6 days ago
The barriers preventing French people from going on vacation
"I feel like going away is almost an obligation, but thankfully my kids are not demanding and there are plenty of things we still haven't done in Angers," said Sarah (pseudonym), a 32-year-old medical secretary, as she enjoyed free activities with her children at "Summer at the Lake," a program organized by the municipality, on Wednesday, July 16. There was a baby gymnastics course for her youngest, as well as archery and table tennis stands for her two older children. She plans to spend her summer vacation in the city where she lives. "I'd like to go away, but it's too expensive!" she said.
According to a study by the Research Center for the Study and Observation of Living Conditions (CREDOC), in 2023, 40% of French people did not leave their city for at least four consecutive nights during their vacation, mainly for financial reasons. In early 2024, 21% of the population had reported, according to the INSEE (France's national statistics institute), that they could not afford to leave for at least a week of vacation. These levels are similar to those recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic.
