Why French tourists seek to holiday in late September and how does this contribute to the extension of the season for many summer destinations.
One might say that there is a touch of sadism in the fact that 58% of French people enjoy going on holiday when others are working, with 46% claiming that coming back from holiday when everyone else is back is a source of stress.
54% of French people said they would choose a holiday at the end of September, in order to enjoy another version of summer. And this is something that ultimately contributes to the extension of the season for many summer destinations.
These findings emerge from a survey carried out by Opinionway on behalf of lastminute.com in September 2024 on a sample of 1,061 people from France.
Meanwhile, according to the survey, the percentage of 25-34 year-olds who choose to vacation while others are working climbs to 75%.
Research reports that this trend offers a sense of freedom as people manage to avoid collective habits. It is also interpreted as a new phenomenon of going against mass psychology reflecting the growing desire to “break” large-scale holiday travel behaviours.
Other figures of interest are that 70% wish to take advantage of cheaper low-season tickets, offers, and the ability to upgrade or book quality accommodation at a lower cost.
66% wish to avoid crowds entirely, with the main goal of the holidays being peace, quiet, large spaces without crowds and avoiding families with children.
This desire is very beneficial for various destinations such as in Greece where bookings plummet from mid-September onwards. With this particular trend constantly increasing, it is estimated that French tourists will help to gradually strengthen the trend to extend the season.
22%, and especially those aged 18-24 (37%) and 25-34 (28%), are looking to return from vacation without the pressure of immediately returning to work and everyday demands.
