Almost 75 percent say they use this for the holidays, over 8 percent for something else and 17 percent don't know yet.
Three-quarters of the Dutch people actually use their holiday money for the holiday this year. However, almost half have not yet booked it. This may be due to rising prices, which are hundreds of euros higher than last year. The fear of chaos at airports also plays a role.
This is evident from a poll by review and booking site Zoover, which asked the Dutch about how their holiday money is spent. Almost 75 percent say they use this for the holidays, over 8 percent for something else and 17 percent don't know yet. The expectation that many people will use the money this year to pay bills or debts does not come true.
When asked whether they have already booked that holiday for this year, only four out of ten people appear to have done so. More than 47 percent of respondents say they have yet to book.
Zoover attributes this reticence to the fear of chaos at Schiphol and other airports. For example, due to the impending strike of the French air traffic controllers and the cancellation of flights by Transavia. During the May holiday, for the first time more Dutch people opted for a departure from Düsseldorf than from Schiphol, according to data from Zoover. Price increases also play a role.
“People spend the holiday money for the purpose it is intended for, but seem a bit hesitant to book the holiday. They book later to have more security. We had expected to see a spike after people received their holiday pay, but it failed to materialise. We now expect a peak in last minute bookings, because people are waiting for that good deal.”
Last May holiday saw Zoover already the first signs of that trepidation. On average, the Dutch went on holiday one day shorter and booked 10 percent fewer all-inclusive trips, which are somewhat more expensive. More trips with bed and breakfast and half board were booked.
The big winner, just like last year, was Turkey. 36 percent of Dutch holidaymakers chose that country in May, followed by Spain (31 percent) and Greece (24 percent), according to Zoover data.
The average travel sum this May holiday was 12 percent higher than last year. Last year, the Dutch paid an average of 1973 euros for a holiday in this period, this year that had risen to 2216 euros. An increase of almost 250 euros. In the period January to mid-April, the Dutch paid an average of 2206 euros for their trip. Last year that was 1948 euros.
