This yr, 31.3 million French individuals plan to go on vacation in July and August, 200,000 fewer than in 2023. Moreover, 1.3 million extra French vacationers have determined to not pay for lodging this summer season.
In 2024, solely 24.1 million French individuals will go for paid lodging (tenting, lodge, furnished rental, or vacation village), accounting for 36% of the inhabitants and 74% of summer season holidaymakers. This decreased from 25.4 million the earlier yr (38% of the inhabitants and 75% of holidaymakers).
Most individuals giving up paid lodging reside in rural areas, cities on the outskirts of huge cities, and small cities. Nevertheless, the departure charge of residents of metropolitan areas stays regular, with some areas reminiscent of Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nantes, Rennes, and Strasbourg even experiencing a rise, showcasing their resilience within the face of fixing journey developments.
The hole in departure charges between residents of huge cities and small cities has elevated to 10 factors this yr in comparison with 7 factors final yr (52% in comparison with 42% in 2024, in comparison with 51% and 44% in 2023).
10 Million French Vacationers Will Go Overseas
If fewer French individuals go on vacation in France, a further 500,000 will select to go overseas for his or her summer season holidays, a big shift in journey patterns that’s certain to intrigue the journey trade.
Ten million French individuals will resolve to go on holidays overseas, significantly favoring Mediterranean locations reminiscent of Spain, Italy, Greece, and the Maghreb. There may be additionally a rise in journeys to the European neighbors and Asia, a development certain to excite the journey trade. Whereas 40% of holidaymakers from the Paris area are planning to trip overseas this summer season (an increase of 5 factors in comparison with 2023), and 36% of residents of huge city areas (a rise of 4 factors), simply over 20% of residents of medium-sized and small cities (a lower of three factors) are contemplating touring past the French borders.
Buying Energy Disaster
The common finances for industrial lodging is €2,262, with important variations primarily based on vacation spot. The finances will increase by 6% for these vacationing overseas to achieve €3,730 per family (which is €215 greater than in 2023). Nevertheless, the typical finances for these staying in France is €1,725, a lower of seven% (i.e., €140 lower than in 2023), reflecting the impression of the buying energy disaster on journey budgets.
34% of French vacationers report a decreased trip finances, whereas solely 10% report an elevated finances. In the meantime, 56% of vacationers say they spend a finances much like the earlier yr for his or her summer season holidays. Two-thirds of holidaymakers have made compromises with their common bills to go on vacation, together with lowering the finances for eating places and procuring, and, for 50% of them, on paid leisure or cultural actions.
Among the many 34% of French holidaymakers with a decreased finances, the changes embody going away much less typically (46%), lowering spending on eating places (40%), going away for shorter intervals (36%), selecting nearer locations (33%) and ready for promotions and good offers (23%). Moreover, 22% of households happening vacation this summer season are spending lower than €1,000, 30% between €1,000 and €2,000, 20% between €2,000 and €3,000, and 28% greater than €3,000.
It ought to be famous that just about 1/4 of French nonetheless haven’t booked their summer season vacation, primarily whereas ready for promotions one month earlier than departure. This development of ready for last-minute promotions is especially prevalent this yr, probably as a result of unsure journey situations attributable to the pandemic. Suppose August is nearly as in style as final yr, with 22.6 million departures (23 million in 2023). In that case, July reveals a pointy drop with 1.8 million fewer departures, or 17.2 million departures (in comparison with 18.8 final yr).