Tourism: a summer of sunshine and budget management

"We have a very contrasting situation" depending on the region, Didier Arino, head of the Protourisme consultancy, explained to AFP, "with a drop in bookings in destinations that are not sunny, that is to say Brittany, Normandy, the North, and of course the Mediterranean basin," he explained.

"Bookings are average for the summer. It's been two years since the summer weather in Brittany was great, and we're suffering a bit from that," Gaëlle, manager of the Le Balcon de la Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel campsite in Ille-et-Vilaine, confirmed to AFP.

"Last year, the weather was catastrophic, so people (...) don't want to come back," confirms Yves Jehanno, director of Gîtes de France in Morbihan. Even though he argues, "in Brittany, we don't come for the heat, we come for the culture, the landscapes."

"We broadcast the weather forecast on Sunday evenings. If they predict sunshine, it has a huge impact on bookings for the week," notes Alan, director of Logis Hôtel Saint-Guirec et de la Plage in Ploumanac'h (Côtes-d'Armor), who, optimistically, nevertheless anticipates "an increase (in bookings) for this year."

According to a ranking established by the vacation rental site Abritel, the most popular destinations for French vacationers are Var, South Corsica, Charente-Maritime, Gironde, and Landes.

"The season will depend on last-minute bookings, which depend on the weather, but also on promotional offers," according to Didier Arino, who points out that in France, "accommodation prices have increased by 27% in four years."

"We're seeing a lot of anxiety and tension regarding purchasing power, emergency savings, and the French people's holiday budget... things that are, let's not say in the red, but at least amber," Vanguelis Panayotis, managing director of MKG Consulting, told AFP.

More affordable rates

"The French will leave, but perhaps for a shorter period and will be much more cautious about spending on related activities," he adds.

According to an OpinionWay survey for the travel comparison site Liligo, 61% of French people plan to travel this summer (+1 point compared to 2024) despite an average budget falling for the first time in five years (minus 74 euros per person).

Marion, 29, Adèle, and Marine, 28, three friends we met at the Gare du Nord in Paris, are going to Mallorca this year. "We wanted some sun, and it's cheap," explains Marion. "And it's not too far," adds Adèle.

In France, "those most affected by this drop in spending will be restaurateurs, retailers and paid activities," estimates Didier Arino, who, like Vanguelis Panayotis, notes an increase in "all-inclusive" packages where the budget is more controlled.

In the Morbihan gîtes, Yves Jehanno notes that stays of seven nights are decreasing (51% compared to 53.8% in 2024) while stays of 2 to 6 nights are increasing (23.6% compared to 21%).

The strongest increases in searches for vacation rentals are in departments located a few hours from Paris such as Oise (+150%), Eure, Loiret, Vienne, Allier (+30% on average), according to Abritel, which notes the "same phenomenon near Lyon" with searches rising sharply in Loire, Ain and Allier (+80% on average).

"These rural destinations offer rentals at rates that are often much more affordable than those on the coast," 20 to 30% lower, according to Abritel.

Tourism professionals will also be able to count on foreign visitors. "All areas that depend on foreign customers, and particularly those with high purchasing power, will do well, such as the vineyards, Nice, and Cannes," analyzes Didier Arino.

Destinations like Cannes and Saint Tropez will "probably do as well as last year, which was a near-historic year," according to Vanguelis Panayotis, with an "Olympic Games effect on Paris that is working rather well."

In 2024, France remained the world's leading destination, with 100 million foreign visitors according to the government, ahead of Spain.

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