Birdwatching is a popular activity in Europe. Many enthusiastic and casual birders travel abroad to see birds, and the United Kingdom (UK) is the top market. Iconic species and endemics are a valuable tourism asset for many countries. This offers good opportunities for local birdwatching tour operators in areas of high bird diversity. Sustainability in birdwatching is essential for the long-term conservation and preservation of birds and their habitats.

Wildlife tourism is popular with Europeans. Visiting wildlife attractions or going on safari is often a highlight of a broader adventure trip. Africa is one of the world’s leading destinations for safaris. It is home to many iconic species. We are also seeing growth in wildlife tourism in Asia and Latin America. 

As consumers spend more time at home, they look for comfortable clothing items that can be worn around the house. Nevertheless, the European market for homewear (bathrobes and sleepwear) fell back to 2016 levels in 2020. Europe sources most of its homewear imports directly from developing countries. The mid-end and high-end market segments offer you the best opportunities. To supply these segments, you need to focus on design and quality. Using sustainable materials and the ability to co-create with your buyer can give you a competitive edge.

Easy chairs play a key role in the ‘home sweet home’ trend, where consumers retreat into the comfort and cosiness of their home. While the COVID-19 pandemic hurt international trade, lockdowns further boosted this trend. As a result, the negative impact of the pandemic on European imports of seats has been limited. The share of developing counties in the direct import market has remained fairly stable at around 40%. This makes Europe an interesting market for you, particularly the mid-end to high-end segments.

European imports of decorative objects have grown considerably in recent years. With most imports coming directly from developing countries, Europe is an interesting market for you — especially the middle to high-end segments. To target these segments, you should pay particular attention to design, artisanry and the story behind your products. Elements such as functionality, humour, collectability and cultural touches can add value to your decorative objects. Sustainability is also becoming increasingly important.

This report shows the most important European trends in the food and non-food industry for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. From interviews with experts, it is clear that COVID-19 increased the need for professionalism in developing countries. Buyers now select products in a different way. And the requirements they have for suppliers are much higher than before. To meet the new standards, suppliers in developing countries need to increase quality in many areas of their business. Collaborating with partners is very important.

This report shows the most important European trends in the Home Decoration and Home Textile (HDHT) for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. From interviews with experts, it is clear that COVID-19 increased the need for professionalism in developing countries. Buyers now select products in a different way. And the requirements they have for suppliers are much higher than before. To meet the new standards, suppliers in developing countries need to increase quality in many areas of their business. Collaborating with partners is very important.