Table of Contents
Introduction
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- Definition
- Abbreviations
Executive Summary
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- The market
- Contraction in the market is set to slow as economic recovery kicks in
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- Figure 1: Estimated holidays to France market, by volume, 2007-17
- Market factors
- A weakening Pound could drive holidaymakers outside of the Eurozone
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- Figure 2: Average weekly midpoint exchange rates for GBP against EUR, January 2010-January 2013
- High fuel prices, APD rise and delay compensation rulings to increase cost of flying
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- Figure 3: Jet fuel prices, GBP per gallon, December 2007-December 2012
- Unleaded petrol motorists face a 10% premium when filling up in France
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- Figure 4: Motoring on the continent cost barometer, 2010-12
- Segment performance
- Independent segment held three quarters of the market in 2011
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- Figure 5: Package vs. independent holidays to France, by volume, 2007-11
- Air travel to France has fallen by 27% over a five-year period
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- Figure 6: Volume of visits to France by UK residents, by mode of transport, 2007-11
- The consumer
- Two thirds of adults have taken a holiday to France
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- Figure 7: Holidays to France taken in the past five years, November 2012
- Popularity of fly-drive holidays vastly outweighed by using own car
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- Figure 8: Broad types of holiday taken to France, November 2012
- Cultural and sightseeing the most popular type of holiday taken in France
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- Figure 9: Detailed types of holiday taken to France, November 2012
- Paris remains the most popular destination in France
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- Figure 10: Regions stayed in on holiday to France, November 2012
- Online dominates as the booking method of choice
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- Figure 11: Booking method used for holiday to France, November 2012
- Cost is the primary reason for consumers not taking holidays to France
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- Figure 12: Reasons for not visiting France, November 2012
- France’s culture and history are major attractions
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- Figure 13: Attitudes towards France, November 2012
- One in ten adults are planning a trip to France in 2013
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- Figure 14: Planned trips in 2013, November 2012
- What we think
Issues in the Market
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- How can France as a destination compete against other European rivals?
- How can the package holiday segment gain market share?
- How can the industry target consumers who have never visited France?
- Does rural France offer opportunities for expansion?
Trend Application
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- Trend: Accentuate the Negative
- No Resting Place
- Mintel Futures: East Meets West
Market Drivers
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- Key points
- A weakening Pound could drive holidaymakers outside of the Eurozone
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- Figure 15: Average weekly midpoint exchange rates for GBP against EUR, January 2010-January 2013
- Tourist expenditure abroad posts signs of recovery
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- Figure 16: Seasonally adjusted UK tourist expenditure abroad vs. total household final consumption expenditure, 2002-12
- High fuel prices, APD rise and delay compensation rulings to increase cost of flying
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- Figure 17: Jet fuel prices, GBP per gallon, December 2007-December 2012
- Unleaded petrol motorists face a 10% premium when filling up in France
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- Figure 18: Motoring on the Continent cost barometer, 2010-12
- CAA ad campaign to improve consumer awareness of ATOL protection
- Eurotunnel’s acquisition of SeaFrance vessels faces investigation
- Proposed tax increases on foreign homeowners to increase costs
- France loses share to Mediterranean rivals Spain, Greece and Italy
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- Figure 19: Top ten overseas holiday destinations, by volume, 2011 and 2012
Who's Innovating?
