In 2008, according to IPK’s European Travel Monitor, adults aged 15 years and over made 422 million trips abroad. This represented an increase of 3% compared to 2007, but was followed by a 7% decrease in the first eight months of 2009. Of the 422 million trips made in 2008, 204 million (70%) were for holidays, representing an increase of 6%. With a decrease of 6% 63 million (15%) trips were visits to friends and/or relations (VFR) and travel for other leisure purpose, and 64 million (15%) for business, which corresponds to an in ease of 2%. The trend is now expected to reverse in the last few months of 2009 due to the economic slowdown.
