| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 05/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 33 |
| Copyright: Other |
FRANCE
The French riviera: operators report that holidaymakers are travelling further afield to more expensive areas following the Brittany oil spill incident
Linsey McNeill reports
Operators are optimistic about business to France as bookings for the summer season start to improve.
The French riviera: operators report that holidaymakers are travelling further afield to more expensive areas following the Brittany oil spill incidentbusiness to France has picked up considerably in the past few weeks following a poor start and operators believe the destination will end up having a better year than first expected.
Cresta France brand manager Sarah Aulton said: “April was an excellent month for both bookings and travel with the late Easter period helping to boost sales.”
“Although we had a slow start to the year, especially as far as self-catering family holidays were concerned, business has picked up since Easter.”
Cresta admitted June sales have been poor but insisted the rest of the season was doing better. “June has undoubtedly been affected by Euro 2000, with people avoiding this month to travel so they can watch the tournament,” said Aulton. “However, forward bookings for July and August are improving daily.”
Operators believe that late bookers are partly to blame for the shaky start to the year.
Crystal France product manager Simone Clark said: “We are confirming a lot of bookings within four weeks of departure, which is unusual as France is traditionally an early-booking destination.”
However, business to France is still around 15% down on this time last year and many operators admit to seeing a slump in the traditional family market which has led to some discounting for the peak season.
French Life group business development manager David Stamp said property owners have responded to the drop in the UK market by bringing out special offers.
“For a good proportion of our featured properties, people will find they are being asked to pay less than the brochure price,” said Stamp.
Operators are reasonably confident that discounts, coupled with a strong pound which now buys 10.5 francs, will encourage the family market to return.
EuroSites head of camping Richard Allen said: “This year a family holiday to France is even better value for money when compared with the exchange rates of a couple of years ago.
“It means, for example, that holidaymakers can enjoy all the glitz and glamour of the South of France, which has historically been an expensive destination, for a reasonable and competitive price.”
Last December’s oil spill off the Brittany coast has also been blamed for putting people off travelling to what was France’s most popular region for Britons.
The upside of this is that people are now travelling further afield and beginning to explore different regions.
Keycamp managing director Simon Tobin said: “In the Dordogne,Normandy, Provence and the Cote d’Azur bookings have been very strong.”