In September 2026, departures continued to trend downward. The number of bookings fell by 5.5% compared to September 2025. However, the decline is less pronounced than in August, when it reached 9%.
The business volume associated with departures decreased by 4.1%, while the average basket rose by 1.5%, to €1,853. This increase is therefore not enough to offset the drop in the number of bookings. The Observatory therefore concludes that September activity remains subdued and does not yet indicate a change in trend.
The trends vary by region. Long-haul travel is the most penalized, with a 14.6% drop in bookings. Mid-haul fares better, with a decline limited to 2.8%. France, for its part, shows a 9.1% drop in bookings.
Departures remain below September 2025: business volume -4.1%, bookings -5.5%, average basket up +1.5% to €1,853. The drop in bookings is less pronounced than in August (-9%).
Mid-haul
Long-haul
Business volume advances (+3.3%) despite a slight drop in bookings (-1.7%), driven by a rise in the average basket (+5.1% to €2,004). The average lead time between booking and departure reaches 74 days, up 6% year over year. The mid-haul segment is the only zone posting growth in bookings (+7.1%).
Mid-haul
Long-haul
As of the end of September, reservations for departures between October 17 and November 2, 2026 remain below 2025: business volume -4.7%, bookings -2.6%, average basket -2.1% at €2,238. Long-haul shows the steepest decline (-19.0% in bookings); mid-haul is the only zone in growth (+2.8%).
Mid-haul
Long-haul
Departures & reservations in September: 01/09 – 29/09/2026 · All Saints’ Day: reservations 01/01 – 29/09/2026, departures 17/10 – 02/11/2026.
Data drawn from travel agencies using the Orchestra platform (20+ brands, 2 years minimum).
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IFTM 2026: Day Two Highlights
The day began with the signing of an agreement between Les Entreprises du Voyage (EdV) and ADN Tourisme. The agreement aims to strengthen exchanges between travel agencies and tour operators represented by the EDV and the institutional network of ADN Tourisme, which brings together the territorial tourism organizations.
Among the announced objectives: better coordinating the promotion of the France destination, promoting the development of more responsible tourism offers, and sharing more data and expertise from the two networks.
This momentum continued with the awards for the 2026 Challenge des territoires insoupçonnés.
Several territories were distinguished: the Marne et Gondoire Tourist Office for a three-day, two-night individual stay; the Loiret ADT in the individual category; the Pays de Gex Tourist Office in the groups category, and the Sauldre et Sologne Tourist Office in the schools category.
The jury’s special prize was awarded to the Couserans Pyrénées Tourist Office.
Today’s announcements
For its 40th anniversary in 2027, the park announces that 60% of its offering will be renewed. Festivities will begin on December 5, 2026 with the “Magical Nights,” scheduled through March 27, 2027.
The park is also preparing a new hotel planned for December 2027. It will have 245 rooms and suites, including premium and VIP categories, as well as a restaurant with 400 seats. The announced investment for this project reaches 80 million euros.
In the cruise sector, the MSC World Asia will navigate in the Mediterranean from winter 2026 before heading to the Caribbean for winter 2027-2028.
Its arrival is expected to bring new capacities and marketing opportunities in these markets. MSC returns to our newscast to discuss the prospects of this new ship for the French market.
Jet tours unveiled a new partner program intended for travel agencies, with deployment planned for early 2027.
The scheme notably provides a marketing fund, monthly webinars, a dedicated reservation number, and visibility for partner agencies on Jet tours’ B2C site. Partners will also benefit from a communications kit, invitations to events and study tours, as well as enhanced sales support.
Jet tours also presented three new 5-star clubs: Ocean Riviera Paradise in Mexico, The Eden Beruwala in Sri Lanka, and Paradisus Grand Cana in the Dominican Republic.
Miss France 2027: Saint-Martin bets on visibility
Announced at the IFTM, the operation is led by the Tourist Office and the Collectivity of Saint-Martin. For Frantz Gumbs, the Saint-Martin deputy, this event constitutes an opportunity to put the destination in the spotlight.
The travel of the contestants will be arranged in partnership with Air Caraïbes, which serves Saint-Martin notably from Guadeloupe and Martinique. The signing of the partnership took place in the presence of Miss France 2026, Hinaupoko Devèze.
Sustainable Tourism: La Plume Verte unveils its 2026 winners
Three journalists were honored this year. The La Plume Verte by IFTM x ADONET goes to Mathilde Giard, of La Tribune du Dimanche, for “Sweden: Gothenburg rather than Stockholm.”
The ADONET Special Destination Award was attributed to Bénédicte Le Guérinel, of Hôtel & Lodge, for “The water challenge.”
Finally, the Coup de Cœur of the exhibitors at the Village of Sustainable Initiatives rewards Bérangère Lauprete, of Femme Actuelle, for “Casamance: immersion and sacred territory.” The ceremony took place on the stage of the Village of Sustainable Initiatives.
After two days of announcements and professional appointments, IFTM continues on Thursday, September 17 for its last day.
