tourism
After two years of the pandemic, the desire to travel is great again for many. The rise in prices is making itself felt in the overall costs of vacation trips. With a few exceptions, the holidays that have already been booked should not become more expensive.
The most popular holiday destinations for Styrians this summer are still Croatia, Italy, Greece and Spain. Since March there has been a stable and good booking situation, according to Max Schlögl, head of the travel agencies’ specialist group and managing director of Gruber Reisen.
“Everything around on vacation will be a bit more expensive”
However, vacations are becoming more expensive overall this year: “This year it can be assumed that other expenses will become more expensive – in addition to flights, hotels and travel, etc. – just as it is here in Austria. That is, when you move out of the hotel, go to a restaurant, go shopping. Then it will just be the same as with us.”
Trips that have already been booked should not become more expensive
Vacations that have already been booked should not normally become more expensive despite the price increases, says Schlögl: “Basically, if you have booked a trip individually, the price stays the same. It is contractually agreed. There are, however, a few possibilities where a price can become more expensive. This applies above all to group or air travel, where the bus or air travel provider passes on the fuel prices. This is possible up to a travel price of eight percent.”
Even last-minute offers are probably not more expensive
According to Schlögl, the price increases should not have any effect on any last-minute offers this year either: “Tour operators always publish annual catalogs and annual price lists. Prices are as good as capped at the top.”
For the coming year, however, Schlögl expects a significant increase in hotel and travel prices due to higher energy prices. The extent to which this will be noticeable can probably only be estimated in the autumn, says Max Schlögl.