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- Key points
- Air France introduces MiNi fares
- Eurostar opens up the South of France with direct train services
- Marseille named European Capital of Culture
- The Louvre branches out into Lens
- Les Miserables puts a smile on the face of French tourist destinations
- A vineyard for the whole family
Market Size and Forecast
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- Key points
- Contraction in the market is set to slow as economic recovery kicks in
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- Figure 20: Estimated holidays to France market, by volume and value, 2007-17
- Forecast
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- Figure 21: Estimated holidays to France market, by value, 2007-17
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- Figure 22: Estimated holidays to France market, by volume, 2007-17
Segment Performance
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- Key points
- Independent segment held three quarters of the market in 2011
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- Figure 23: Package vs. independent holidays to France, by volume, 2007-11
- Package holidaymakers spend 20% more abroad than independents
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- Figure 24: Package vs. independent holidays to France, by average expenditure per trip, 2007-11
- 45-54s account for 19% of the total market value
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- Figure 25: Volume and value of visits to France by UK residents, by age, 2011
- Air travel to France has fallen by 27% over a five-year period
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- Figure 26: Volume of visits to France by UK residents, by mode of transport, 2007-11
Companies and Products
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- Eurostar International Ltd / Groupe Eurotunnel
- Background
- Financial performance and strategy
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- Figure 27: Key data for Groupe Eurotunnel, 2010 and 2011
- Figure 28: Key data for Eurostar Ltd, 2010 and 2011
- Recent activity
- Marketing and promotion
- P&O Ferries Ltd
- Background
- Financial performance and strategy
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- Figure 29: Key data for P&O Ferries Ltd, 2010 and 2011
- Recent activity
- Marketing and promotion
- MyFerryLink
- Thomas Cook plc
- Background
- Financial performance and strategy
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- Figure 30: Key financial data for Thomas Cook plc, 2010 and 2011
- Recent activity
- Marketing and promotion
- TUI Travel plc
- Background
- Financial performance and strategy
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- Figure 31: Key Financial data for TUI Travel plc, 2010 and 2011
- Recent activity
- Marketing and promotion
- easyJet plc
- Background
- Financial performance and strategy
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- Figure 32: Key financial data for easyJet Plc, 2011 and 2012
- Recent activity
- Marketing and promotion
- Inghams
- Background
- Financial performance and strategy
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- Figure 33: Key financial data for Hotelplan (UK Group) Limited, 2010 and 2011
- French Tourist Board
- Marketing activity
Holidays to France Taken in the Past Five Years
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- Key points
- Two thirds of adults have taken a holiday to France
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- Figure 34: Holidays to France taken in the past five years, November 2012
- The market over the past five years has been driven by under-35s
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- Figure 35: Holidays to France taken in the past five years, by age, November 2012
- Higher earners have dominated the market over the past five years
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- Figure 36: Holidays to France taken in the past five years, by annual household income, November 2012
Types of Holiday Taken to France
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- Key points
- Popularity of fly-drive holidays vastly outweighed by using own car
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- Figure 37: Broad types of holiday taken to France, November 2012
- Demand for driving holidays driven by over-55s demographic
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- Figure 38: Most popular broad types of holiday taken to France, by age, November 2012
Detailed Types of Holiday Taken to France
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- Key points
- Cultural and sightseeing the most popular type of holiday taken in France
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- Figure 39: Detailed types of holiday taken to France, November 2012
- Beach holidays in France fail to appeal to those without children
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- Figure 40: Most popular detailed types of holiday taken to France, by presence of children, November 2012
Regions Stayed In
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- Key points
- Paris remains the most popular destination in France
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- Figure 41: Regions stayed in on holiday to France, November 2012
- Over-55s are most likely to take holidays outside of Paris
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- Figure 42: Most popular regions stayed in on holiday to France, by age, November 2012
- Paris dominates city breaks
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- Figure 43: Regions stayed in on holiday to France, by detailed types of holiday taken to France, November 2012
Booking Method Used
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- Key points
- Online dominates as the booking method of choice
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- Figure 44: Booking method used for holiday to France, November 2012
- Two thirds of city break holidaymakers booked wholly online
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- Figure 45: Booking method used for holiday to France, by types of holiday, November 2012
Online Booking Method Used
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- Key points
- Booking directly with individual suppliers is the most popular online booking method
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- Figure 46: Online booking method used for holidays to France, November 2012
- Under-35s are more likely to book online through an intermediary
