Where Have all the Tourists Gone?

Is it the weather? Is it the strong Euro, or is it that dammed Pimpernel, No sorry I mean recession.

No one can doubt that 2009 is going to be a record low year for tourism in France, the official records already showing a 30% drop over the average for the previous 5 years. As a Gite owner I can confirm that the bookings have been well down on last year, although it does appear that the cheaper basic accommodation is holding its own.

 

If you believe the news coverage both in France and the UK a combination of the  recession and the risk of catching Swine Flue are the main reasons for people deciding to forgo their annual holiday. Whatever the reason there is no doubt that some of the businesses that are reliant on summer tourism for their survival are going to be in trouble. Many French restaurants and tourist shops only open for the tourist season and rely on the income to fund the winter closure.

 

Fortunately there are the hardy Germans who travel Europe in their Camper vans and ignore any signs of pending doom and appear to love Brittany, possibly because of the freely available roadside camping areas. These stalwarts of the camping scene appear to be impervious to the weather and are just as happy in a torrential downpour as a sun soaked beach.

 

Many of our French friends provide holiday accommodation targeted at the French, Dutch and Belgians who relish a holiday in rural Brittany. These holidaymakers spend little time in their Gite preferring to explore the countryside on their Bikes or in their canoes. This type of holiday is usually well within budget and often leaves sufficient funds for the second annual holiday; skiing in the French Alps in February.

 

Britany is one of the holiday destinations which benefits from late bookings, often a last minute decision is made to visit ‘Little Britain’ rather than risk the airport chaos.  The ferry costs are a big disincentive to the prospective Brittany tourist coupled with the extensive travel time from the UK ports. Increased charges during the summer months encourage many to drive to Brittany from the cheaper ferry crossings at Dieppe or Calais or utilise the channel tunnel, culminating in a punishing 7 – 8 hour tour down the north coast of France.

 

Whilst there is a choice of budget airlines serving Brittany they are of little value to the average English tourist due to the severe luggage restrictions which prevent you from carrying anything but the basics for a short break. To enjoy your holiday in Brittany you would then have to hire a car and it is not long before the additional costs make the choice unviable.

 

There is no doubt the best way to enjoy a holiday in Brittany is to take advantage of the cheaper ferry fares before June and after August. Accommodation is cheaper and if the last few years are anything to go by the weather is far better than the summer. The only downside is the majority of the Breton traditional Fetes and entertainment is targeted towards the traditional tourist season, but if you do your homework you will still find a lot of interesting activities off the beaten track. Of course the wonderful Breton characters and the scenery are available all year round; at no extra cost.

 

There is little doubt that the biggest disadvantage for the British tourist is the incredibly low value of the pound which in a matter of 8 months has gone from 1.46 euro per pound to 1.16 euro per pound. As an observer in France it is fascinating to see how good the UK press and politicians are at talking the country down to a point that the rest of Europe believes the UK is heading for the dark ages! The rest of Europe has been hit just as hard as the UK despite what you see in the press, companies are failing left, right and centre and the unemployment rate is at an all time high. The difference appears to be an acceptance that we have been here before and we will climb back so why depress everyone and make it worse than it is, clearly a huge cultural difference.

 

On the positive side there are still the determined Francophiles who love France and keep coming here to enjoy the change of pace, good food and of course the wine. Accommodation prices have remained fairly stable together with food and drink. A majority of the beauty of Brittany can be enjoyed at no extra cost and you can be assured of a friendly welcome by the locals.

Comments

[lavenderbongo]

The NZ tourist industry is being hit a bit hard as well - particularly the airlines as travelling to NZ is a bit more expensive than a trip to France.

[Geotacs]

i think it must be the bad state of the world economy in general...

but things are picking up although it may take awhile to reach full recovery...