Cultural tourism becomes more popular in families
What family does not like to unwind during a trip? There are many destinations to choose from, from visits to the beach in summer, through excursions to the snow in winter and the always cultural escapes to visit museums, theaters and other places of similar interest. In fact, this type of tourism is booming and is increasingly an option chosen by households.
Although it is still far from sun and beach tourism, dedicating vacations to a cultural option is a choice that more and more families are making. This is the conclusion offered by the V Family Tourism Study in Spain prepared by the Spanish Federation of Large Families, FEFN, and by DNA Expertus Turismo y Ocio.
More family weekend getaways
This study has been carried out taking into account the responses of 760 families who have answered a questionnaire related to vacations made last year. Almost 93% of the participants acknowledged having made some type of trip during the past 2017, which represents an increase of 1.1% over the previous year. As for the average, two annual breaks are the usual in homes in Spain.The number of families that perform 3 trips throughout the year, this group being 26.1% of the total, a percentage that increases by 3.8 points the same figure of the previous year. On the other hand, households that only made 1 break were reduced by 7.1% compared to the numbers of 2016.
As for the time of travel, the 44% of the respondents acknowledged that it makes them on weekends and bridges. The summer is placed in second place for something more than 33% of the participants. Holy Week, 13.2% and Christmas, 9.5% close this top. Of course, when it comes to making a trip abroad the summer is preferred by families.
The average number of people included in these trips is 4,71. In more than half of the cases, the group is made up of their parents and their children. However, almost 48% of respondents acknowledged that the grandparents accompany them in these escapades and in 44.8% were the uncles who joined this tourism with the rest of relatives.
More cultural visits among the preferred ones
This year's edition of the Family Tourism Study has also included a series of questions about care of the environment, since in 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development was celebrated. The answers to these questions revealed that 95.6% ensure respect for natural spaces, generating minimal impact on their visits.
Families are also aware of the treatment of cultural property and ensure that fragments of protected cultural property are not taken away. On the other hand, 87.5% seek to know the customs, gastronomy and local traditions; 75.3% seek to use natural resources, minimize the generation of waste and recycle; and 54% ensures that the manufacture of memories does not require the use of plants or animals in danger of extinction.
In total, family tourism translated into 18,500 million euros. As for the type of escapades, this study reveals that cultural visits continue to rise. On the other hand, in 2017 there was a noticeable decline in sun and beach tourism, which fell by 12.5% although it continues in the first place of preferences.
The data shows that the cultural tourism in 1.4% and nature, which grows by 11.2%. These escapades include hiking, snow, routes, ecotourism and bicycle tourism. Another one that goes up is gastronomic, it does it by 3%. In this same line, and in terms of activity preferences, bathroom options decrease significantly (from 82.7% in 2016 to 76.7% in 2017) and increase walking and walking (from 57.6% in 2016 to 65.6% in 2017).
Damián Montero
