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Global Trends on responsible travel in 2012 for French tourists

 

tourisme durable           id tourisme logo                                      

Survey – Global Trends on responsible travel in 2012 for French tourists

Which trendy destinations? What kind of activities? What kind of lodging?

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The French association Acteurs du Tourisme Durable (ATD), gathering  the majority of French main players committed to sustainable tourism, in partnership with the engineering & marketing company specialized in sustainable tourism - ID Tourism, decided to initiate studies & surveys before each holiday period to present the main trends of responsible travel for French travelers.

Thus, before each major holiday departure (summer & winter), the association will interview leading experts and professionals to understand the major trends in responsible travel for the French travelers.

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Global Trends on responsible travel in 2012 for French tourists

Despite a difficult economic and social situation in France (economic crisis, elections, unpredictable weather, etc.) which impacts heavily on reservations for this summer as showed by the numerous articles in the media, responsible travel market is well being.

Trendy forms of responsible tourism for this summer in France are definitively cycling and tailor-made travel. Supported by a global trend towards itinerant traveling, back to nature and authenticity, the bicycle trip is now democratizing its customers with more families. Looking for travel adapted to their expectations, customers are increasingly likely to move toward tour operators specializing in tailor-made travel. Their reservation rate for the summer holiday 2012 is really high compared to 2011. With the difficult economic climate, customers are also looking to cut costs without losing quality of services. Auto-tour circuits attract also a growing number of customers to reduce transportation costs.

Other responsible travel markets show encouraging signs for the summer season: adventure tourism and trekking continues to attract a clientele interested in nature and in local community meetings; voluntourism is democratizing and developing a growing number of customers on a really niche market; eco-tourism is doing well despite the crisis, affecting less the upper class customers; participatory tourism especially in urban areas increases but is still very dependent on the weather and individual last minute bookings.

The market of local tourism in France is relatively stable, also sensitive to weather and last minute offers. Atypical, original and environmentally responsible accommodations are still valued in regions where the territory's identity turned to authenticity, the landscapes and to sustainable development policy.

Community-based tourism market remains fairly stable compared to last year with quite disparate situations based on tour operators and destinations they offer. Operators are feeling the effect of economic conditions and the brand image & insecurity problems of some countries in Africa and the Middle East.

For abroad destinations, India, Madagascar and Burma are the three main trends of summer destinations. The Loire by bike, Senegal, Indonesia and Sub-Saharan Africa also fared very well.

Egypt, Greece and the Sahel regions continue to suffer while Morocco recovered slowly & and Tunisia begins to attract travelers on alternative offers.

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Acteurs du Tourisme Durable
16/18 rue des Plâtrières 75020 PARIS – France
Tel : +33.(0)9.51.74.47.19.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.tourisme-durable.org

ID-Tourism
c/o ATD – 16/18 rue des Plâtrières 75020 PARIS
Tel (ATD): +33.(0)9.51.74.47.19.
Tel : +33.(0)6.99.29.47.29.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.id-tourisme.fr

 

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