The “revenge travel” is the trend this summer. The French, more or less deprived of trips abroad in 2020 and 2021 due to the health crisis, took “revenge” this year. They have never traveled so much.
The SNCF thus announces a record summer (28 million tickets sold), the air has returned to 80% of its normal levels while the specialists in combined stays (plane + hotel) are rubbing their hands.
According to the Seto summer report (tour operators union representing 30 tour operators), air + hotel stays have skyrocketed 109% in one year in value, to 1,737 million euros. Specifically, 1.37 million customers have opted for this type of stay (+97.3% compared to 2021).
Canary Islands overtakes Morocco
If we consider a base of 100 for 2019, last summer it rose to 82 in number of clients and 91 in billing. A virtual return to normal.
What are the most popular destinations? The union also observes here a certain return to normality with, at the top of the ranking, the traditionally most popular countries for package trips.
Spain thus ranks first with 289,175 customers, followed by Greece (279,267) and Tunisia, which has suffered especially during the pandemic. The country attracted 131,754 French clients. This is six times more than in 2021, however, a return to normality has not yet been achieved for this country that usually ranks first in the Seto ranking.
It is followed by Italy, France and Morocco with 103,472, 86,192 and 76,267 parcel customers, respectively. The kingdom of Cherifian has seen a jump of 388% in a year, but remains far from its usual levels. It is even surpassed by the Canary Islands that have welcomed more than 100,000 French. These Spanish islands have often replaced Morocco among French tourists.
In this top 10, the only long distance destination is the Dominican Republic with 30,244 clients.
Return in force of distant stays
If we look at the specific destinations within the countries of this Top 10, it is the Greek islands that take the prize with 161,583 customers (+47% in one year) ahead of the Balearic Islands (Spain) which doubles its attendance in one year . : 141,000 customers.
Next comes mainland Greece (+84% to 117,000) and the Canary Islands (+60% to 100,000).
Another example of this “revenge trip”, the spectacular rebound in long-distance packages, trips almost impossible last year due to restrictions.
The Dominican Republic, the big winner from the epidemic, is far ahead with a 108% jump to 30,224 travelers ahead of the United States, which shows a 968% increase to 19,000 customers.
It is followed by Mauritius (+442% to 18,246 clients), the French West Indies (12,000 clients), Mexico, Tanzania, Canada, Seychelles, Indonesia and Cuba, which attracted 3,678 package clients.
Source: BFM TV
