The "dream ship" also accompanies Germans in their holiday dreams: for one in four Germans, a cruise on a luxury liner is the dream holiday par excellence. Only surpassed in importance by the longing for a winter holiday in the Caribbean, the epitome of sun and faraway places. For 30 per cent of Germans, this is the number one holiday dream. And the third travel wish in the ranking of holiday dreams also points to deficits in the German holiday soul. 18 per cent, or almost 9 million Germans, dream of a lazy holiday under palm trees on a lonely South Sea island. This is the result of the new holiday study by the BAT Leisure Research Institute, in which 2000 people aged 14 and over were surveyed throughout Germany.

"But only a few will be able to realise their holiday dreams," says Prof. Dr Horst W. Opaschowski, Scientific Director of the BAT Institute: "For most, they remain an unfulfilled longing against the backdrop of everyday stress and a cold, wet atmosphere. Behind the dreamlike idea of the Caribbean and cruises, South Sea islands and eternal spring lies the almost paradisiacal ideal of leisure.

Where Germans most want to travel

The new BAT study not only investigated Germans' holiday dreams. It also asked specifically about the destinations, i.e. attractive holiday destinations, to which Germans would most like to travel if they only had "enough money and time" available.

German holiday regions top the hit list of dream destinations among German citizens: The southern German holiday regions of Lake Constance, the Black Forest, the Bavarian Forest and the Odenwald are named by one in four Germans as "dream destination no.1" (23 %), closely followed by devotees of the Bavarian Alps (21 %). Spain (16 %) then follows in third place as the first foreign holiday destination. And even the holiday regions on the North Sea (14 %) have overtaken the USA (12 %) as the dream destination.

The fact that the German holiday regions are the most popular is largely due to the fact that groups of the population who otherwise rarely or never travel were able to express their travel wishes here, especially those who live alone, live in rural areas and small towns, and retirees.

One in three retired people and one in four people living alone declare the southern German holiday regions to be their favourite travel destination. One in four country dwellers is fascinated by the Bavarian Alps. And one in seven people from small towns would like to go on holiday to the North Sea.

New impetus for domestic tourism?

"If German holiday providers knew how to interpret the signals correctly," says Professor Opaschowski, "then they could look to the future with confidence: They would no longer have to cry after those who go on holiday abroad every year anyway". They could look out much more for the target groups that are already dreaming of holidays in their own country:

• 3.4 million Germans aged 14 and over would like to go on holiday to the Baltic Sea.
• Another 3.4 million dream of the Wine Route and the Eifel, Taunus, Sauerland and Weserbergland.
• 3.9 million would also like to go on holiday to the north of Germany, to the Harz Mountains, Lüneburg Heath and Schleswig-Holstein.
• 6.8 million people have chosen the North Sea as their favourite travel destination.
• 10.2 million people have chosen the Bavarian Alps as their dream destination.
• 11.1 million people are attracted to Lake Constance and the Black Forest, the Odenwald and the Bavarian Forest.

The BAT study comes to the conclusion that the German tourism market must develop new offers that are primarily geared towards target groups that have only travelled occasionally or never before. The large number of holidaymakers at home could become the future potential of domestic tourism.

Holiday season '87: More travelled than actually planned

The BAT study provides information on travel behaviour in the past holiday season. At the beginning of the 1987 travel year, 44 per cent of Germans aged 14 and over said they intended to travel for at least two weeks. However, 47 per cent, or around 23 million Germans, actually took a two-week trip. In 1987, the actual desire to travel was greater than the original intention to travel. This is particularly true for population groups that are free and independent. 55 per cent of young people aged 14 to 24 and 60 per cent of couples without children travelled for at least two weeks last year.

The general intensity of travel has risen from 44 per cent (1986) to 47 per cent (1987). However, the majority of the population still did not take a two-week trip. And as many as 38 per cent of Germans did not take a trip at all last year. Economic reasons are largely responsible for the high proportion of over 18 million non-travellers.

Holiday disappointment no.1: "I had imagined the weather would be better"

"The absence of summer and sun had a lasting effect on the travel satisfaction of German holidaymakers last season. One in three holidaymakers returned from their trip in 1987 "weather-damaged". Bad weather was the biggest holiday disappointment. 34 per cent of holidaymakers had to admit: "I had imagined the weather would be better". The year before, this figure was only 22 per cent.

Those who had the greatest expectations of good weather before their holiday are the most disappointed afterwards. This is especially true for young people. The cancelled summer nevertheless had its "sunny side": Holidaymakers suffered significantly less from changeover difficulties last season (1987: 24 % - 1986: 30 %) and the change in climate also caused them less trouble.

In 1987, one in nine holidaymakers returned home disappointed and honestly admitted: "I imagined my holiday to be different from what it really was". Singles were the most disappointed. The reality of their holiday lagged behind their expectations. This was true in a different way for young people: One in six young people were bored on holiday because there was "nothing going on" at their holiday destination.

Travel plans '88: Travel fever is on the rise

The travel intentions for 1988 point to a good travel season. German citizens are in a travelling mood. Around 23 million (47 %) are already determined to pack their holiday suitcases for at least two weeks this year. This means that people are more likely to be travelling than last year (44 %).

Couples without children make the most intensive travel plans: two thirds (67 %) of them have firm travel plans. Young adults (60 %) also have a lot planned. Not all plans will materialise, but this does little to change the overall positive basic impression.