Adults in Five Largest European Countries and the U.S. Will Take Fewer Vacation Days This Summer But Won`t Let Economic Crisis Spoil Their Vacations

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(Business Wire)--
A new Harris Interactive/France 24/International Herald Tribune survey conducted
online by Harris Interactive® among a total of 6,284 adults (aged 16-64) within
France, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, and the United States and adults (aged
18-64) in Italy between May 27 and June 1, 2009 finds that:

* The economic crisis has varying degrees of impact on people`s summer
vacations. More than two in five Germans (45%), one-third of Britons (33%),
three in ten French adults (31%) and one-quarter of Italians (25%) and Americans
(25%) all say that the crisis won`t have any impact on their vacation plans, but
one-quarter of Spaniards (24%) say they will reduce their vacation budget;
* When it comes to vacations allowing people to forget their economic problems,
adults in these six countries are divided. Half of Britons (55%), French (51%)
and Spanish adults (51%) say going on vacation will allow them to forget
problems related to the economic crisis, while three in five Italians (62%) and
Germans (58%) and over half of Americans (54%) say vacations will not let them
forget economic problems; and,
* While they may not forget their problems, strong majorities of adults in these
six countries (between 75% in Germany and 58% in the United States) say the
economic crisis will not spoil their vacations.

While vacations may not be spoiled, they will be shorter this year than last
summer:

* Looking at last summer, adults in these six countries spent various times on
vacation. Spaniards had the most number of days with 17.3 on average, followed
by Italians (12.3 days), French adults (11.5 days) and Germans (11.2 days).
Britons and Americans had the fewest days with 9.2 and 7.3 on average; and
* This year, the number of vacation days people anticipate taking this summer is
down in every country. Spaniards are still on top, but this summer they will
only take 14 days on average. Germans will be taking 10.7 days, Italians 9.9
days, French adults 9.5 days and Britons 7.7 days. Americans will take less than
a week of vacation this summer, only taking 5.8 days.

One area where people are divided is in what their nation`s leaders should be
doing regarding vacation in light of the current economic situation. Two in five
Italians (40%) and over one-third of Americans (36%) believe leaders should
cancel their plans to go on vacation. Almost half of Germans (47%) believe their
leaders should go on vacation as they normally do. Two in five Spaniards (40%)
and over one-third of French (37%) and British adults (36%) believe their
leaders should go on vacation for fewer days than normal.

So What?

Summer vacations are what people all over the world look forward to each year.
With the current economic climate, people may be spending a few less days on
vacation to save costs, but they are still taking them. And, while they may not
escape their problems completely, they won`t let the current economic crisis
spoil their vacations. In this vein, while majorities definitely do not want
their leaders to cancel vacations altogether, politicians in these countries
should make sure they do the appropriate thing by trimming some days off their
plans to show they understand the pains the people they govern are going
through.

Methodology

This Harris Interactive/France 24/International Herald Tribune study was
conducted online by Harris Interactive among a total of 6,284 adults aged 16-64
within France (1,058), Germany (1,037), Great Britain (1,125), Spain (1,013) and
the United States (1,060), and adults aged 18-64 in Italy (1,011) between 27 May
and 1 June 2009. Figures for age, sex, education, region and Internet usage were
weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions
in the population. Propensity score weighting was used to adjust for
respondents` propensity to be online. Full data tables and methodology are
available at www.harrisinteractive.com.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council
on Public Polls and of the British Polling Council.

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is a global leader in custom market research. With a long and
rich history in multimodal research, powered by our science and technology, we
assist clients in achieving business results. Harris Interactive serves clients
globally through our North American, European and Asian offices and a network of
independent market research firms. For more information, please visit
www.harrisinteractive.com.

Harris Interactive Inc. 6/09

Press:
Harris Interactive
Carol Fricke, 585-272-8400
press@harrisinteractive.net

Copyright Business Wire 2009