Holidaymakers from Britain

[Santiago]

Has anyone else found that this year has been really poor in terms of bookings from British visitors?

It seems to be a combination of high airfares because of the Olympics and the policy of the British Government to promote stay-at-home holidays to boost the economy.

I don't suppose irregular and sporadic flights to our local airports helps either.

The question is, what can we do about it?

[rogb]

The recession might have something to do with it too.

[russell]

The question is, what can we do about it?

Spread more rumors about Greece and Spain having to leave the Eurozone?

Russell.

[joffan]

For me bookings this year have been really slow and hard fought for but I am suddenly getting lots of last minute enquiries and bookings. Because I have 20 properties in the area I can also see that people are scattering their enquiries (I regularly get the same enquiry for 3 houses) and often they are asking for 'deals' 'best price' 'can you do it for X amount as that is our budget', 'what is your lowest price' etc. I find myself competing with myself!

Julie

[Santiago]

The recession might have something to do with it too.

We talk about recession but in many cases British people in employment have more disposable income than ever. Perhaps they are all going to the Cote d'Azur.

[rogb]

I doubt it! I would have thought that recession - maybe reflected by frozen, or below inflation increases in, salaries and more job insecurity - must be playing a part in any downturn of UK tourists in the P-O.

Working the other way now should be the increased strength of sterling against the euro (if it lasts).

[vakantiehuizen]

that is happen due to Olympics are coming in year so people thinks they come in that time also some kind of restriction so this will be happened



vakantiehuis dordogne | vakantiehuizen dordogne

[joffan]

It was a slow start but all just about fully booked now. Could it be the rotten weather in UK that has encouraged people to come?

[Pighunter]

Fortunately I've not had a problem, but it would be nice to have some June/September bookings. I think because mine is a 10 sleeper it tends to appeal to 2 families and as such is tied to the school holidays.

Enquiries are significantly down on last year but hit rate hugely up and that's the one that counts!

I'm sure that there will be lots of last minute weather related bookings for those who have space. Having suffered a mere 3 weeks of the Great British Summer now it really is depressing, although supposed to improve dramatically next week.

Generally I'm pretty philosophical about the whole thing. People like to spend money on holidays and they are a feelgood purchase which everyone needs, especially in tough times. There will always be those at the very top who will never feel the pinch, but they will generally be on their yachts or in their own villas or 5* hotels anyway. The rest will just tighten their belts, some will take packages or all inclusive rather than rent a villa, but there will be plenty more who decide that a villa rather than a hotel is the way forward for them. I hope so.

Those who decided to stay in the UK this year will I am sure have seen the error of their ways and be back abroad next year!

If you're offering good value then I don't think you've anything to worry about.

[Santiago]

I'd agree. I've had loads of calls for the same few weeks in August at the last minute. I doubt that these people will find anything (or anything nice) and it might make them consider booking in good time next year.

Maybe we gite owners should offer incentives for early booking as late bookings are all a bit hectic. However, customers think that the toruism industry is built on last-minute deals.

[Owens88]

Has anyone else found that this year has been really poor in terms of bookings from British visitors?

It seems to be a combination of high airfares because of the Olympics and the policy of the British Government to promote stay-at-home holidays to boost the economy.

I don't suppose irregular and sporadic flights to our local airports helps either.

The question is, what can we do about it?

Good question Santiago.

Actually our year has been fine but we must think to the future.

1) A greater spread of airlines would help as, like it or not, one carrier does have anti-family policies.
2) Better ease of use for bookers from UK to this area (the special offers then to stop at Paris / Lille / Disneyland)
3) The local tourist offices to combine to promote the area in general, possibly including a 'passport' offering discounts. (I know that this is often done small localities/highly commercialised activities - and is underpromoted).

But that doesn't answer the question 'what can WE do?

I dunno.

[Santiago]

We've been OK in terms of renting our gite but it has been mainly to French and Belgian visitors.

Similarly at the winery I'm seeing a lower percentage of UK visitors than previous years. On the other hand we've seen a lot of Scandinavian visitors.

I did a little Aperitif de Terroir in Saint Genis last week. Normally I meet a few British couples there but this year, although the event was well attended, there were none. I spent a day at Caves Byrrh and again not one British person among the 200 or so visitors.

The tourist office in Thuir has been making lots more effort this year with a nice new website and several other initiatives but I fear the publicity is just locally or perhaps links to French tourist sites.

Anyone know of some good UK-focused tourist sites that would be willing to share links or receive "advertorials" about the Roussillon?

[monsans]

Why does it bother one what nationality books for the holidays providing one's gite/house/appartemente is booked for the whole of the season??

[opas]

I think jon was talking wine tasting visitors more that gite/appt bookings.


of the properties I look after, ranging from an appt in Perpignan to a 4 bed Mas over 90 % of the clients are English/ Irish , the remainder being American and french.

[joffan]

It all depends on where you do your advertising. I have advertised a lot more in France this year and have therefore got about 30% French.

I have had loads more Aussies this year, Danes and Canadians.

They tend to book earlier than the Brits so I have nothing left for the Brits.

[Santiago]

Why does it bother one what nationality books for the holidays providing one's gite/house/appartemente is booked for the whole of the season??

Several reasons.

1) It helps decide where to advertise for next year. Advertising on British sites this year would have been money wasted.

2) To try to understand the reasons for the drop-off from one nationality.

3) To find out whether the case is general or specific to one property/place.

