Tour operators don’t expect France to grow this year
Speaking at the XXI Annual Conference of the Ambassadors ofFrance at the Elysee Palace at the end of August, President Francois Hollande brought up the tourism issue. In his opinion, this sector of economy should be elevated to the status of public affairs, which includes the optimization of the airport reception, improving safety and logistics, along with financing. ‘France is a major tourist destination in the world. Our goal is to make the tourist balance the highest in Europe,’ – he stressed.
Over the year 2012, France received 82 million foreign tourists, which is the highest rate among the world tourist destinations. Last year the revenue from the inbound tourism increased from 39 billion to 42 billion euro. The share of tourism in GDP is 7%, the sector provides more than a million jobs.
There are slightly 1% of our compatriots in the total tourist flow to France. As reported the Russian office of the National Tourism Development Agency Atout France, more than 840 thousand Russians visited the country in 2012. The hotel statistics recorded 2.2 million overnight stays; an average length of a stay was 2.7 days. Mostly our tourists visit such regions as Ile de France, or Paris region, Cote d'Azur, Rhone Alps and the Centre Loire Valley.
Tour operators, interviewed by RATA-news, doubt that in 2013 France will be able to surpass the results of the previous season. According to the Head of the profile Department of the BSI Group Natalya Brodskaya, summer sales ended with a minus sign, the difference with 2012 was approximately 20%. The reason was the notorious last minute offers and therefore dumping of the main European resorts, which has influenced many areas. In July tours to Paris were sold by one third cheaper than its market value, which, however, according to Mrs. Brody, did not become a catalyst for the demand. ‘Perhaps the fall-winter season will be kind of indemnity. Tours are sold quite actively’, explained the companion. In particular, the demand for the French capital and Disneyland grew for the November holidays that coincide with school holidays.
But the Christmas excursions are almost sold. ‘Last year’s
tendency, when the main flow is concentrated on New Year dates, remains. This
year, the majority of arrivals are for the period from December 26 to January
‘Our summer collection mostly consists of South regions of France - Cote d'Azur and Provence. By the end of the season its sales remained at last year's level, which is explained by the short amount of air carriages,’ said Director of Tourism of Herzog Company Svetlana Yermolayeva. She recalled that some hope this season tour operators pinned on the new flight Moscow - Nice of the French airline Aigle Azur, but in the height of the season the carrier canceled the flights.
Experts have optimistic forecasts for the coming winter. ‘This year first ski tours were booked very early – in April, and the main sales started in July. Today the demand is 30% ahead of the one of the last year’, explained Mrs. Yermolayeva. However, it might be that the increase appeared after the Ascent Travel Company withdrawal from the market as its position on the ski France was strong enough.