Are the French ready to afford a vacation worthy of the name despite the uncertainties about the economic recovery after a year of health crisis? Laurent Abitbol, president of Havas voyages and Sélectour, wants to believe so. “People book wherever we can go”, he assured Wednesday, at the microphone ofEurope Evening, reporting a turnover which since May 19 represents “between 130% and 150% of that of 2019 at the same period.” Among the most popular foreign destinations: Spain, Greece, Tunisia, Italy and Croatia, our guest assures us. But for what budget?
750 euros for Italy, 1,500 euros for Reunion
For an all-inclusive week in Tunisia, a Frenchman is willing to spend around 500 euros per head, says Laurent Abitbol. This budget climbs to 700-750 euros for Greece and Italy, to 1,300 euros for the Antilles and to 1,500 euros for the island of Reunion. “The French overseas departments and territories, the West Indies and Reunion Island are doing very well. Before, we did not go too much to the West Indies in summer, there we go because the weather is good, because it is France and because it has fallen a lot “, remarks our professional. Stays are also getting longer, from an average duration of 7 days before the crisis to 12 days currently.
Stays far from France for small budgets
“The destination France still represents 50% of agency bookings”, also indicates Laurent Abitbol. Paradoxically, “small budgets go abroad more than large budgets.” Because France is expensive and travelers with modest incomes will tend to favor distant destinations which, including the plane, are often less expensive than a stay in France.
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