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

16
Feb 2026

Long-haul journey to Europe is slowing down in 2026 as rising prices and tight trip time push extra individuals towards home and regional journeys.

A brand new report exhibits that curiosity in visiting Europe has dipped, particularly amongst vacationers from Australia, Canada, and the U.S.

Travelers dial again

Demand for long-haul journeys is shedding steam in 2026 as extra vacationers prioritize price, security, and suppleness over far-flung locations.

A survey from the European Travel Commission and Eurail confirmed that solely 59% of respondents plan to take a long-haul journey this 12 months—down 5 proportion factors from 2025. 

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

China stays essentially the most Europe-leaning market at 59%, however even that dropped barely from final 12 months. Brazil adopted with 54%, whereas Japan got here in lowest at 20%. 

In many markets, excessive costs, restricted trip time, and regional alternate options are pulling vacationers away from Europe.

Cost crunch hits exhausting

Across the seven surveyed international locations, excessive journey prices are the largest motive individuals are staying grounded.

More than half of these skipping long-haul journeys cited affordability as the principle barrier. Young vacationers between 18 and 34 have been particularly cost-sensitive—48% mentioned that Europe was out of price range.

Brazilians have been essentially the most price-conscious total, with 68% citing excessive bills as a deterrent. Australians leaned extra towards home journey as an alternative, whereas South Koreans and Japanese vacationers mentioned break day was the larger problem.

In China, vacationers appeared extra cautious of geopolitical tensions than in different markets.

(Image courtesy of Gustavo Fring by way of Pexels)

Safety tops guidelines

Safety is now the primary issue for selecting a European vacation spot, cited by 51% of respondents. The notion that Europe is politically secure, personally secure, and fewer vulnerable to pure hazards helped it rank highest amongst international areas. 

Chinese vacationers expressed essentially the most confidence in Europe’s security, whereas South Koreans and Japanese have been extra cautious.

Europe’s “safe” picture isn’t uniform, although. Personal security scored excessive throughout most international locations, however responses assorted when it got here to public safety, tourism infrastructure, and pleasant native environments.

Some Americans additionally expressed concern about not feeling welcome in Europe, an element that ranked fourth amongst U.S. respondents.

Shift in reserving habits

Just 36% of long-haul vacationers have already locked of their Europe plans for the 12 months, down from 39% in 2025. Full-package excursions are shedding floor, particularly in China, the place the share of vacationers reserving full bundles dropped from 74% to 46%. 

Partial packages—like flight and lodge combos with out inflexible schedules—are rising in popularity, particularly with youthful vacationers searching for flexibility.

U.S., Canadian, and Australian vacationers nonetheless want to guide journeys independently. Nearly half of American respondents mentioned that they plan to arrange the whole lot individually, from flights to excursions.

(Image courtesy of RDNE Stock venture by way of Pexels)

Slow journey features steam

While leisure stays the principle motive to go to Europe, making up 75% of deliberate journeys, journey behaviors are altering. Business journey is up barely at 9%, with Australia and South Korea main that pattern.

There’s additionally rising curiosity in slower-paced journey, particularly amongst vacationers over 50. The variety of individuals planning “slow” journey—longer stays targeted on rest and native experiences—rose to 26%, up from 22% in 2025.

Dining was the highest spending class for 70% of vacationers, adopted by vacationer actions and buying. Chinese and Japanese guests nonetheless ranked buying excessive, although curiosity declined total. 

Americans prioritized lodging greater than different nationalities, whereas Brazilians reported the very best day by day budgets.

Challenge on crowd management

Overcrowding is a rising concern however isn’t driving vacationers away fully.

Only 5% mentioned that they’d swap locations if a spot was packed. Most would fairly go throughout off-peak months or discover quieter neighborhoods close by.

Still, tolerance for crowds dropped amongst Chinese vacationers, whose willingness to take care of busy spots fell from 48% to 33%. Canadians and Brazilians confirmed a transparent choice for shoulder-season journey, hoping to keep away from crowds and rating higher offers.

(Image courtesy of Daria Obymaha by way of Pexels)

Trains take lead

When it involves touring throughout Europe, trains are holding robust. Most respondents favored rail for its worth, consolation, and security. 

Train passes have been particularly in style amongst Japanese and Brazilian vacationers, whereas full-service flights nonetheless appealed extra to vacationers from the U.S. and Australia.

Chinese vacationers have been the largest followers of low-cost airways, with 64% saying that it was their prime choice for country-hopping in Europe. Meanwhile, Canadians confirmed a rising curiosity in prepare reliability.

Values over views

Personal values are beginning to form vacation spot decisions simply as a lot as sights. 

Seventy % of Chinese vacationers mentioned they like places that match their values—like sustainability or inclusivity—over locations with iconic sights.

Younger respondents throughout markets felt equally, with 63% prioritizing worth alignment over photograph ops.

In distinction, Americans leaned the opposite means: 53% mentioned that actions and experiences mattered greater than values.

(Image courtesy of Margis 233 by way of Pexels)

Border tech raises questions

Upcoming methods just like the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) are additionally prone to have an effect on long-haul tendencies. 

EES, which rolls out totally by April 2026, will digitally observe non-EU vacationers crossing Schengen borders, changing guide passport stamps with biometric information like fingerprints and facial scans. 

While the objective is smoother border checks, the shift to automation might introduce delays at first, particularly throughout peak seasons.

ETIAS, launching in late 2026, would require vacationers from visa-exempt international locations—together with the U.S., Canada, and Australia—to use on-line earlier than getting into most of Europe.

Though the method is supposed to be fast and low-cost, the added step may deter spontaneous journeys or complicate journey for much less tech-savvy vacationers.

Both methods are geared toward tightening safety and stopping overstays, however in addition they sign a extra regulated and data-heavy border expertise.

Policies form journey temper

Long-haul journey can also be being formed by broader EU immigration insurance policies. Countries have taken completely different approaches to dealing with migration, from tightening asylum procedures to increasing regularization efforts for undocumented staff.

While these insurance policies primarily goal non-tourist migration, the general public discourse round them can affect how Europe is perceived overseas.

Travelers from Asia and the Americas could also be paying nearer consideration to how welcoming Europe feels, not simply on the border, however in its politics and public messaging.

If immigration debates develop extra polarized or seen in mainstream information, they may make sure nationalities assume twice about reserving a visit.

On the flip facet, smoother processing methods and clearer guidelines may assist ease these considerations over time.

(Image courtesy of Valentin Ivantsov by way of Pexels)

Expectations evolve, however journey endures

Travelers have gotten extra selective about the place they go, how they guide, and what they spend. With security, affordability, and suppleness main selections, long-haul journey in 2026 is extra cautious however nonetheless very a lot alive. 

While fewer individuals are committing to massive journeys early, Europe stays a robust contender—only one that now has to compete with nearer, cheaper, and extra personalised alternate options.