Context

Public and school holidays have important impacts on population mobility and dynamics across multiple spatial and temporal scales, subsequently affecting the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases and many socioeconomic activities. However, worldwide data on public and school holidays for understanding their changes across regions and years have not been assembled into a single, open-source and multitemporal dataset. To address this gap, an open access archive of data on public and school holidays in 2010–2019 across the globe at daily, weekly, and monthly timescales was constructed. Airline passenger volumes across 90 countries from 2010 to 2018 were also assembled to illustrate the usage of the holiday data for understanding the changing spatiotemporal patterns of population movements.

Content

Geography: Global

Time period: 2010 - 2019

Unit of analysis: Global Holidays and Travel Data

Variables

monthly_passengers.csv

global_holidays.csv

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Jon Harmon for curating this dataset.

Dataset Repository

Americans are forecast to be driving home for Christmas in droves this holiday season, with winter travelers by car expected to exceed 100 million for the first time since 2019.

Impact of COVID-19 on holiday travel The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on holiday travel in the United States. While the source does not provide an explanation for missing data in 2020, it is plausible that the pandemic disrupted the usual data compilation process, or that data for 2020 may not be representative of typical holiday travel patterns due to the significant changes in travel behavior and restrictions that were pub in place to curb the spread of the virus. Opinion polling from December 2020 found that more than 80 percent of Americans would not travel for Christmas that year. In 2021, the number of travelers by car, air, and other transportation methods were low compared with both 2019 and 2022 as COVID-19 infection rates continued to climb.

Forecast for 2022 The scale back of lockdowns and mask mandates, combined with high vaccination rates gave travelers a feeling of normalcy in 2022. For Christmas 2022 it is forecasted that the number of holiday travelers by car will increase by a staggering 2 million. It is additionally forecasted that air travel will see a 14 percent increase, despite the price of air travel increasing by 36 percent in November 2022. This forecast suggests that holiday travel in the United States is expected to gradually return to pre-pandemic levels.

For Thanksgiving 2025, over 73 million travelers in the U.S. are expected to get to their destinations by car. A further six million will travel by air for the holiday.

The number of Thanksgiving holiday travelers in the United States amounted to approximately 80.2 million in 2024. In 2025, the number of Thanksgiving holiday travelers in the U.S. was forecast to reach 81.8 million.

This study focuses on European vacation practices and on an assortment of environmental issues. Respondents were asked to assess the state of the environment both nationally and in the world at large, to judge the severity of current environmental problems, and to respond to suggestions regarding future changes in conservation practices and policies. Individuals who went away on holiday in 1985 were asked a series of questions regarding the types of areas visited, holiday accommodations, methods of transportation, and level of satisfaction with their holidays. As in previous studies in this series, respondents continued to be monitored on attitudes toward the European Economic Community, life satisfaction, and social goals. All respondents were asked questions on such subjects as the trustworthiness of other nationalities and important problems that are debated in the European Parliament. In addition, the respondent's political orientation, outlook for the future, and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics were probed.

A September 2024 survey looked at the main ways people in the United States managed the cost of holiday travel. Cutting back on other expenses ranked as the most popular option, with half of the sample stating that this was the case. Meanwhile, taking advantage of discounts and deals was the second most popular way of managing holiday costs.

Full edition for scientific use. Microcensus surveys on the holiday habits of the Austrian population have been conducted every three years since 1969. The main focus of these surveys is to compare the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the tourists (age, sex, social situation, etc.) with the characteristics of the holiday (travel destination, accommodation, etc.). The survey catalogue, fixed by the OECD, has changed only slightly over the years. It was adapted to the European guideline for tourism statistics and is now conducted annually in December, starting with the year 1996. The questions are mostly concerned with the Austrian's main holidays (a vacation with at minimum number of 4 overnight stays outside the residential area, according to international agreements). The exception are holidays (minimum duration 1 week) at a health resort paid by the health insurance or stays at a clinic to recover from severe illnesses or surgery. Business trips are also excluded. An important index is the so-called travel-intensity or net-travel-intensity. This is the percentage of persons who had gone on a main holiday at least once within the surveyed year. Starting with the year 1998, annual surveys on holidays with a minimum number of 4 overnight stays are conducted according to the Council's Directive. They are performed as a Microcensus special survey each December. The survey program has been extended to include detailed questions for 4 main holidays since the survey in 1998. In addition, there are estimations on more than 4 (max. 18) main holidays the tourist might have gone on. In addition, missing data is supplemented with an imputation programme.

This special survey is on the topic of holiday habits of the Austrian population. It records the main holidays and short holidays. Since tourism is gaining in importance for the whole national economy, advance planning is more and more necessary. The survey should serve as a basis for upcoming measures and enable the analysis of the bygone year as well as a comparison with previous survey MZ8704. This survey records the 3 main holidays as well as short holidays. For some questions, a comparison with previous surveys is possible. To make the comparison possible, the questions remain the same as those from the year 1987. Only the question block on short holidays was extended.

Since tourism is gaining in importance for the whole national economy advance planning is more and more necessary. The survey should serve as a basis for upcoming measures and enable the analysis of the bygone year as well as a comparison with previous surveys. To make the comparison possible, a large part of the questions remained the same as those from the years 1996 and 1998. Similar to the special program from December 1996 and 1998 the survey was conducted according to the EU-standards for surveys on statistical data in the field of tourism. However, in contrast to the previous year, this survey is conducted with the whole sample to provide detailed regional results on a stately level in the tradition 3-year rhythm.

