Buy the full study
Summary
The global travel agency and tour operator market experienced significant growth prior to 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp slowdown in 2020, with a peak decline in May 2020 of -83.81% year-on-year. Despite these challenges, opportunities for market recovery and growth are identified in the demand for personalized travel experiences, growing ecological awareness leading to a dynamic sustainable travel segment, and the over-50s population representing a key customer base.
French tour operator market: trends and consumer dynamics
The French market for tour packages, which encompass a variety of all-inclusive travel services, has seen notable growth in recent years. Demand in this sector is largely driven by the unique combination of convenience and security that these packages offer consumers. However, despite the growth, the tour-operating industry is not without its challenges. Emerging technologies and online platforms have begun to reshape the market landscape, with younger generations showing a clear preference for independent travel arrangements, favoring platforms such as Booking.com and Lastminute.com.
In response to the decline of physical agencies and the growing competition from online platforms, industry players such as general tour operators, specialists, group operators, integrated networks, online agencies and the like are all changing.in response to the decline of physical agencies and growing competition from online platforms, industry players such as general tour operators, specialists, group operators, integrated networks, online agencies and mass retailers are blurring the boundaries between tour operators and travel agencies, moving towards more direct sales models and personalized offers.
In addition, the COVID-19 crisis posed a major threat to the market, leading to a sharp drop in sales. However, even with these challenges, the market is proving resilient, with the success of tailor-made travel and the rise in ecological awareness driving the sustainable travel segment.
Another promising prospect is the growing target demographic of individuals over 50, who present strong potential for the tour-operating market. Consumption patterns within the French tour-operating market reveal that individual customers account for a significant share, generating nearly 63.8% of sales, followed by companies and public authorities, which hold 31.4% and 4.8% of the market respectively. Moreover, demand seems to be driven by French customers, who contributed 90.5% of sales.
In particular, the tour-operating market shows a tendency towards seasonality. Attendance generally peaks in August, followed by a gradual slowdown until November, before an irregular recovery to August levels. Long-haul trips tend to be more frequent in winter, accounting for over 34.5% of all planned trips, while shorter trips dominate the summer months.
In terms of consumer perception, although a significant number of French people (68%) choose to organize their own trips abroad, travel agencies retain a competitive edge thanks to their value-added services. Some 59% of French consumers consider the after-sales service offered by travel agencies to be a significant advantage. The French also appreciate the time savings and personalization offered by booking through an agency.
Overall, the French tour operator market remains strong, underpinned by the value it offers consumers in terms of convenience, security and adaptability.
The main operators shaping the tour-operating landscape
The dynamic tour operator sector comprises a diverse range of companies, each with its own strategic niche and customer value proposition. Below, we present a selection of leading players who have influenced the dynamics of the tour-operating market.
- Kuoni: Originally a Swiss tour operator, Kuoni has established itself as a brand of quality and innovation in the travel industry. Kuoni's range of tailor-made luxury vacations, safaris and cruises are aimed at those seeking a high-end, bespoke travel experience.
- Salaün Holidays: Salaün Holidays is a renowned name in national and international travel. It offers a wide selection of tours that promise scenic landscapes and cultural immersion. Known for its comfortable coach tours, Salaün invites travelers to explore far-flung destinations, promising quality and reliability.
- Geotravel: As a specialist tour operator, Geotravel takes adventure to the next level. It draws on in-depth expertise to design expeditions and explorations that traverse places off the beaten track, attracting enthusiasts eager to discover the natural world in an intimate and authentic way.
- CE Evasion: Group operator known for its services to works councils and community groups, CE Evasion tailors trips to the specific needs and interests of collective entities, creating memorable group travel experiences with added benefits.
- Havas Voyages: A fusion of traditional and modern travel agency approaches, Havas Voyages offers both physical agency services and online booking options. It is renowned for its personalized service and the breadth of its travel offering for holidaymakers.
- Selectour Afat and TUI: These integrated network players combine the reach of their franchise with the convenience of online services. Selectour Afat's collaborative network of agencies and TUI's extensive international presence have made them influential figures in the tour and travel ecosystem.
- Lastminute.com: A digital pioneer, Lastminute.com caters to travelers with spontaneous plans, handling late bookings and offering a wide range of travel and leisure options. The platform's dynamic packages are geared to budget-conscious travelers with an appetite for experiences.
- Carrefour Voyages: Drawing on its experience in the retail sector, Carrefour Voyages has entered the travel market with competitive package deals and travel services. It has built on its extensive customer base, positioning itself as a convenient option for coordinating vacation plans while purchasing basic necessities.
- Voyageurs du Monde: A specialist in customized travel, Voyageurs du Monde stands out for its commitment to offering personalized, sustainable travel experiences.
to understand this market
Detailed content
Inforamtion
- Number of pages : 30 pages
- Format : Digital and PDF versions
- Last update : 26/11/2021
Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and scope of the study
The tour package (or tourist package) means all the services offered by tour operators (or tour operators) when selling trips lasting more than 24 hours. According to European regulations, a tour package is a journey of more than 24 hours sold on a all-inclusive package and covering at least two benefits among the services of transport, accommodation, excursions, meals and other activities.
