing Chat and Layla, as well as helping airlines promote their unique offers via NDC and launch new routes based on data intelligence.

Notes:

*Between the end of 2023 and the start of 2024, Skyscanner outperformed the global flights market, recording +16% growth in visitors compared to the wider market’s +3%. SimilarWeb data based on global flight sessions of tracked brands between 29th Dec -4th Jan. Analysis includes 272 tracked brands and 34 markets. Full list of markets and brands tracked available on request.

Methodology:

*Skyscanner Travel Trends Report 2024 UAE and KSA

 https://traveltrends.skyscanner.com.sa/
https://traveltrends.skyscanner.ae/

**Skyscanner Travel Insight data; flight redirects and flight searches from 01/01/24-31/01/24 departing 01/06/24-31/08/24 and compared to the equivalent period in 2023. Analysed between 12/02/24 and 16/02/24.

About Skyscanner Partners

Skyscanner is a global leader in travel connecting over 110m users in 52 countries and 33 languages to more than 1200 flight, hotel and car hire partners every month. 

Skyscanner’s global audience provides unrivalled reach into geographies and deep insight into traveller search and redirect behaviour in almost every market. Skyscanner’s app, desktop and mweb metasearch platforms offer next generation, best-in-class brand and performance capabilities to deliver on partners strategic priorities. Skyscanner is using the latest technology to build dynamic distribution and advertising solutions to connect businesses with highly qualified audiences, using real-time, actionable intelligence. 

Founded in Edinburgh in 2003, Skyscanner has offices worldwide, in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. Skyscanner is committed to helping shape a more responsible future for travel in collaboration with our partners, so that every traveller can explore our world effortlessly for generations come.

For more information visit: https://www.partners.skyscanner.net/