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- Figure 47: Most popular online booking methods used, by age, November 2012
Reasons for Not Visiting France
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- Key points
- Cost is the primary reason for consumers not taking holidays to France
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- Figure 48: Reasons for not visiting France, November 2012
- Over-55s are more likely to view France as unwelcoming
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- Figure 49: Most popular reasons for not visiting France, by age, November 2012
Attitudes Towards France
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- Key points
- France’s culture and history are major attractions
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- Figure 50: Attitudes towards France, November 2012
- Recent visitors to France are more likely to express positive attitudes
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- Figure 51: Attitudes towards France, by holidays to France taken in the past five years, November 2012
- Higher earners are more likely to view France favourably
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- Figure 52: Attitudes towards France, by household income, November 2012
- A quarter of 25-34s cite France as their favourite holiday destination
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- Figure 53: Attitudes towards France, by age, November 2012
- The capacity to take a car to France appeals most to those with children
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- Figure 54: Attitudes towards France, by presence of children, November 2012
Planned Trips in 2013
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- Key points
- One in ten adults are planning a trip to France in 2013
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- Figure 55: Planned trips in 2013, November 2012
- Tourism to France in 2013 to be driven by higher earners
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- Figure 56: Selected planned trips in 2013, by household income, November 2012
- France’s food, drink and weather to drive tourism from the UK in 2013
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- Figure 57: Planned trips to France in 2013, by attitudes towards France, November 2012
Appendix - International Air Passenger Traffic data
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- International air passenger traffic to and from France
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- Figure 58: International air passenger traffic to and from France, by passengers uplifted, 2007-11
- Top ten air traffic routes to and from France
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- Figure 59: Top ten air traffic routes to and from France, by passengers uplifted, 2010 and 2011
- Top ten best-performing air traffic routes to and from France
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- Figure 60: Top ten best-performing air traffic routes to and from France, by passengers uplifted, 2010 and 2011
- Top ten worst-performing air traffic routes to and from France
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- Figure 61: Top ten worst-performing air traffic routes to and from France, by passengers uplifted, 2010 and 2011
- Top ten UK airports
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- Figure 62: Top ten UK airports, by passengers uplifted to and from France, 2010 and 2011
- Top ten French airports
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- Figure 63: Top ten French airports, by passengers uplifted to and from UK, 2010 and 2011
- Top ten best-performing UK airports
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- Figure 64: Top ten best-performing UK airports, by passengers uplifted to and from France, 2010 and 2011
- Top ten best-performing French airports
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- Figure 65: Top ten best-performing French airports, by passengers uplifted to and from UK, 2010 and 2011
- Top ten worst-performing UK airports
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- Figure 66: Top ten worst-performing UK airports, by passengers uplifted to and from France, 2010 and 2011
- Top ten worst-performing French airports
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- Figure 67: Top ten worst-performing French airports, by passengers uplifted to and from UK, 2010 and 2011
Appendix - Holidays to France Taken in the Past Five Years
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- Figure 68: Holidays to France taken in the past five years, November 2012
- Figure 69: Holidays to France taken in the past five years, by demographics, November 2012
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Appendix - Types of Holidays Taken to France
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- Figure 70: Broad types of holiday taken to France, November 2012
- Figure 71: Broad types of holiday taken to France, by broad types of holiday taken to France, November 2012
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- Figure 72: Broad types of holiday taken to France, by demographics, November 2012
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Appendix - Detailed Types of Holidays Taken to France
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- Figure 73: Detailed types of holiday taken to France, November 2012
- Figure 74: Broad types of holiday taken to France, by detailed types of holiday taken to France, November 2012
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- Figure 75: Regions stayed in on holiday to France in the past five years, by detailed types of holiday taken to France, November 2012
- Figure 76: Detailed types of holiday taken in the last five years to France, by demographics, November 2012
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- Figure 77: Detailed types of last holiday taken to France, by demographics, November 2012
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Appendix - Regions Stayed In
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- Figure 78: Regions stayed in on holiday to France in the past five years, November 2012
- Figure 79: Broad types of holiday taken to France, by regions stayed in on holiday to Northern France in the past five years, November 2012
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- Figure 80: Broad types of holiday taken to France, by regions stayed in on holiday to Normandy in the past five years, November 2012
