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Summary of our market study
The French vacation village market is estimated at €1 billion
Since 2020, the French vacation village market has been suffering the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a severe impact on the sector, resulting in an 83.7% drop in April 2020 sales compared with 2019. It has recovered strongly since the end of the crisis. The market is once again experiencing strong demand from French and international customers, with a generally older, family-oriented clientele.
Private players are fuelling market growth by investing in more environmentally-friendly types of accommodation that blend into the landscape. The market seems to have reached maturity and is highly competitive, prompting a focus on differentiating offerings, notably through online platforms.
The global hotel market, of which French vacation villages are a segment, has rebounded to $4,502.83 billion by 2022 at a CAGR of 13.9%, and is expected to reach $6,000.51 billion by 2026 at a CAGR of 7.4%.
However, the French short-stay tourist accommodation sector recorded a 30.5% decline in 2021, despite an 11.6% increase on 2020.
Emerging trends in the French vacation village market
In France, the vacation village market presents a diverse landscape that caters to both domestic and international travelers looking for packaged vacation experiences.
The data show that demand in this market comes mainly from families and older clientele. These vacation village regulars, who account for almost half of the market's clientele, are known for their loyalty to certain destinations and chains.
The French vacation village market is divided between commercial companies and social tourism associations.
However, the resilience of the market is remarkable, with private players stimulating growth and investing in more sustainable and integrated types of accommodation.
Despite strong competition, differentiation has become essential, with a focus on offers aimed at an older clientele with moderate to comfortable incomes, translating into vacation budgets of between 500 and 3,000 euros.
Statistically, the market indicates that holidaymakers make around three tourist stays a year, favoring services such as guesthouses and self-catering accommodation.
Among the activities chosen during stays, walking, relaxation and resting activities top the list, indicating a preference for quiet, picturesque locations. In terms of seasonality, interest in vacation villages peaks during the summer months, particularly between June and August.
A look at a market leader such as Pierre et Vacances - Center Parcs offers a view of broader market trends. With sales in excess of one billion euros, the group reveals that a significant proportion of its revenue - almost two-thirds - comes from accommodation, with a considerable fraction of its clientele originating from European countries such as the UK and Spain, in addition to a strong French base.
The classification of vacation villages ranges from one to five stars, corresponding to the level of luxury offered by each establishment.
The pillars of French vacation villages.
- Club Med is synonymous with upscale all-inclusive resorts, a pioneer in the field, specializing in high-end vacation experiences and present worldwide.
- Pierre & Vacances has forged a strong market position thanks to a diversified portfolio that includes both upscale and family-friendly offerings.
- BelambraClubs focus on local experiences, offering holidaymakers the chance to immerse themselves in the region's natural and cultural environment.
- Center Parcs stands out for its concept of bringing the outdoors indoors. Their villages offer a unique blend of nature-based activities and modern comforts for families and groups looking to reconnect with nature.
- Villages Clubs du Soleil are riding the wave of social tourism, aiming to make vacations more accessible.
- Azureva offers vacations that capture the essence of France's regions. From mountain retreats to seaside getaways.
- VVF Villages (Village Vacances France) and Ternélia represent the social segment of the market, often emphasizing the community aspect of vacations. Both companies manage a network of villages that aim to offer enriching experiences while contributing positively to local communities and economies.
- Cap France completes the list as a network of independently managed villages catering to a variety of tastes and budgets. They focus on authentic vacations in France.
- UNAT represents over 1,500 establishments, hundreds of associations of all sizes spread across the country, and thousands of employees and volunteers who share the desire to offer quality tourism and vacations that are accessible to all.
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and scope of study
A vacation village is a tourist establishment that welcomes families, couples, groups of friends or professionals for stays of varying lengths. Located in popular destinations, villages offer a complete experience where every detail is taken care of. Guests are welcomed in the form of a package (accommodation, catering or individual meal preparation facilities, leisure activities).
Vacation villages are characterized by their warm atmosphere and community spirit. They encourage encounters and exchanges with other residents through group activities and evening entertainment.
There are two ways of managing vacation villages in France:
- Management by social tourism associations (affiliated to UNAT);
- Private management by commercial companies (Pierre et Vacances);
By 2023, on a global scale, the tourism market has grown steadily, sustained by a compound annual growth rate of 5.5% (2023 - 2032). In terms of foreign visitor arrivals, Europe dominated the market with 54% of the total.
On the French market, tourist accommodation sales grew steadily between 2015 and 2019 before being impacted by the pandemic and falling to 3.84 billion euros in 2020. By 2021, sales have resumed their upward climb, and will continue to grow significantly until 2023.
There are many players in this market, including property developers, vacation village managers and service providers.
Vacation villages can be classified by range (luxury, budget, ecological...) and are located in three main areas:
- By the sea
- in the mountains
- in the countryside
There are 920 vacation villages in France, comprising 64,000 units and 254,000 beds, and these numbers are constantly growing. These establishments welcome almost 5.5 million guests a year throughout France, more than half of whom are families.
Accommodation in these villages is generally offered in three formulas:
- Full board
- Half board
- Self-catering
The main players in the French vacation village market include Pierre & Vacances, Club Med and Village Vacances France.
1.2 Global market
In ****, global tourism market sales amounted to US$**.** trillion, marking a significant recovery from the disruption caused by the covid-** pandemic. Forecasts for **** indicate continued growth, supported by a compound annual growth rate of *.*%, reflecting a positive trend in the industry.
Trend in tourism market sales World, **** - ****, in trillions of ...
