http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/busine...cle3095980.ece
I like how somehow France is at fault when we the deliberate 25% devaluation of the pound is fundamentally flawed and we will all pay for it with a huge rise in the cost of living at home. Mr Collins shouldn't expect an upturn in business from UK customers any time soon.
I like how somehow France is at fault when we the deliberate 25% devaluation of the pound is fundamentally flawed and we will all pay for it with a huge rise in the cost of living at home. Mr Collins shouldn't expect an upturn in business from UK customers any time soon.
When Steve Collins opened Le Moulin du Chatain campsite in the Dordogne 11 years ago, half his customers were British. This summer, almost all will be French, which he finds depressing.
“I prefer the British because they spend more money,” Mr Collins said. “The French tend to have a barbecue with a bottle of a Ricard that they bring with them. But the British can’t afford to come here any more.”
He is by no means the only tourist professional in France to note a shortfall in bookings by British holidaymakers for the third year running.
The weakness of the pound against the euro and the cost of petrol appear to have put France out of bounds for many of the middle-class families who used to cross the Channel for a fortnight every summer.
Despite reports, stimulated partly by French government spin doctors, that les Anglais would return in large numbers this year, the evidence is that they are shunning a country that has become prohibitively expensive.
When they come to France, it is often out of season. September appears to be a favourite month, even if that means taking the children away from school for a week or two.
France is the second-most-popular holiday destination for the British — 7.1 million holidayed there in 2009 — and they make a significant contribution to a tourist industry that generates 6.4 per cent of the national wealth.
But Jeremy Waldron, the co-owner of Brittany Travel, which specialises in villa and cottage holidays in western France, said that bookings were down by as much as 20 per cent compared with last year, which was a bad summer anyway.
“There is no indication that the British are returning to France,” Mr Waldron said. “I think it’s going to be as tough a year as last year.”
“I prefer the British because they spend more money,” Mr Collins said. “The French tend to have a barbecue with a bottle of a Ricard that they bring with them. But the British can’t afford to come here any more.”
He is by no means the only tourist professional in France to note a shortfall in bookings by British holidaymakers for the third year running.
The weakness of the pound against the euro and the cost of petrol appear to have put France out of bounds for many of the middle-class families who used to cross the Channel for a fortnight every summer.
Despite reports, stimulated partly by French government spin doctors, that les Anglais would return in large numbers this year, the evidence is that they are shunning a country that has become prohibitively expensive.
When they come to France, it is often out of season. September appears to be a favourite month, even if that means taking the children away from school for a week or two.
France is the second-most-popular holiday destination for the British — 7.1 million holidayed there in 2009 — and they make a significant contribution to a tourist industry that generates 6.4 per cent of the national wealth.
But Jeremy Waldron, the co-owner of Brittany Travel, which specialises in villa and cottage holidays in western France, said that bookings were down by as much as 20 per cent compared with last year, which was a bad summer anyway.
“There is no indication that the British are returning to France,” Mr Waldron said. “I think it’s going to be as tough a year as last year.”
Comment