Maud Descamps, edited by Manon Fossat 11:25 am, January 08, 2022
While France is going through a 5th epidemic wave, the French are determined to no longer let the virus punctuate their holidays.
Even if we do not find the occupancy rates before the Covid, between Christmas and February the ski resorts are almost full.
Enough to make tourism professionals optimistic.
Pandemic or not, one thing is certain: the French want a vacation in the mountains.
Between the Christmas and February holidays, the stations are almost full.
According to the Minister Delegate in charge of Tourism and SMEs, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, "the Christmas holidays have generally worked well".
Even if we do not find the occupancy rates before the Covid-19, the figures are indeed rather good with 74% occupancy rate for mountain resorts against 84% in 2019. A good dynamic that confirms the president of the French Tourist Offices.
The absence of foreign customers, such as the British, was well compensated by French tourists.
>> Find Europe morning weekend - 6-8 in podcast and replay here
74% occupancy rate for mountain resorts
The Covid no longer curbs the desire for the great outdoors, notes Eric Brèche, president of the National Union of French Ski Instructors.
"Reservations are pretty good, even very good in some places for February and the four week winter vacation," he confirms.
READ ALSO
- Ski resorts: the shortage of seasonal workers worries
The same goes for clubs, hotels and private rentals.
For example, the Maeva group posted a 13% increase in its business volume over the Christmas holidays.
And one trend, in particular, is growing: last minute reservations, observes Nicolas Baurain, general manager of the group.
"We feel that the last minute is back as a fundamental trend. Today, holidaymakers want to be reassured and know that in the event of containment or closure of the stations they will be reimbursed," he explains.
The last wish of the professionals is to see a return of foreign tourists before the end of the season.