A lack of confidence in the international context. More than half of the French should spend their summer holidays in 2026 exclusively in France, according to the 25th edition of the Holiday Barometer conducted by Ipsos for Europ Assistance. The percentage reaches 51%, a significant increase of 15 points compared to the previous year. In addition, 17% of French tourists will spend at least some of their time in France, bringing the total to 68%.
Conversely, the study notes a corresponding decrease in days spent abroad, also around 15 points, “while only 32% of French people will travel exclusively abroad (-1 point).” The top five favorite destinations of the French see a slight shift, with the United States being surpassed by Canada, followed by Italy, Spain, Greece, and Portugal, in that order. While France is the preferred destination for its residents this year, it also remains popular internationally, ranking among the top five destinations considered by “12 countries out of the 26 covered by the study.”
Intentions to travel remain strong
Despite the current international political context and the resulting consequences, including the rise in fuel prices, eight out of ten French people enthusiastically consider the prospect of holidays. Francine Abgrall, the director of the travel business line in the French branch of Europ Assistance, explains that “the desire to go away remains intact but the choices are clearly evolving.”
She continues: “In a more unstable international context and under the effect of a strong budget constraint, French travelers are adapting their destination and duration choices, more than ever favoring France.” She also notes a new trend emerging in the 2026 edition of the Holiday Barometer: although still marginal, the French are increasingly using artificial intelligence to organize their trips.
It is worth noting that the international context weighs slightly more in the considerations of holidaymakers. This data has increased by 12 points over the past two years, with 55% now considering “the risk of armed conflict as an essential criterion in choosing their destination.”