The tour operator market is composed of two main types of players:
- tour operators (or tour-operators) who organise tourist stays in the form of "packages" by bringing together the services of several suppliers (airlines, hotels, restaurants, leisure providers, etc.)
- the travel agencies that market them.
However, the distinction between these two players is becoming increasingly blurred: some travel agencies are developing their offers themselves, while some tour operators are taking advantage of the development of e-tourism and selling their products directly to the end customer.
The players in the sector include general tour operators (Kuoni, Salaün Holidays), specialists and group operators (Geotravel, CE Evasion), as well as integrated, franchised or voluntary networks (Havas Voyages, Selectour Afat, TUI), independents, online agencies (Lastmminute.com) and mass retailers (Carrefour Voyages).
Traditionally carried by tour operators and travel agencies in physics, the industry has been shaken by the emergence of digital players bringing together all the offers on a single platform, as in the case of Booking . com or Lastminute . com in France. Another disruptive factor on the market has been the rise of private sales platforms and discount sales offering special promotional offers to the most responsive customer visitors.
The european market of tour operators and travel agencies was worth 167.4 billion euros in 2016, a figure that is growing strongly. The growth in the European market is mainly due to the dynamism of the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain in the tour operator market. On a global scale, the market is also growing strongly, driven by the economic growth of emerging countries and the growing importance of leisure and tourism in people's habits.
The french market of tour operators and travel agencies grew by 12% in 5 years, between 2014 and 2019. This growth can be explained by the simplicity and convenience offered by tour operators and travel agencies, as well as the comfort and security offered by intermediaries.
However, this growth is threatened by a number of issues, the main ones being the preference of the younger generations for the personal travel arrangements and competition from booking platforms online . In addition to this, external factors, in particular the crisis related to the Covid-19 which caused the market turnover to fall, peaking in May 2020 ( - 83.81% between May 2019 and May 2020).
However, growth drivers are emerging, in particular the success of tailor-made travel and the growing demand for more personalized travel, the ecological awareness and dynamism of the sustainable travel segment, and the targeting of the over-50s, whose share is set to increase sharply in the coming years and who represent a strong customer potential for the organized travel market.
List of charts
- Turnover of travel agencies and tour operators
- Chiffre d'affaires des activités des agences de voyage et voyagistes (code 79.1)
- Profil des clients des agences de voyage et voyagistes
- Répartition des clients des agences de voyage et voyagistes par localisation
- Répartition du chiffre d'affaires issu des voyages à forfait par zone géographique
All our studies are available online in PDF format
Take a look at an example of our research on another market!
Latest news
Carrefour Voyages in peril - 07/02/2023
Companies quoted in this study
This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :
Choosing this study means :
Access to more than 35 hours of work
Our studies are the result of over 35 hours of research and analysis. Using our studies allows you to devote more time and added value to your projects.
Benefit from 6 years' experience and over 1,500 industry reports already produced
Our expertise enables us to produce comprehensive studies in all sectors, including niche and emerging markets.
Our know-how and methodology enable us to produce reports that offer unique value for money.
Access to several thousand articles and paid-for data
Businesscoot has access to all the paid economic press as well as exclusive databases to carry out its market research (over 30,000 articles and private sources).
To enhance our research, our analysts also use web indicators (semrush, trends, etc.) to identify market trends and company strategies. (Consult our paying sources)
Guaranteed support after your purchase
A team dedicated to after-sales service, to guarantee you a high level of satisfaction. +44 238 097 0676
A digital format designed for our users
Not only do you have access to a PDF, but also to a digital version designed for our customers. This version gives you access to sources, data in Excel format and graphics. The content of the study can therefore be easily retrieved and adapted for your specific needs.
Our offers :
the tour package market | France
- What are the figures on the size and growth of the market?
- What is driving the growth of the market and its evolution?
- What is the positioning of companies in the value chain?
- Data from several dozen databases
Pack 5 études (-15%) France
- 5 études au prix de 75,6€HT par étude à choisir parmi nos 800 titres sur le catalogue France pendant 12 mois
- Conservez -15% sur les études supplémentaires achetées
- Choisissez le remboursement des crédits non consommés au terme des 12 mois (durée du pack)
Consultez les conditions du pack et de remboursement des crédits non consommés.
Our customer references
They have consulted our studies
Discover the opinions (+500)
Malcolm Vincent
Astoria Finance
Gregoire de Castelnau
Stags Participations
Timothé Huignard
PWC
Paul-Alexis Kebabtchieff
BCG
Aymeric Granet
Publicis Consultant
interviews & case studies
All interviews and case studies (45)
