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IN BRIEF
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For several years, the French have shown a growing enthusiasm for peaceful tourism and refreshing vacations. Gradually leaving behind the turmoil of urban destinations, they now favor green getaways in search of calm, authenticity, and reconnection with nature. This shift, amplified by the health crisis and successive lockdowns, is profoundly shaping France’s tourist offerings, with a diversity of new accommodations and preserved rural destinations attracting a growing number of vacationers seeking a fresh experience.
The Rise of Green Tourism: A Conscious Choice
While the frenetic pace of large cities is part of everyday life for many city dwellers, the need to refresh and escape the concrete jungle is becoming increasingly urgent. Over the past five years, statistics reflect a true shift towards the countryside and rural areas, which have become synonymous with freedom and well-being. In autumn 2024, the platform Airbnb reported a 25% increase in bookings in rural departments, while trips to the countryside have doubled over five years. According to an Expedia-Abritel study from May 2024, searches for rural accommodations have surged by 60%. Regions such as Ain, Haute-Vienne, or Loire are particularly popular, as are preserved villages like this hidden gem near Nice.
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Nature, Calm, and Authenticity: The New Priorities of Vacationers
In the face of urban agitation, the prospect of stays in nature attracts more and more French people each year. Besides the soothing environment it offers, the countryside evokes for many simple memories, often associated with childhood vacations, far from mass tourism. Today’s visitors seek an authentic experience, where they can slow down, enjoy the silence, and escape tensions. As noted by the NellyRodi agency, this aspiration reflects a deep need for reconnection and reconnection with local traditions. This peaceful tourism is now a given, where it once sparked apprehension or indifference.
Accommodations in Nature to Meet the Demand
The rural tourism offer has adapted to this shift by diversifying accommodation types. In addition to traditional campsites, many unusual options attract vacationers eager to immerse themselves in nature: treehouses, tiny houses, caravans, or glamping rank among the new offerings. These forms of lodging allow for a true return to basics, in harmony with the environment, and promote disconnection. Travelers are also keen on peaceful retreats in Europe or quiet places to escape the noise, illustrating this desire for renewal.
A More Respectful and Sustainable Tourism
This underlying trend also contributes to an ecological awareness among vacationers, who are increasingly sensitive to the preservation of territories and heritage. Preserved destinations are experiencing significant success, encouraged by local initiatives and dedicated offerings such as this tranquil haven to discover away from the crowds. Marshes, forests, protected areas, or salt marshes, such as those in Charente-Maritime, are becoming highly sought-after destinations for a unique experience, both peaceful and respectful.
Towards a New Definition of Successful Vacations
Today, true luxury for many French people is being able to slow down, take breaks in nature, and prioritize simple moments far from urban artifices. The countryside, once shunned, is now synonymous with quality vacations. It embodies regained freedom, the ability to breathe deeply, refocus, and live at a different pace. Rural destinations are multiplying initiatives to attract this clientele in search of meaning and authenticity, thus redefining the dimensions of a more humane and tranquil tourism.
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