Europeans are still opting for independent travel, but they are paying more attention to safety

Saturday, Oct 17, 2026

ELTA

Travel habits shift due to geopolitical tension; safety and insurance are increasingly prioritized by travelers.

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Delfi.lt - LIT

[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

Due to recent geopolitical tensions and rising costs, European travel planning habits are changing, with travelers increasingly valuing security and seeking expert advice and additional guarantees, even though independent travel remains popular. While the number of Lithuanian travelers is increasing, planning is becoming more cautious, with greater attention paid to early booking and insurance. Despite geopolitical uncertainties, the desire to travel remains strong, with Lithuania seeing a slight increase in outbound tourist trips compared to 2019. Travel organizations are adapting to this new reality, with official government advisories becoming important risk assessment tools. In Austria, independent travel still dominates, but in the Czech Republic, the role of travel agents is growing, partly due to affordable package deals. In Italy, independent planning remains dominant, though travel agencies are important for complex trips. There is a growing interest in travel insurance across Europe, with experts noting that most claims are related to health issues rather than geopolitical events, although some policies are beginning to cover disruptions due to conflict. Insurance adoption is rising in countries like Austria and the Czech Republic, with travelers increasingly purchasing coverage online, while in Italy, insurance uptake remains lower than the EU average.

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