Maud Descamps 5:25 p.m., April 3, 2022

After two years of paralysis in the sector, tourism is slowly picking up.

The booking rate is still slightly below that of 2019, but the desire is there, note travel professionals, with budgets that have changed. 

After two years of pandemic, the French are rediscovering the pleasure of traveling.

If the travel booking rate is still slightly below that of 2019, the desire to get away from it all is very present.

And, the French have readjusted their budget. 

Travelers are moving upmarket

The average basket of holidaymakers is on the rise: +10, +15% depending on the destination, sometimes much more, as observed by Guillaume Linton, who heads the Asia tour operator.

"The average basket has increased with us by almost 30%", he explains at the microphone of Europe 1. "It is mainly linked to the fact that trips are getting longer and that travelers are moving upmarket on the expected services and requested. Precisely because there have been savings for two years". 

Some new destinations emerged during the crisis: very strong increase for example for the Gulf countries: +153% compared to 2019. Countries that have been able to be attractive explains René-Mark Chkli president of the tour operator union.

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The Emirates are popular 

“The Emirates is one, a bit like the Dominican Republic, of the destinations that have done everything to welcome customers without compromising on health obligations. It was possible to do a 72-hour test rather than 48 hours or 24 hours. “, he underlines on Europe 1. “These are destinations that have managed to pull out of the game”. 

And then full board for the so-called safe destinations: such as Spain, Tunisia or the Greek islands with booking levels almost identical to those of 2019