Europe has over 1.5 million timeshare owners and according to Christel DeHaan Tourism and the Travel Research Institute of Nottingham University Business School 87 percent of these owners are happy with their holiday properties.

The research was conducted on behalf of the Resort Development Organisation (RDO). The study examined the industry in detail, with in-depth analysis of its economic impact, owners’ thoughts about their timeshare, and what the industry’s reach would be. 

The results indicate that the industry is thriving, making it a positive force in European economies. The timeshare industry generates €3.2 billion of expenditure each year and employs nearly 70,000 people. Occupancy rates are high throughout the year at 72 percent.

“Timeshare is a concept that has truly come of age with many thousands of happy owners across Europe,” said Richard McIntosh, Chairman of RDO. “The quality of timeshare resorts is high which is why many owners see it as superior to other self catering holidays. With exchange options available, owners also enjoy the flexibility of being able to try out resorts across Europe and the rest of the world.”

McIntosh concluded, “This report also highlights the positive impact that timeshare has on local economies. Timeshare is a year round industry with owners as likely to visit in the winter months as the summer, spending money in the local community and providing jobs where they otherwise might not exist.”