55 percent have vacation plans – Sunday store openings are slightly more important on vacation than at home
Germans are planning fewer vacation trips for this fall than they did a year ago. The Vacation Planning Index (UPI) for the months of September through November 2026 stands at 81 points. In the fall of 2025, which serves as the index’s reference period with a score of 100 points, travel intentions were higher. The percentage of people planning at least one vacation trip has also declined: 55 percent intend to travel in the coming three months, compared to 61 percent in the fall of 2025. This is shown by the latest results of the Vacation Planning Index from the German Institute for Tourism Research at the FH Westküste University of Applied Sciences, in cooperation with the Deutscher Tourismusverband (DTV).
Fewer people with specific travel plans
At the same time, more in-depth analyses show that more cautious travel plans than a year ago are evident across all sociodemographic groups. Prof. Dr. Bernd Eisenstein, Director of the German Institute for Tourism Research: “The relatively low UPI value for this fall should be interpreted as a reflection of the general uncertainty among consumers in Germany. However, this does not necessarily mean that people are forgoing vacations; rather, they are planning more cautiously and making decisions later. On the one hand, many still have fond memories of their summer vacations, and on the other hand, various factors—such as fuel price trends or the overall economic situation—are causing uncertainty. This encourages a wait-and-see attitude, and the decision for or against a fall vacation is being postponed. In addition, we expect that price-consciousness and the search for cancellable and last-minute booking options will continue to increase in order to reduce the perceived purchasing risk.”
Sunday Hours: Differences Between Weekdays and Holidays
A special topic in the current survey is the importance of stores that are open on Sundays. The results show slight differences depending on the travel situation. On a scale from 1 (“not at all important”) to 5 (“very important”), stores open on Sundays score an average of 2.6 for vacations in Germany. In one’s own place of residence, the score is 2.3, and for day trips, it is 2.5. For trips abroad, the importance is highest, with an average score of 2.9.
Norbert Kunz, Managing Director of the Deutscher Tourismusverband (DTV): “The results show that stores open on Sundays are somewhat more important while on vacation than in everyday life at home. Although the difference isn’t very significant for vacations in Germany, we still see that guests want to be able to shop on Sundays as well. Especially in areas heavily dependent on tourism, opening hours tailored to demand can therefore make sense. Special regulations for tourism give these areas the necessary flexibility to meet the needs of their guests while also fostering local economic growth. To achieve this, destinations need a reliable and practical legal framework.”
About the Vacation Planning Index
The Vacation Planning Index measures Germans’ short-term vacation travel intentions for the next three months. It is surveyed four times a year and determines not only the number of planned trips but also the vacation rate and short-term willingness to spend. The current survey was conducted at the end of August 2026 and covers the months of September through November 2026. As part of this representative online survey, 1,000 people from the German-speaking resident population in private households in Germany, aged between 18 and 79, are surveyed.The survey is conducted by infas quo; the sample is weighted by gender, age, federal state, and educational level.
The Vacation Planning Index is a joint research project of the German Institute for Tourism Research at FH Westküste University of Applied Sciences and the Deutscher Tourismusverband.
