A survey in the United States says that about 34 pc American travellers are planning to visit France between September and December 2023, followed closely by Italy at 29 pc, the UK at 20 pc as top destinations.

France is now the most preferred destination of choice for a majority of Americans, reveals ‘Long-Haul Travel Barometer’ survey of European Travel Commission (ETC).

According to the ETC report, from a pool of 1,000 surveyed Americans, the distinct trend concludes that about 34 pc of Americans plan to travel to France between September and December 2023, compared to the same period in 2022.

It is closely followed by Italy at 29 pc, the UK at 20 pc, Spain at 18 pc and Germany at 16 pc. Greece gathered 12 pc of preferences, Austria received 9 pc, while Ireland, Portugal, and Denmark each received 6 pc.

The least favoured options, each chosen by only 5 pc of respondents, were Belgium, Türkiye and Estonia.

The report also reveals an increasing preference among them for choosing Estonia over Switzerland and Sweden, with the preference for the other two countries having significantly dropped.

Typically, American travellers favour destinations primarily centred in Western and Mediterranean Europe, adds the press statement. In addition, American travellers, particularly those visiting Europe for the first time, often opt to spend more of their time in coastal areas or at the beach.

“After a long period of disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Europe is reestablishing its connection with Asian tourists. Our appeal remains strong to long-haul travellers all over the world, with Europe’s timeless culture and history acting as the biggest draw. It is particularly encouraging to see the growing popularity of rail and increased interest in slow travel among tourists. Now more than ever, it is important that we pay special attention to the responsible development of the tourism industry,” says Miguel Sanz, ETC’s President.

Cultural tourism gaining momentum 

As ETC explains, culture and history are the preferred activities among Americans visiting Europe, with 31 pc of respondents favouring them. Slow travel follows closely at 28 pc, reflecting a preference for Americans immersing themselves in the daily life of European cities.

City life activities, such as street art and beach relaxation, each collected 28 pc of preferences. Similarly, gastronomy experiences and nature exploration, such as hiking and eco-tourism, each accounted for 23 pc.