If inflation affects all the components of travel -train and plane tickets, gasoline, tolls, food…-, the French have no intention of questioning their summer holidays, even if it means making sacrifices in other areas such as go out or clothes
Consumers have also activated other levers to reduce the bill, such as making their reservations in advance or even choosing the destination, with a significant increase being observed in the North or Brittany (regions also less prone to extreme heat).
And in an effort to control their budget during their holidays, many French people have opted this year for “all-inclusive” stays for their holidays abroad, just to access less expensive transport and avoid being overwhelmed by the daily expenses related to the meals, for example.
Nearly one in two sales at Promovacances/Fram
At Promovacances/Fram, this “already very popular” formula has registered a growth of +8% this year”, can be read in a press release. In the tour operator, these all-inclusive packages represent 40 to 50% of sales For this summer.
“This formula is highly acclaimed by families who seek to better control their vacation budget while enjoying the time they spend together,” says the tour operator.
The same trend in Lidl Voyages, which tells us that sales of “all-inclusive” stays have increased by 10% in one year and that they represent 66% of the stays booked on its platform.
At Lidl, the average basket reaches 2,900 euros for a family (800 euros per person at Promovacances).
Too expensive, the far “all inclusive” attracts less
But what is valid in France is not necessarily valid abroad. Lidl Voyages thus confirms the disappearance of distant destinations from its list of summer sales. The Dominican Republic, world specialist in “all inclusive”, thus fell 70% in reserves.
This is confirmed by Promovacances/Fram. “The Mediterranean basin continues to be the star destination, but faraway destinations such as Asia or the Caribbean, traditionally in demand for ‘all-inclusive’, attract much less. These stays are expensive due to the air component, whose prices have skyrocketed”, explains Alain de Mendonca.
The French aim for 4 or 5 star hotels
On the contrary, if the vacation spot is nearby, the category of the chosen hotel is still high. “Clearly we stay at 4 or 5 stars, the French want to have fun, there are no sacrifices at this level. We are even seeing more sales in these higher categories”, continues the CEO of Fram.
Another novelty this year is the success of the circuits. Reservations for this type of travel increased by 23% at Promovacances/Fram. “It is 20% of our sales for this summer, specifies Alain de Mendonça. There is a real drive, people are thirsty for adventure and discovery, especially after the covid period”.
Source: BFM TV
