Britons turn backs on French holidays

April was a good month, May was poor, June was excellent and July was normal, Didier Arino, head of the market research agency Protourisme, told Connexion.

August was also expected to be good but possibly not as good as August 2018, which was one of the best months ever, and reservations were high for September.

He said areas that depended on British visitors had suffered the most early in the season.

“Middle-class British visitors were visibly absent from campsites and rural areas such as the Dordogne and Ardèche,” said Mr Arino. “Brexit and the poor exchange rates put them off but also the weather was much better in northern Europe so they stayed at home.

“However, areas such as the Côte d’Azur saw a rise in UK visitors. Those with money are still going to the prestige areas.”

He said an increase in clients from Spain and Italy and a return of tourists from Asia, Australia and the US, who had been put off in the spring by the gilets jaunes, had compensated for the lack of British travellers.

“We are seeing more families and older people this year,” added Mr Arino. “Also, unlike last year, when a record number of French people went abroad, this year they’re holidaying here.

“They are prepared to pay for quality and the classic sun and sea is no longer enough. People want activities and are conscious of environmental concerns in their choices. Tourist businesses will have to adapt to survive.”

But for many any holiday is too much and four out of 10 French people report bypassing a trip this year due to lack of funds.

Dordogne is an area where the British are traditionally the most frequent foreign visitors.

Figures from the Dordogne tourist committee show that up to the beginning of July there was a 23% decrease in the number of UK visitors, although more French, Swiss and Spanish visitors helped make up the numbers.

Flower Campings runs 131 campsites across France and reports a 10% drop in British holiday-makers. “France is too expensive this year for many UK visitors due to the devaluation of the pound,” said Linda Aubert, Marketing Director for the company. “If they go abroad, they are going to other Mediterranean countries, which are cheaper.

“However, 80% of our clientele is French, and that has increased as more are looking for slow tourism and a return to the simpler, outdoor type of holiday we offer. July was a good month for us and the first two weeks of August are becoming the most popular period for holidays for the French.”

British chambres d’hôtes owner Liz Mackie (pictured left), from near Pézenas in Hérault, said July had been quiet and they were having to be inventive to keep up their income. “Numbers were down by a third, though things seemed to be picking up for August.

“We have had no British visitors since June 2016.

“We cannot depend solely on tourism. I teach business English online as well, and my husband does graphic design.

“This year has been the quietest yet. It is disappointing since many of us rely on our small businesses to make the income needed for legal residence required in a no-deal Brexit.”

Latest figures for June compiled for the hotel industry using statistics for 3,500 hotels are positive and show an increase of 2.6% in the number of bookings compared to the previous year.

A study from France’s tourist development agency, Atout France, found that for most types of tourism and destinations, numbers of tourists were expected to be similar to 2018, although two out of three tourist providers said Brexit has had an impact on British clientele.