- Figure 81: Broad types of holiday taken to France, by regions stayed in on holiday to Brittany in the past five years, November 2012
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- Figure 82: Broad types of holiday taken to France, by regions stayed in on holiday to Pays de la Loire in the past five years, November 2012
- Figure 83: Broad types of holiday taken to France, by regions stayed in on holiday to other Western France in the past five years, November 2012
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- Figure 84: Broad types of holiday taken to France, by regions stayed in on holiday to Paris in the past five years, November 2012
- Figure 85: Broad types of holiday taken to France, by regions stayed in on holiday to Southern France in the past five years, November 2012
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- Figure 86: Broad types of holiday taken to France, by regions stayed in on holiday to Eastern France in the past five years, November 2012
- Figure 87: Broad types of holiday taken to France, by regions stayed in on holiday to South Western France in the past five years, November 2012
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- Figure 88: Broad types of holiday taken to France, by regions stayed in on holiday to Central France and Overseas territories in the past five years, November 2012
- Figure 89: Regions stayed in on holiday to France in the past five years, by broad types of holiday taken to France, November 2012
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- Figure 90: Regions stayed in on holiday to Paris in the past five years, by demographics, November 2012
- Figure 91: Regions stayed in on holiday to Northern France in the past five years, by demographics, November 2012
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- Figure 92: Regions stayed in on holiday to Southern France in the past five years, by demographics, November 2012
- Figure 93: Regions stayed in on holiday to Normandy in the past five years, by demographics, November 2012
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- Figure 94: Regions stayed in on holiday to Brittany in the past five years, by demographics, November 2012
- Figure 95: Regions stayed in on holiday to South Western France in the past five years, by demographics, November 2012
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- Figure 96: Regions stayed in on holiday to other Western France in the past five years, by demographics, November 2012
- Figure 97: Regions stayed in on holiday to Eastern France and Pays de la Loire (Vendee, Nantes, Angers) in the past five years, by demographics, November 2012
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- Figure 98: Regions stayed in on holiday to Central France and Overseas territories in the past five years, by demographics, November 2012
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Appendix - Booking Method Used
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- Figure 99: Booking method used, November 2012
- Figure 100: Types of holiday, by booking method, November 2012
- Figure 101: Booking method used, by demographics, November 2012
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Appendix - Online Booking Method Used
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- Figure 102: Online booking method used, November 2012
- Figure 103: Mix of other methods used to book holidays, November 2012
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- Figure 104: Online booking method used, by broad types of holiday taken to France, November 2012
- Figure 105: Online booking method used, by detailed types of holiday taken to France, November 2012
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- Figure 106: Online booking method used, by demographics, November 2012
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Appendix - Reasons for Not Visiting France
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- Figure 107: Reasons for not visiting France, November 2012
- Figure 108: Most popular reasons for not visiting France, by demographics, November 2012
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- Figure 109: Next most popular reasons for not visiting France, by demographics, November 2012
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Appendix - Attitudes Towards France
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- Figure 110: Attitudes towards France, November 2012
- Figure 111: Attitudes towards France, by holidays to France taken in the past five years, November 2012
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- Figure 112: Agreement with the statements ‘France is a great place for a short break’ and ‘French culture and history make it an attractive destination’, by demographics, November 2012
- Figure 113: Agreement with the statements ‘France is a good place to go with the family’ and ‘France appeals because you can get there by rail’, by demographics, November 2012
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- Figure 114: Agreement with the statements ‘France appeals because you can take your own car’ and ‘France is an expensive place for a holiday’, by demographics, November 2012
- Figure 115: Agreement with the statements ‘The food and drink of France is a major attraction’ and ‘France is attractive because of the weather’, by demographics, November 2012
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- Figure 116: Agreement with the statements ‘You really need to speak French to go on holiday there’ and ‘France is not a welcoming and friendly holiday destination’, by demographics, November 2012
- Figure 117: Agreement with the statements ‘France is an uninteresting holiday destination’ and ‘France is my favourite holiday destination’, by demographics, November 2012
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Appendix - Planned Trips in 2013
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- Figure 118: Planned trips in 2013, November 2012
- Figure 119: Planned trips in 2013, by most popular attitudes towards France – any agree, November 2012
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- Figure 120: Planned trips in 2013, by next most popular attitudes towards France – any agree, November 2012
- Figure 121: Most popular planned trips in 2013, by demographics, November 2012
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- Figure 122: Next most popular planned trips in 2013, by demographics, November 2012
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