Published by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com Editor
See all articles by Amelia Brille
The Day That Shook the World: September 11, 2001 [ABO]
Un avion, puis deux, des tours symboles de la toute puissance étasunienne en flames et le monde entier vacillait puis s’effondrait, laissant des millions de traumatisés et des milliers de morts et de blessés. Lesquels auraient pu être épargnés si l’administration de Georges Bush avait pris au sérieux les alertes répétées de la CIA sur l’imminence d’une attaque terroriste sur le sol américain !
Entrée de plain-pied dans une période de violence dans laquelle nous sommes toujours, le secteur touristique se retrouvait brutalement exposé à un accident de l’histoire qui le laissa KO.
The global economic and psychological shock
What happened? For several days, air travel in the United States ground to a halt, with long-haul flights plummeting by 22%. According to U.S. aviation data, the number of passengers fell by 23% compared with the previous month.As for hotels and travel agencies, they lost about 50% of their clientele in the days following September 11.
Struck by an event that was as spectacular as it was unexpected, it is clear that international tourism did not escape a catastrophic economic crisis. But it also suffered—perhaps more painfully—a crisis of confidence broadly sustained by the media, which at the time did not have social networks or 24-hour news channels.
Fear entered the airports, the skies, and the American ground. It also entered the minds of billions of people facing a new reality. And one could say it has not really left since.
And this happened despite, or perhaps because of, the many precautions and security measures quickly deployed worldwide since the Twin Towers attack. Paradoxically, in a world full of contradictions, the more we secure, the more we fear.
And the more we subject ourselves to endless searches, stricter visa procedures, and tighter baggage limits… the more we feel surveilled, thus becoming victims of a form of loss of freedom we could have done without. Yet the luxurious facilities and shops in international airports do everything they can to offer travelers a hedonic travel experience!
Ten years and twenty years later, the same conclusion
But fear, having settled diffusely, sometimes leads people to prefer trains or cars when given a choice, and all sorts of other travel options indicating a shift in behavior. A shift even more evident as environmental awareness has grown significantly.
Another observation: if we look at the mindset of young people born after 9/11, many studies note that although unaware of the evolutions, they grew up in a geopolitically and tourism-wise permanently transformed environment where controls, restrictions, security lines, and a strengthened police presence are normal. They may regret it, but for them, it is not a barrier to travel.
On the contrary, they are highly sensitive to destination choices. A sensitivity reinforced by their heavy use of social networks and by the excessive media coverage of conflicts around the world on 24/7 news channels. They are indirect but very real victims of the grand story. They are the heirs of fears that have become enduring.
The comparative effects of Covid on travel behavior
After developing the Touriscopie weekly for more than 20 years, she remains at the forefront of current events, where she decodes the present to forecast the future. On the site www.tourmag.com, in the Futuroscopie section, she regularly publishes forward-looking and analytical articles several times a week.
Contact: 06 14 47 99 04
Email: [email protected]
IFTM 2026: Highlights from the Final Day
The final day, quieter in terms of announcements, allowed professionals to continue their meetings and to discover the different spaces of the show, notably the Tech Zone and the second edition of the area dedicated to Sustainable Destinations, which once again attracted visitors.
A few hours before closing, Marie Allantaz, editorial director and head of strategic management at IFTM, returned to the early lessons of this edition.
She particularly highlights the momentum of the show and the mobilization of professionals, after three days devoted to the issues and transformations of the tourism sector.
Marie Allantaz revisits this assessment in our JT video.
Mexico to be the featured country in 2027
The announcement comes as 2027 marks the bicentennial of diplomatic relations between France and Mexico.
The destination aims to take advantage of this spotlight to strengthen its relations with French and European professionals.
The next edition of IFTM will take place from 5 to 7 October 2027, at Paris Porte de Versailles.
Final curtain for the 48th edition
Among students, Axelle Garcia (ISTHIA Toulouse) wins the ninth edition of the Junior, ahead of Julien Gleizes (IFC Montpellier) and Thalia Renoud (ISTHIA Toulouse), while Isaline Monnier (IMS Nantes) takes the Audience Favorite Award.
Among professionals, Amandine Mottola (Bleu Voyages Mougins) is crowned “Best Travel Agent in France 2026,” ahead of Rémi Roussel (Voyages Couture Marseille) and Vincent Signoret (Verdié Voyages Pau). The Audience Favorite Award goes to Gabin Blin-Le Tanter (Carrefour Voyages Angers Grand Maine).
After three days of meetings, conferences and announcements, IFTM Top Resa thus closes its 48th edition with the traditional evening IFTM x TourMaG, before meeting professionals again in 2027.
Published by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com Editor See all articles by Amelia Brille
ESCAET Brings Together 75 Students and Alumni at Travel Recruiters Day (Video)
In total, 75 candidates from Bachelor and MBA programs participated in this day dedicated to employment, apprenticeships, and alternating internships.
Nine companies in the sector were present to present their activities, their roles and their recruitment needs.
The morning began with a presentation session, allowing each recruiter to reveal their company as well as the positions on offer.
The interviews then unfolded in the form of job dating.
