Promising Winter Ahead for Tour Operators in 2023/24 Despite Inflation

French tour operators, members of the Union of Tour-Operating Companies (Seto), are optimistic about the upcoming winter season in line with the success of summer 2023, even amidst significant increases in airfare costs.

As of August 31, 2023, bookings for the winter period from November 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024, have shown remarkable growth in turnover (+41.6%), while unit revenue remains stable (+1.1%). However, René-Marc Chikli, President of Seto, urges caution in declaring victory prematurely, citing a recent slowdown in sales for more than 15 days.

Leading winter destinations include Mauritius at the top, closely followed by Egypt, which has seen a remarkable surge of +156% compared to the previous winter of 2022. Additionally, Asia is experiencing a significant increase in popularity.

In contrast, the Caribbean region is witnessing a decline, mainly due to the poor performance of the Dominican Republic (-22%).

The persistently high prices of airline tickets could potentially dampen the positive outlook. Therefore, Patrice Caradec, President of Alpitour, encourages both travel agencies and customers to book as early as possible to secure the best rates.