The outdoor tourism sector in France is preparing to close the 2023 summer season with an optimistic forecast. According to Nicolas Dayot, president of the National Federation of Open Air Hotels (FNHPA), attendances are expected to be slightly higher than in 2022, despite some challenges related to weather and regional disparities.
The tourist trend varies considerably from region to region. In July and August, severe weather negatively impacted bookings in the northern half of the country, mostly due to Storm Patricia. However, in the South, the accumulated backlog has narrowed, with New Aquitaine overtaking the previous year. The most significant growth areas include the Vendée, New Aquitaine and Normandy, while the PACA regions, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and the Pyrenean part of Occitania are underperforming compared to 2022.
One interesting trend is the change in visitor types. French overnight stays are down about 2% on the previous year, a phenomenon that Nicolas Dayot attributes to tensions over purchasing power and an increase in holiday departures among low- and middle-income families.
According to a survey by OpinionWay for Atout France, only 16% of French people who had planned a summer holiday chose the camping formula, making it the third most popular accommodation option after seasonal rentals and accommodation with friends and family. This result is surpassed only by seasonal rentals (24%) and accommodation with friends and family (24%), while the hotel represents 14%.
A key element that is positively influencing the sector is the return of foreigners, especially the Dutch, Germans, Belgians and British, who traditionally prefer camping as a form of accommodation. This increase in foreign overnights is expected to help the French outdoor accommodation sector surpass the number of overnight stays in 2022, according to the FNHPA.
Bare pitches are experiencing a period of prosperity, at the expense of mobile homes and other chalets. This success is attributable to the return of foreigners, who traditionally prefer this type of accommodation, and to the desire for economy among the French.
However, it is important to note that campsites increased their prices in 2023 by 5% and 6% compared to the previous year. An excessive increase in prices can lead to a decrease in attendance, as Nicolas Dayot points out. Customer spending remains a sticking point, which will result in lower revenue than in 2022. In a context of broad-based inflation, vacationers appear to be more cautious in their spending on destinations, including restaurants and activities.
Despite the challenges and regional disparities, outdoor tourism in France seems to be able to overcome the difficulties thanks to the return of foreigners and the adaptation of facilities to the needs of visitors. It remains to be seen how this summer season will develop and how the sector will adapt to changing economic and climatic conditions.
© Riproduzione Riservata
