# Trends in European travel and holiday affordability > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/rising-global-tourism-and-travel-costs > Updated: 2026-08-13T11:56:24.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 4. Rising travel expenses and declining purchasing power continue to affect the ability of many to afford holidays. In the European Union, data from 2025 indicates that 27.5% of citizens aged 16 and older were unable to afford a one-week holiday away from home, a slight increase from 27.0% in 2024. Economic disparities remain significant; Romania reports high levels of travel poverty at 61.4%, while Luxembourg reports much lower rates at 10.6%. Other regions with high unaffordability include Montenegro (58%), Albania (53%), and Turkey (51%), contrasted with low rates in Switzerland and Norway (9%). Despite these recent increases, long-term data shows a decade-long improvement in holiday accessibility. In 2015, 35.2% of the EU population was unable to afford a one-week annual holiday, compared to 27.5% in 2025. However, certain countries have seen rising costs over the last ten years, including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Austria. In Germany, the rate rose by 1.2 percentage points, while Austria saw a marginal increase of 0.3 points. Travelers are increasingly adopting cost-saving tactics to manage budgets. In European seaside resorts, visitors are bringing personal foldable gear to avoid sharp increases in beach chair and umbrella rental fees. Additionally, logistical costs such as mobile roaming fees present challenges when traveling outside the EU. A study found that 19% of respondents returned from non-EU trips to unexpected mobile bills, a figure that rises to 54% among 18-to-24-year-olds. Destinations like the UK, Switzerland, Turkey, and the USA remain subject to high roaming fees unless travelers use alternative technologies like eSIMs. ## Claims - In 2025, 27.5% of the EU population aged 16 or older could not afford a one-week annual holiday away from home. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The proportion of EU citizens unable to afford a holiday decreased from 35.2% in 2015 to 27.5% in 2025. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The percentage of people unable to afford vacations increased in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Austria over the last decade. (corroborated by 3 sources) - In 2025, Romania had the highest proportion of people unable to afford a holiday at 61%. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Switzerland and Norway reported the lowest rate of people unable to afford holidays at 9% in 2025. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The percentage of people unable to afford holidays in Germany increased by 1.2 percentage points over the decade. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The percentage of people unable to afford holidays in Austria increased by 0.3 percentage points over the decade. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-13: European travelers face holiday affordability and roaming fee challenges New data shows 27.5% of EU residents cannot afford a week-long holiday, while travelers outside the EU face rising risks of unexpected mobile roaming charges. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-travelers-face-holiday-affordability-and-roaming-fee-challenges ### 2026-08-10: Europe holiday affordability shows significant decade-long improvement The proportion of EU citizens unable to afford a one-week annual holiday dropped from 35.2% in 2015 to 27.5% in 2025, despite rising costs in some Nordic and Central European nations. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/europe-holiday-affordability-shows-significant-decade-long-improvement ### 2026-08-07: European travel affordability declines as costs rise Eurostat data shows nearly 30% of EU citizens can no longer afford a one-week holiday away from home, driven by rising costs for food, transport, and accommodation. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-travel-affordability-declines-as-costs-rise ### 2026-08-05: Tourists Adopt Cost‑Saving Tactics as Travel Expenses Rise Rising beach rental fees in Europe and inflated costs in Egypt are driving tourists to bring their own gear and follow strict budgeting advice. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tourists-adopt-costsaving-tactics-as-travel-expenses-rise --- Cite as: Trends in European travel and holiday affordability. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/rising-global-tourism-and-travel-costs