French choose to drop holidays as financial crisis deepens

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A new survey released today (30 March 2009) shows that the French are planning to cut back on their holidays this summer, as a result of the deepening financial crisis, Le Monde reports.

More than half of those surveyed (51%) said that they will not go on holiday at all this summer, although 22% said that they hadn't thought for one moment about reducing their holiday budget.  One in five will be either reducing the duration of their holiday, or cutting the distance they travel in an effort to reduce costs.

The survey highlighted social inequalities, with a staggering 82% of households with a net monthly income of 1200€ or less claiming that they will not be having a holiday, whilst only 25% of those who bring in 3000€ or more a month said they would be staying at home.

Some 31% of people plan to hold back on booking a holiday, preferring instead to wait for last minute bargains.  Tightening holiday budgets have forced the French to rethink their plans, with 25% planning to stay in France for a holiday, and 21% prepared to rediscover their own region.

The survey was carried out by Ipsos on behalf of France Bleu on 20 and 21 March 2009.  A sample of 917 people, representative of the French population over 18 years were surveyed. 

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