Travel insurance provider Allianz Global Assistance compared number of travelers booked to European destinations during summer 2017, 2016 and 2015.
RICHMOND, VA. – London and Paris will continue to rank first and second respectively amongst Americans as the most popular European destinations for summer travel, and both destinations will see an uptick in the number of summer travelers in 2017, per a review of Americans' summer travel intent by customers of Allianz Global Assistance.
The company reviewed more than 10 million trips planned by customers during the summer season of 2015, 2016 and 2017 and found that this summer, London will welcome a 36.55 percent increase in U.S. travelers from 2016 and Paris will receive a 28.77 percent increase of US travelers from 2016, bringing both countries closer to the numbers of American travelers who visited in summer 2015, prior to the November 2015 Paris attacks.
Similarly, Stockholm will have an 8.16 percent increase in U.S. travelers compared to 2016 and is expected to beat its summer visitor numbers from both 2015 and 2016, despite the terror attack earlier this year.
"Despite continued terrorist activity in Europe and corresponding U.S. State Department travel warnings, Americans won't be deterred in their desire to visit iconic European destinations like London and Paris," said Daniel Durazo, director of communications at Allianz Global Assistance USA.
The analysis showed that the top 20 destinations in Europe for 2017 summer travel ranked by percentage of travelers are: London, United Kingdom (15.3 percent); Paris, France (9.6 percent); Rome, Italy (8.2 percent); Athens, Greece (4.7 percent); Barcelona, Spain (4.6 percent); Dublin, Ireland (4.6 percent); Amsterdam, Netherlands (4.5 percent); Madrid, Spain (3.0 percent); Frankfurt, Germany (2.9 percent); Venice, Italy (2.6 percent); Zurich, Switzerland (2.6 percent); Munich, Germany (2.2 percent); Milan, Italy (2.0 percent); Copenhagen, Denmark (1.9 percent); Lisbon, Portugal (1.9 percent); Edinburgh, United Kingdom (1.8 percent); Reykjavik, Iceland (1.5 percent); Shannon, Ireland (1.2 percent); Stockholm, Sweden (1.1 percent); and Prague, Czech Republic (1.1 percent).
"Many travelers are interested in purchasing travel insurance so that they may have the option to cancel or interrupt their trip should there be a terrorist event at their destination within 30 days of their arrival," continued Durazo.
City |
2017 % Of All Travelers |
% Change from 2015 |
% Change from 2016 |
2015 Rank |
2016 Rank |
2017 Rank |
Rank Change from 2015 |
Rank Change from 2016 |
London, United Kingdom |
15.3% |
-5.58% |
36.55% |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Paris, France |
9.6% |
-26.03% |
28.77% |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Rome, Italy |
8.2% |
1.54% |
20.25% |
3 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
Athens, Greece |
4.7% |
-1.04% |
35.07% |
7 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
Barcelona, Spain |
4.6% |
14.14% |
20.81% |
6 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
Dublin, Ireland |
4.6% |
14.56% |
3.32% |
5 |
4 |
6 |
-1 |
-2 |
Amsterdam, Netherlands |
4.5% |
22.03% |
49.16% |
9 |
7 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
Madrid, Spain |
3.0% |
-12.77% |
18.28% |
8 |
9 |
8 |
0 |
1 |
Frankfurt, Germany |
2.9% |
-8.54% |
12.30% |
4 |
8 |
9 |
-5 |
-1 |
Venice, Italy |
2.6% |
-9.14% |
13.32% |
11 |
10 |
10 |
1 |
0 |
Zurich, Switzerland |
2.6% |
1.73% |
50.41% |
15 |
13 |
11 |
4 |
2 |
Munich, Germany |
2.2% |
0.52% |
28.36% |
13 |
12 |
12 |
1 |
0 |
Milan, Italy |
2.0% |
2.67% |
-3.74% |
10 |
11 |
13 |
-3 |
-2 |
Copenhagen, Denmark |
1.9% |
5.92% |
20.40% |
12 |
14 |
14 |
-2 |
0 |
Lisbon, Portugal |
1.9% |
13.34% |
67.30% |
17 |
18 |
15 |
2 |
3 |
Edinburgh, United Kingdom |
1.8% |
35.49% |
24.85% |
14 |
15 |
16 |
-2 |
-1 |
Reykjavik, Iceland |
1.5% |
23.78% |
8.63% |
28 |
16 |
17 |
11 |
-1 |
Shannon, Ireland |
1.2% |
5.82% |
-5.89% |
16 |
17 |
18 |
-2 |
-1 |
Stockholm, Sweden |
1.1% |
2.76% |
8.16% |
21 |
19 |
19 |
2 |
0 |
Prague, Czech Republic |
1.1% |
3.64% |
27.44% |
20 |
20 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.