Holiday Travel Congestion Forecasting Market Outlook

According to our latest research, the global holiday travel congestion forecasting market size reached USD 2.41 billion in 2024, with a robust growth trajectory driven by increasing demand for predictive analytics in transportation. The market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 13.2% from 2025 to 2033, reaching a forecasted value of USD 6.87 billion by 2033. This growth is primarily fueled by the rising adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, which are revolutionizing congestion management and enabling smarter travel planning during peak holiday seasons. As per our latest research, the surge in global travel, coupled with urbanization and the proliferation of smart city initiatives, is further accelerating the need for advanced holiday travel congestion forecasting solutions worldwide.

A significant driver for the holiday travel congestion forecasting market is the exponential growth in travel volumes during major holidays, resulting in unprecedented congestion across airports, highways, railways, and urban transit networks. Governments and transportation authorities are increasingly prioritizing the deployment of advanced forecasting tools to manage these surges efficiently, reduce delays, and enhance traveler experience. The integration of big data analytics and real-time monitoring systems allows for more accurate predictions, enabling authorities to allocate resources and implement mitigation strategies proactively. Additionally, the proliferation of mobile devices and IoT sensors has made it possible to gather granular data on travel patterns, further improving the precision of congestion forecasts.

Another key growth factor is the rapid advancement in machine learning and artificial intelligence, which are transforming the capabilities of congestion forecasting systems. Modern solutions leverage sophisticated algorithms to analyze vast datasets, identify patterns, and generate actionable insights in real time. This technological evolution is not only improving the accuracy of congestion predictions but also enabling dynamic response mechanisms, such as adaptive traffic signal controls and real-time traveler notifications. As a result, both public and private sector stakeholders are investing heavily in upgrading their forecasting infrastructure, thus driving market expansion. The increasing collaboration between technology providers and transportation agencies is also fostering innovation and accelerating the deployment of next-generation forecasting tools.

The growing emphasis on sustainability and environmental conservation is also propelling the holiday travel congestion forecasting market. By optimizing traffic flows and minimizing congestion, these solutions contribute to reduced fuel consumption and lower carbon emissions, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change. Urban planners and policymakers are recognizing the value of congestion forecasting in supporting eco-friendly transportation initiatives and promoting the use of public transit. Furthermore, the integration of forecasting systems with smart city platforms is enabling holistic mobility management, further enhancing the market's growth prospects. As cities continue to expand and holiday travel peaks become more pronounced, the demand for advanced forecasting solutions is expected to rise steadily.

Regionally, North America currently dominates the holiday travel congestion forecasting market, driven by high levels of technology adoption and significant investments in intelligent transportation systems. However, the Asia Pacific region is emerging as the fastest-growing market, supported by rapid urbanization, expanding middle-class populations, and substantial government initiatives aimed at modernizing transportation infrastructure. Europe also holds a significant market share, benefiting from robust regulatory frameworks and a strong focus on sustainable mobility. The Middle East & Africa and Latin America are witnessing increasing adoption of congestion forecasting solutions, albeit at a slower pace, due to differing levels of infrastructure development and investment priorities.

This dataset contains key characteristics about the data described in the Data Descriptor Global holiday datasets for understanding seasonal human mobility and population dynamics. Contents:

    1. human readable metadata summary table in CSV format


    2. machine readable metadata file in JSON format

This Mikrozensus survey from December 1996 is again on the holiday habits of the Austrian population. It is concerned with the main holidays as well as short holidays. A comparison with previous surveys (Mikrozensus MZ9304) is possible for many questions. Nevertheless, some changes had to be made to include EU-standards for surveys on statistical data in the field of tourism.

In December 1981 a study on holiday trips of the Austrian population is conducted again. This survey records the main holidays, short holidays and business trips. The survey will serve as a basis for upcoming measures and enable the analysis of the bygone year as well as a comparison with previous surveys. To make the comparison possible, a large part of the questions on the main holidays remains the same (as the questions from the year 1978 Mikrozensus MZ7804)

Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: Recreation: Holiday Travel & Accommodation data was reported at 6.254 % in Sep 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 6.254 % for Jun 2025. Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: Recreation: Holiday Travel & Accommodation data is updated quarterly, averaging 2.160 % from Sep 2017 (Median) to Sep 2025, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.330 % in Sep 2020 and a record low of 2.030 % in Sep 2022. Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: Recreation: Holiday Travel & Accommodation data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.I: Consumer Price Index: Weights: 17th Series.

Key Travel App StatisticsTop Travel AppsTravel App Market LandscapeTravel App RevenueTravel Revenue By AppTravel App UsersTravel App Market Share United StatesTravel App DownloadsThe online travel...

According to a 2025 study on the summer travel intentions of Europeans, the plane was the most used mode of transport for summer holiday trips, with ** percent of the sample reporting using it. Personal cars and trains followed in the ranking, being mentioned by ** percent and ** percent of surveyed Europeans, respectively.

In 2024 , tourism expenditures amounted to € 15.69 Bn. and tourism revenues to € 24.27 Bn. in Austria. Further data and statistics on travel duration, travel intensity, number of vacation trips and vacation travelers as well as their expenditures up to the year 2000. Travel market statistics (revenue, expenditure, travel duration, travel intensity, travelers & vacations etc.) with interactive charts incl. download. Dashboard, data, KPIs & more .. ITOMA.IO - The IT & Tourism Experts

According to an April 2024 study, most surveyed Europeans planned to take a summer holiday trip with their partner. In particular, travelers from Southern Europe were the most inclined to travel with their partner for their next summer vacation, with ** percent of respondents from that region stating that this was the case.

Spain was the leading holiday travel destination for residents of the United Kingdom in 2024, with approximately ***** million visits. This figure denoted a **** percent decrease from 2023.

Spain was the holiday destination reporting the highest outbound tourism spending by residents of the United Kingdom in 2024. That year, the expenditure of British vacationers in Spain amounted to ***** million British pounds. Spain was also the most visited holiday destination by UK travelers that year, ahead of France, Greece, and Portugal.