TCS Travel Barometer 2025: Travel becomes more selective – life circumstances and costs shape decisions
Travel with the handbrake on: climate crisis and costs take centre stage
The ninth TCS Travel Barometer commissioned by the TCS shows that travel habits remain largely stable, but are subject to specific adjustments depending on life circumstances and expectations.
The majority of the population continues to travel at similar rates to previous years. At the same time, certain groups have adjusted their behaviour. While some are travelling less frequently, others are planning their trips more carefully or concentrating them in specific periods. Households with children in particular are clearly focusing their travel on the summer holidays, while people without children are more flexible in their travel plans.
Trips abroad with at least three overnight stays remain popular, as do air travel, especially among high-income households. The choice of travel destinations has recently shifted towards Scandinavian countries, North America and Asia.
The private car remains the preferred means of transport for future travel, especially among TCS members. Train travel enjoys stable popularity among the general population, while air travel has lost some of its appeal compared to last year.
Safety remains a key criterion when planning trips. 76% of respondents feel fairly or very safe when abroad. Decisive factors include reliable medical care, options for returning home in an emergency and the general infrastructure at the destination. The use of digital safety information plays a minor role.
Travel planning is increasingly forward-looking. Factors such as climate impact, airline reputation and natural hazards are being taken into account more frequently. At the same time, short-term booking flexibility and spontaneous travel are becoming less important.
Information on travel risks continues to be obtained mainly from government agencies such as the FDFA and the FOPH, as well as from digital channels such as online travel portals.
From the population’s perspective, overtourism, high prices at the destination, and long waiting times are among the most frequently mentioned annoyances when travelling. These experiences vary depending on the destination.
The study is based on a representative survey of 1,010 Swiss residents and an online survey of 1,009 TCS members. The fieldwork took place between 24 February and 30 March 2025. The maximum sampling error is ±3.1 percentage points with a 95% confidence interval.
The detailed results can be viewed in the interactive cockpit in German, French and Italian.
Click here for the full report in German.
