One in three Germans would like to see school holidays equalised

A good third of the German population is of the opinion that the existing school holiday regulations should be changed. According to a new representative survey of 2,000 people throughout Germany conducted by the BAT Leisure Research Institute, respondents with children under the age of 14 in their household are particularly in favour of shortening the summer holidays by one week while at the same time extending the other holidays (44 %). Holiday periods that are spread more evenly throughout the year are favoured: 14 per cent would like longer Christmas holidays, 7 per cent longer Easter holidays, 12 per cent favour longer Whitsun holidays and a further 11 per cent think the current autumn holidays are too short. The current summer holiday arrangements - traditionally based on a block of two travel periods of three weeks each - no longer meet the changing mobility needs of German citizens.
"Germans want to travel more often and for shorter periods throughout the year," says Prof Dr Horst W. Opaschowski, Director of the BAT Leisure Research Institute, "also to avoid the seasonal trap, which only costs money and nerves. Because if everyone is travelling at the same time, it becomes more expensive and more stressful.
More flexible holiday arrangements could help prevent overloading in the future, as travelling times would be spread more evenly throughout the year. Congested motorways, overcrowded beaches and fully booked hotels could be avoided. Providers and tour operators would be better protected from seasonal fluctuations, especially from overcapacity in the early and late season. Not only the intensity of travel, but also the number of holiday days for all employees has doubled in the last 25 years. However, the school holiday dates have essentially remained unchanged.
Opaschowski: "The change in Germans' travel and holiday habits will make a reorganisation of holiday dates and holiday bridging days, i.e. days off in conjunction with public holidays, essential in the future."