Each student met all the companies present through four-minute exchanges, enabling candidates to multiply recruitment opportunities while discovering the diversity of jobs and players in the tourism sector.
Un format centré sur la rencontre
This format allowed students to engage directly with recruiters and present their background, their skills, and their career plans.
For the companies, this day represented an opportunity to identify future colleagues for roles in apprenticeship, alternating internship, or salaried contracts.
“ The quality I look for most in a candidate is primarily their involvement, their motivation, their drive ,” explains Isabelle Joubaud, Sales Director of the Vacances Bleues group. “It is really this involvement and versatility that I expect from a candidate.”
Positions could begin as early as this summer for some hires.
L’alternance et l’emploi au cœur de l’événement
Apprenticeship occupied a prominent place among the offered opportunities, alongside alternating internships.
Through this day, ESCAET continued its objective of bringing students closer to the professional world and of facilitating exchanges with companies in the sector.
The event also allowed participants to develop their professional network and to confront the practice of interviews in a recruitment context.
Takanakuy: Peruvian Christmas Day Bare-Handed Fight Ritual
While in most French households the mood is one of family merriment with presents under the tree and roasts in the oven, the residents of the small town of Santo Tomás celebrate the birth of Christ in their own way. It is in the Chumbivilcas region, tucked away in the Peruvian Andes, that between five and six thousand people gather in the arena usually used for bullfights to watch the bouts. The clashes run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., non-stop. A French expert on the subject, photojournalist and filmmaker Simon Ruiz, told Geo how the idea of making a film about this tradition came to him: “While I was scrolling Tik Tok, I came across a video of women fighting bare-handed in the middle of a large crowd.”
Speaking with his fixer on the ground, he quickly understood that this is a living tradition. He then decides to fly in to arrive on Christmas Day, equipped with his trusty camera. “For more than ten years I have been interested in Indigenous communities,” he explains, “I have come to realize the complexity of their situation: they are not simply communities living deep in the forest, subsisting on the river and the mountains. There are many deeper and more modern issues at stake.”
A ritual of uncertain origins
Simon Ruiz thus approaches the subject with the greatest respect and becomes interested in everything that surrounds the blows inside the arena. The Takanakuy is indeed part of a broader festival called Wayliya. In the days leading up to the fights, the festivities are organized with detailed disguises featuring traditional garments, but also masks and the stuffed remains of animals—antlers and condors—used as impressive headgear. Alcohol flows freely during these days of preparation for the Takanakuy, but this is no reason to forget the purpose of the celebration: Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
Hours of prayer are numerous and solemn. On the morning of December 25, the time is for hymns of praise to Jesus. Traditional Christianity takes precedence over times of dance and song, before 10 a.m., the time of the rendezvous inside the arena. The fighters’ aim is not to “win” a fight, even though there is always a dominant and a dominated one. All blows are allowed until one of the two opponents falls to the ground, at which point the hostilities are immediately halted by the referee, as Simon Ruiz relates.
In 2025, he chose to lay down his camera when invited to take part in a fight. He found himself facing one of the men he had known over the years while he came to film and photograph Takanakuy for the French press. To prepare and document his approach, he stayed for a month and a half in Santo Tomás and interviewed many people, including the village intellectual Víctor Laime Mantilla. The village representative defines it as “a pre-Hispanic tradition whose history has been passed down orally from generation to generation.” These testimonies take on various shapes and forms, and today it is difficult to determine with certainty where Takanakuy truly comes from.
The main theory, according to Víctor Laime Mantilla, goes as follows: this historical ritual may have begun in the time of the Inca emperors as a chance to display one’s courage in combat outside of actual battles. For Simon Ruiz, who has heard other voices from other Chumbivilcanos, there is also the possibility that this tradition originated in an even darker context: “After the arrival of the colonizers, perhaps some slave traders forced men to fight to choose the strongest…a bit like cockfights.” One must imagine that each story holds a grain of truth.
Modernity versus tradition
Whatever the origin of this tradition, one thing is certain: today it is deeply embedded in the Peruvian landscape. To the point of continuing to evolve with contemporary mores. Initially strictly reserved for men, the fights now see women stepping into the arena. According to Simon Ruiz, nearly one in two bouts today is fought by women.
The competitors have earned the right to fight among themselves, on equal footing with men, for reasons that the photojournalist finds surprisingly feminist: “Young women went to study in big cities, where equality is talked about a lot, and then returned with progressive demands.”
Not everyone’s cup of tea, but they have been present for several years now, albeit in a somewhat less official manner than the men. For Víctor Laime Mantilla, this is part of the nature of any tradition: it must adapt to survive. That doesn’t mean everything is rebuilt from scratch. Among the disguises you still find the majeños, the negros, the qara capas, the langostas, and the qarawatannas, variants of minors, crustaceans and slaves who dance all in praise of the Virgin Mary and Jesus in the streets and in the arena on December 25.
In Santo Tomás, Takanakuy is not simply a sequence of spectacular bouts. It reflects a society that negotiates its legacies, tensions, and transformations.