1.3 Marché National
Between **** and ****, tourism accommodation sales showed steady, continuous growth. However, between **** and ****, it fluctuated significantly. Indeed, in ****, it stood at *.** billion euros, then fell sharply to *.** billion euros in ****, a decrease of **.*%. This withdrawal was mainly due to restrictions linked to the covid-** pandemic. Sales then picked up again to reach ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 Demand segmentation
Customers choose their vacation villages according to :
Destination and area Formulas offered Price The comfort of the establishment Presence of children's clubs[***]
Type of clientele :
Families dominate the tourist home customer base , accounting for **% of visitors. Groups of friends and business customers are also important, each accounting for **% of stays. Last ...
2.2 French preferences
In ****, the majority of French people prefer beach vacations, in keeping with the tradition of summer vacations. Rural destinations also retain an important place in the hearts of the French. The mountains come in third place, notably for their scenery and the possibilities for sporting activities in both summer and winter. ...
2.3 Demand cyclicality
The graph below shows the proportion of searches for the given keyword in a given region and for a specific period, compared with the time when the keyword was most widely used (***). Thus, a value of ** means that the keyword was less commonly used in France, and a value of zero ...
3 Market structure
3.1 The value chain
The vacation village value chain is a structured set of players and processes that contribute to the creation, management and distribution of the offering to consumers. The main players are :
Property developers and promoters: Such as Pierre & Vacances, Odalys or Belambra Clubs. They are responsible for designing and building vacation villages. ...
3.2 A growing number of establishments
Between **** and ****, the number of tourist and other short-term accommodation units rose steadily, from *,*** in **** to *,*** in ****. After a slight decline in **** (***), the sector has resumed a steady growth trajectory. Between **** and ****, the number of accommodations rose by *%, followed bya *.*% decline in **** linked to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. However, ...
4 Offer analysis
4.1 Offer typology
Vacation village typology
By location :
By range :
4.2 An inclusive offer
Offers to suit everyone
The majority of vacation villages in France offer special options for families with disabled members, so that they too can take full advantage of the village facilities.
4.3 Prices on an upward trend
The evolution of price indices for the two accommodation categories reveals contrasting trends. For the "Holiday resorts, camping, youth hostels and similar accommodation" category, the index rises from *** in **** to ***.** in ****, a cumulative increase of **.*% over eight years. This stable progression, with an average increase of around *.*% per year, indicates moderate ...
5 Regulations
5.1 Regulations
General provisions
Article D***-*
"Vacation villages may be designated if they meet the conditions set out in articles D***-* et seq
Article D***-*
"Vacation villages include :
Individual or collective accommodation and premises for management and services. Communal facilities for sporting activities and group entertainment. For meals, ...
6 Positioning the players
6.1 Positioning the players
- Pierre et Vacances
- Center Parcs (Pierre et Vacanses)
- ClubMed
- Belambra Clubs
- Azureva
- Villages clubs du soleil
- Ternelia
- Village Vacances France (VVF)
- Cap France
- UNAT
List of charts presented in this market study
- Sales trends in the tourism market
- Number of international tourist arrivals
- Breakdown of tourist arrivals by region
- Change in the number of tourist accommodations and other short-stay accommodations
- Change in number of employees in tourist accommodation and other short-term accommodation
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Latest news
Despite historic results, Club Med destabilized by takeover by China's Fosun - 10/09/2024
- Club Med 2023 sales: close to 2 billion euros. - Club Med net income 2023: *99 million euros. - Percentage of Club Med village capacity that is upscale or very upscale since last April: 100%. - Fosun seeks to sell 20-30% stake - Fosun Tourism Group shares generated by Club Med: three quarters.
A vacation village is a driving force for the local economy - 18/06/2024
- - Club Med aux Arcs: investment of 94 million euros for construction, 75% of which will benefit regional companies (2018).
- - Club Med aux Arcs employs 250 full-time equivalents and generates as many spin-off jobs.
- - Club Med records an average of 120,000 overnight stays in winter and 50,000 in summer.
- - 5% to 7% increase in non-Club Med overnight stays since opening.
- - 6-point increase in the share of international clientele between 2018 and 2019.
Tourism: VVF adapts its offer to a more itinerant clientele in search of meaning - 18/06/2024
- - VVF manages 90 destinations in 63 départements.
- - The trend towards an itinerant clientele has accelerated since Covid-19
- - Less than a third of customers opt for an all-inclusive stay, unlike less than ten years ago when this trend was reversed.
- - VVF employs 1,200 full-time equivalents.
- - 60% of VVF sites are owned by local authorities.
- - Last year's sales: 90 million euros, against 80 million in 2022.
- - Average basket: 970 euros for a four-person stay.
Club Med expands in the Middle East - 08/05/2024
- Club Med plans to open a 300-room club in the Musandam region of Oman.
- The cost of building the complex is being financed to the tune of 90 million euros by a consortium led by Omran Group.
- Construction is due to start in 2026, and the resort is scheduled to open in 2028.
Club Med completes 20-year journey upmarket - 28/03/2024
- - Business volume: almost 2 billion euros
- - Increase in business volume: 17% compared to 2022 (1.7 billion euros)
- - Business volume increase in Asia: 96%, back to 2019 level
- - Number of customers welcomed during the year: 1.5 million
- - Increase in number of customers: 16% compared with 2022
- - Increase in resort capacity: 6%
- - Net income: 99 million euros, including 40 million euros in non-recurring items.
Tourism: Pierre & Vacances tests a new foray into the high-end segment - 27/03/2024
- - Annual customer numbers: two million
- - Number of residences in Europe: 186
- - Number of residences in France: 143
- - Target number of 4- to 5-star residences in 5 years: 25
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the vacation village market | France
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