Dertour 2025/26 Winter Season Report: Interest in Long Distance and Early Booking is Increasing
Dertour , one of Germany’s leading tour operators, has published its comprehensive analysis of travel trends for the 2025/26 winter season. The report, prepared with data from November 2024 – February 2025 , revealed the remarkable increase in long-distance travel and the rise in the early booking trend .
31% Increase in Passenger NumbersAccording to an analysis in the German business and tourism magazine fvw , the total number of passengers increased by 31% compared to the previous winter. This increase was 32% in long-haul destinations and 30% in short- and medium-haul destinations. Dertour Product Director Sven Schikarsky stated that the redistribution of market share of FTI, which went bankrupt in spring 2024, and the fact that winter prices remained largely stable were effective in this increase.
Early Booking Breaks RecordsAnother trend that stood out in the report was the increasing interest in early bookings . While last year, holidaymakers booked their trips an average of 104 days in advance , this year the period was brought forward by an additional week. Early booking discounts of up to 45% and the desire to find a place in preferred hotels supported this trend.
While there was a 22% increase in reservations for the 2025/26 season, the prominent destinations were listed as follows:
Egypt : 129% increase
UAE : 76% increase
Thailand : 47% increase
Turkey : 34% increase
Indian Ocean : 31% increase
62% of guests chose short and medium-haul destinations. The most popular ones include:
Spain : Leading with a 24% increase; the Canary Islands stand out in particular.
Egypt : Moved from 4th place to 2nd place with a 119% increase.
Turkey : Ranks 3rd with a 56% increase.
Germany : Dropped from 2nd place to 4th place, down 15%.
Poland : ranked 5th with a 30% increase.
Thailand : The most preferred destination with a 45% increase.
Indian Ocean : 38% increase.
UAE : 102% increase.
North America : up 6%.
East Africa : 28% increase.
Demand for tour programs increased by 3% , with Thailand leading the way with a 19% increase, followed by Vietnam (27%), Sri Lanka (36%), East Africa (7%) and Morocco (169% increase, rising from 13th to 6th place).
Summer 2026 is also on TargetTogether with its sister brands ITS and Meiers Weltreisen , Dertour has also opened early sales for long-haul destinations such as the Maldives, Mauritius, Thailand and Dubai for the 2026 summer season.
General Outlook: Strong Demand, Early Booking AdvantageousDertour’s report reveals that travel demand continues to be strong in the 2025/26 winter season, that holidaymakers are turning to destinations that offer a price-performance balance, and that the early booking trend plays a decisive role. The rise in long-distance travel in particular points to the recovery in the sector and the reshaping of market dynamics.
aeronews24
