Going on vacation, a “vital necessity” for a good half of the French. This is the result of an Opodo survey published this week on the occasion of the tourism fair that opens its doors this Thursday in Paris.
“This is the key to the resilience of the sector, comments Guy Raffour, author of the study. Leisure stays accompany their thoughts throughout the year, give them energy, bring them the promise of disconnecting from everyday life, to strengthen their ties with their loved ones”.
Therefore, it is not about doing without it, even if it means sacrificing other expenses or taking care of your day-to-day life a little more. Because 70% of those who go on vacation have a dedicated budget. Nor is it a matter of getting into debt for two weeks in the sun.
Fairly high purchasing power
The February holidays demonstrated this, with a reservation rate 11.5% higher than that of February 2022 according to the Ministry of Tourism. Skiers were there despite poor snow conditions and high prices at the resorts.
Like in Val Thorens. At 72 euros a day of skiing, the price of the package rises 9% compared to last year in this season. The same observation in Isère, in 7Laux, where prices have increased by 6% due to the increase in the cost of energy and wages. This did not deter fans of the slide.
“Winter holidays are booked well in advance, there has not been a massive movement of cancellations,” explains Jean-Pierre Mas, president of the travel companies.
French or international clients who go to the mountains in winter are quite privileged and may face higher costs. And if skiing is too expensive, head to the sea, which is not usually a key destination during the February holidays. But that’s been changing for two or three years, observes Maeva’s residency group. The Atlantic coast or Brittany, for example, experienced increases in Revpar (revenue per available room, a key indicator in the hotel industry) of more than 20% according to figures from MKG Consulting.
Reservations on the rise for the Easter holidays
The forecasts are just as optimistic as reservations increase by 7% compared to 2022 for the Easter holidays according to the Ministry of Tourism.
The frustration generated by periods of confinement gives rise to the phenomenon of “Revenge Trips”. This need to escape as if to make up for lost time. “Our visitors are typically followers of revenge trips,” acknowledges the director of the Comeexposium tourism department in an interview with Tourmag. They have a real appetite for travel and are beginning to anticipate it. The fear of a confinement due to the pandemic is over.
Tour operators are already starting to book for the end of the year or 2024. Professionals rub their hands. The recovery is really there, and not just in France. According to the UNWTO, global tourism is on track to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year.
Source: BFM TV