4) To find out whether it is a pricing/presentation issue or factors beyond our control.

In any business, the more you understand the market and the customers' behaviour, the better you can plan and adapt.

Tourism is the number one source of revenue for the PO. So anything that affects it will have a knock-on effect on all of us in the end.

[monsans]

Thanks for the lesson. All of which I already knew.
I just wonder why the emphaises on British clients. The previous emails were asking what to do for British clients to come back here.

[Santiago]

At the risk of telling you something else you already know (but still ask about), Monsans, the focus on Brits was because in previous years they have formed the majority of visitors but not this year.

Yes, it's of particular interest to me because we get a lot of British, or English-speaking people, who want to visit a vineyard and learn about wine but feel intimidated by visiting a French domaine.

[monsans]

Question answered. Thank you.

[Santiago]

In the Independant today.

http://www.lindependant.fr/2012/08/02/u ... 156459.php

I'm sure this is down, in part, to what we've been talking about above.

[Debbie and Noel]

I was at the beach today and it was more crowded than any of our party has ever known. Ditto the traffic. I get the impression that there are more visitors but they are not spending on luxuries. The campsites seem to be bursting at the seams. This year, more than ever, people want value for money and are becoming tired of being ripped off. More bodies, less spend.

Noel

[redneckrover]

I'm surprised to hear that there are as many people as usual on holiday in the area this year. In my experience this has been the worst year for seaside apartment rental since the late 90's.
And I dont operate at the top end of the market.

[joffan]

I don't understand "being ripped off".

Are you implying the campsites are not usually full?

[Debbie and Noel]

I don't understand "being ripped off".

Are you implying the campsites are not usually full?

According to what I have read in the press (and seen for myself) the hotellerie de plein air sector is doing better than ever. Occupation rates are up. Many sites have gone over almost exclusively to cabins. More visitors are choosing self catering.

For years much of the food and drink sector has been over-priced. Run by people trying to make one years worth of income in just a few months. Times are hard, the chickens have come home to roost.

Noel

[tia]

I think that it is very quiet this year , I'm not convinced that the campsites are full . This year we have not had the usual traffic jams at certain times of the day and I have to admit I'm enjoying it( although I feel sorry for the people who earn a living over the summer months as it must be quite hard for them). I know 2 people who rent their houses in the summer and this year has been very difficult with the houses staying empty some weeks. Some years it is packed others less, that's the way it goes, has always been like that even before the recession.

[Santiago]

I was at the beach today and it was more crowded than any of our party has ever known. Ditto the traffic. I get the impression that there are more visitors but they are not spending on luxuries. The campsites seem to be bursting at the seams. This year, more than ever, people want value for money and are becoming tired of being ripped off. More bodies, less spend.

Noel

That view is the opposite of those described in the article.

« Le nombre de clients baisse, mais le prix du panier moyen augmente », relève Pierre-Jean qui constate « un engouement pour les produits qualitatifs ».
Les fruits et légumes “premier prix” se vendent moins bien que le premier choix. « Idem pour le vin. Le poste des bouteilles a augmenté cette année. C’est le seul »

My own experience ties in with this too.

As far as the campings being full, the article says this:

Du côté des campings, l’heure n’est pas à l’euphorie non plus. « On constate une baisse certaine », avance prudemment Jean-François Bey, président départemental de l’hôtellerie de plein air qui note « des écarts importants selon les établissements ».

[joffan]

I don't understand "being ripped off".

Are you implying the campsites are not usually full?

For years much of the food and drink sector has been over-priced. Run by people trying to make one years worth of income in just a few months. Times are hard, the chickens have come home to roost.

Noel

If you have a food and drinks outlet (I don't) we all know that when the tourist leave everything falls flat. Do they have a choice, they need to earn enough in the high season as possible. Anyone with a holiday home to let does the same thing. My prices are almost doubled in summer.

[Santiago]

I've just received some official tourist figures covering the whole of the Languedoc-Roussillon.

It appears the fall in tourism is widespread with much lower numbers of French visitors. Despite what I had thought about Brits being the most affected, the fall in Italian and Spanish visitors is the most dramatic.


« Hébergements » : des résultats mitigés
Les professionnels de l’hébergement (56%) constatent une baisse de leur activité pour ce mois de juillet, les plus concernés étant les agences immobilières (79%), les hôtels (61%), les villages de vacances (55%) et les campings (52%).Les meublés labellisés, les chambres d’hôtes et les résidences de tourisme déclarent également une baisse, toutefois plus modérée.
« Commerces et Services » : les touristes dépensent moins
54 % des établissements interrogés indiquent une baisse de l’activité touristique. Parmi les plus concernés, figurent les commerces de proximité (65%), les plages privés (57%), les caveaux de dégustation (50%) et les restaurants (49%).Les hypermarchés indiquent, quant à eux, une activité identique à celle de l’année dernière.

Saying that the seasonal restaurants are getting their just desserts for overpricing sound to me both inaccurate and peevish. As I've said, the general well-being and economy of the 66 is heavily dependent on tourism. All this lack of income will have consequences down the line when shops and businesses close and tourism businesses contribute less to the councils. I expect a rise in tax habitation will result.

[Santiago]

Mind you, I've just had a conversation with a neighbour (Catalan) who confirms what Noel says about some restaurants ripping off people to make up for loss of numbers.

[Howard Whatmore]

I would think that Perpignan airport's inability to attract more travel operators will be having a significant impact on the number of tourists travelling to the area.

It should have been predictable.