According to a new Eurobarometer survey on the attitudes of Europeans towards tourism, a 68% of EU citizens travelled for private reasons in 2010 compared to 65% in 2009. These findings confirm other indicators that tourism has recovered from economic crisis. In addition, preference still inclines towards traditional tourist destinations.

The European Commission has conducted this kind of survey once a year since 2008 in order to monitor the short and medium term travel and tourism trends of European citizens. Among the most relevant findings of the new Eurobarometer survey there are:

• Italy was the most frequently mentioned planned holiday destination for 2011. Spain came second followed by France. 23% of EU residents have not decided yet where to spend their holidays.
• In 2011, 58% of Europeans plan to spend their holidays in their own country or in another EU country.
• Almost three-quarters of EU citizens travelled for leisure or business in 2010.
• 32% named "Local attractiveness" as the major consideration when choosing holiday destinations, followed by "cultural heritage" and "entertainment possibilities".
• Seeking "rest and recreation" was the main motivation for over a third of the leisure travellers, followed by "sun and beach" and "visiting friends and relatives".
• Over half of EU citizens organised their main holidays themselves in 2010; this is even more popular in the candidate countries Turkey, Iceland and Croatia.

In 2010 the nights spent by non-residents were the biggest contributor to the overall growth figures. The growth in 2010 compensated for about two-thirds of the decrease in 2008 and 2009 for total nights spent and non-resident nights spent. The number of resident nights spent, which was less affected by the crisis, reached a record level in 2010.