At the start of the Easter school vacation on Friday in Luxembourg, it was clear that the covid-19 pandemic is prompting travellers to adapt their plans. In addition to PCR testing--which has become almost indispensable for leaving the country--the destination and the programme of the stay are changing, according to Statec.

Fewer trips

With 350,000 stays recorded in 2020, covid-19 has put a damper on residents’ wanderlust, who made 24% more trips in 2019. The spring lockdown and the closure of the borders of neighbouring countries made it impossible to travel abroad during the 2020 Easter vacation, after which the context undoubtedly prompted travellers to review their plans.

Fewer planes, more cars

While nearly four out of ten departures (38%) were still by plane in 2019, they were only one in four in 2020. On the other hand, the car came out on top with 70% of trips in 2020, compared to 54% a year earlier. And where there is a car, there is obviously proximity: 7 out of 10 trips were to Luxembourg or one of the neighbouring countries.

France consolidated its position as the leading tourist destination with nearly 30% of departures, followed by the grand duchy which, with 12% of the vote, recorded a jump in tourist visits by its residents. The “Vakanz Doheem” (holiday at home) formula put Belgium in third place as a preferred destination, with 9% of departures. Statec also observed a clear drop in trips to Germany, which fell from second to seventh place in the list of popular destinations for residents.

More time for yourself and others

While resting and relaxing remain the priority on vacation, 2020 has increased the desire to spend time with fellow travellers. Visits to family and friends increased significantly last summer, both for stays in Luxembourg and Belgium, but also, to a lesser extent, in France and Germany.

Fewer cultural visits

Sport has become the third most popular activity in 2020, replacing shopping and cultural visits, which are suffering from the health crisis. One example among others is cycling. Bicycle sales have exploded in recent months, particularly in the wake of the introduction of a bonus scheme. If in 2019 the two wheels (motorcycle and bicycle) were insignificant in the means of travel to go on vacation, they represented 2% of departures last year.

Some things don't change

Covid-19 has not changed all habits: the average length of stay remained stable in 2020, at nine days, according to Statec. Popular European destinations such as Portugal and Italy retained their appeal for a good portion of residents, especially those wanting to spend time with their families.

Finally, while day trips to border countries have been favoured, this is especially evident in visits to theme parks, which remained stable between 2019 and 2020, for example.

This article was originally published in French on Paperjam. It has been translated and edited for Delano.