Eurail Passenger Growth Positive, Setting New Record
UTRECHT, April 3 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
Eurail One-Country Passes Prove to be a Great Success
The Eurail Group, owner of the popular Eurail Pass for European rail travel, has announced a 5%
increase in passenger numbers for 2007, notwithstanding forecasts of a lukewarm year for the
travel industry. Passenger numbers exceeded 468,000 for the year, setting a new record since
sales began nearly fifty years ago.
Changing travel behavior has impacted Eurail's sales. Overseas visitors are becoming more
sophisticated, and their desire to visit as much of Europe as possible has been replaced by a wish
to explore just one or two selected destinations. Eurail has been very active in adapting its product
range to meet these customers' expectations, resulting in booming sales of one- and two-country
passes. With the addition of the very popular Eurail Italy Pass in 2007, sales of single country
passes have sky-rocketed by nearly 500% and now account for 16% of all Eurail's sales (compared
to a mere 3% in 2006).
This shift in buying behavior and the subsequent adaptation of the Eurail Group's sales strategy
has kept revenues stable at 119 million euros. Nevertheless, Eurail's classic products, the Eurail
Global Pass (covering 20 countries) and the Eurail Select Pass (valid in any three, four or five
adjoining countries) continue to remain popular, accounting for 62% of Eurail's sales.
While continued growth is anticipated, the Eurail Group remains cautious. Today's global travel
and tourism market faces many challenges including the economic downturn in the United States,
Eurail's key market with over 50% of the market share. This, coupled with the depreciating dollar
and the fact that the US is in an election year, means that more modest passenger growth, of
around 3%, is expected for 2008.
In order to ensure that its products continue to remain attractive and available to customers
worldwide, the Eurail Group is making efforts to further expand its product range and widen its
distribution network. This year has seen the addition of seven brand new pass offerings and two
new countries added to the Eurail Global Pass, as well as the introduction of sales via a new global
sales agent, STA Travel.
The Eurail Group offers a wide range of passes from single country options to the classic Eurail
Global Pass, valid in 20 countries. For more information about the Eurail Group, go to
For More Information:
SOURCE: Eurail Group G.I.E.
CONTACT: Ana Dias e Seixas of Eurail Group G.I.E.,
+31-(0)-30-8500-125, or
a.diaseseixas@eurail.nl
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