A Eurobarometer survey by the European Commission highlights an increasing demand for seamless travel, with 76% of respondents using online booking services. Sustainability is also a consideration for many travelers. However, challenges persist in combining different transport modes and finding reliable booking options. The Commission is working to enhance digital travel services using these survey insights.
Booking Complex Journeys
The survey shows 36% of Europeans have difficulty booking tickets that involve multiple transport modes like air-to-rail or train-to-bus. 31% avoid these bookings due to complexity and lack of user-friendly options. For rail journeys, 25% report issues when booking through multiple operators, and 43% avoid such trips altogether.
Online Ticketing Challenges
Despite digital platforms convenience, 22% of travelers find that online systems do not show all fares or options. Hidden costs concern 19% of respondents, highlighting the need for transparency. Although 76% book tickets online, the absence of a comprehensive booking solution deters many from multimodal travel.
Digital Solutions and Future Alternatives
The Commission is advancing digital mobility services, informed by the survey. This work supports the Single Digital Booking and Ticketing Regulation (SDBTR) and the Multimodal Digital Mobility Service Initiative (MDMS), addressing rail operators practices of limiting ticket sales on third-party platforms and excluding competitors tickets.
Sustainability remains crucial, with 78% considering environmental impacts important, but only 21% change behavior. A key issue is the lack of visibility for eco-friendly options, with 22% finding it difficult to locate these alternatives.
Background
The survey, conducted from 28 August to 4 September 2024, included 25,805 EU citizens and covered regional, long-distance, and international travel, with a focus on train travel.
For More Information
You can find the full results of the Eurobarometer survey on Multimodal Digital Mobility Service online.