Japan, Iceland And Saudi Arabia Lead The Way For European Easter 2025 Bookings As Travelers Seek Unique Long-Haul Destinations And Hidden Gems

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Japan, Iceland and Saudi Arabia are leading European Easter 2025 travel trends as tourists opt for unique, long-haul destinations over traditional holiday spots.

European travelers booking Easter holidays through travel agencies are increasingly choosing a mix of long-haul destinations and hidden gems, according to RateHawk.

The B2B platform, which facilitates bookings for accommodation, flights, and transfers, reports that the leading Easter 2025 destinations include Japan and the USA, along with rising trends in destinations like Iceland and Saudi Arabia.

The top 10 travel destinations for European tourists include Japan, the USA, Spain, Italy, France, the UAE, the UK, Portugal, Turkey, and Thailand. The typical cost for accommodation bookings is £840, with guests staying for an average of three nights.

Japan leads the way, accounting for 12.2% of all bookings from European travel agents, marking a notable rise from Easter 2024. The nation remains a top destination, with the Japan National Tourism Organization expecting international arrivals to surpass 40 million by year’s end. Japan’s extensive flight connections with major European cities, coupled with new routes to meet demand, continue to fuel this growth. Key tourist hubs like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are popular, with increasing interest in lesser-known destinations like Hakone and Takayama. The Easter holidays in 2025 also coincide with cherry blossom season, further driving demand.

A notable trend is the significant surge in bookings to Iceland, especially from German travel agents, with accommodation reservations increasing fourfold since spring 2024. The closure of the Blue Lagoon, a major attraction, during last year’s Easter due to a volcanic eruption has led to pent-up demand for 2025. Additionally, forecasts predict the 2025 northern lights displays will be among the best in decades, with mid-April 2025 offering optimal viewing conditions in Iceland, aligning with the growing popularity of nocturnal tourism, including stargazing and wildlife viewing.

The GCC region, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, is seeing a surge in demand from travel agencies in the UK and Spain.In the UK, bookings to Saudi Arabia have surged by 2.5 times, while UAE bookings have seen a year-on-year increase, doubling in number. In Spain, the UAE has gained equal popularity to France, Italy, and the USA, with hotel bookings skyrocketing by four times, fueled primarily by the growth of low-cost airlines in the region.

The USA continues to be the leading spring destination, making up 12% of all accommodation bookings from European travelers. It continues to be a top choice for travelers from the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, with New York standing out as the most preferred destination.