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Arts et Vie Launches “Travel Rhythms” in Its Évasion 2027 Brochure

September 7, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Arts et Vie lance les « Rythmes de voyage » dans sa brochure Évasion 2027 - Depositphotos.com, efired

Hurtigruten

To better guide its travelers in choosing their stays, Arts et Vie integrates into its Évasion 2027 offering a structured evaluation grid in four categories (from Level 1 « Tempo at a gentle pace » to Level 4 « Intense Tempo »).

This benchmark takes into account walking times, the frequency of travel, the number of hotel changes and moments of rest.

This innovation is part of the association’s approach to adapting its itineraries to the capacities of each travel profile, while maintaining its editorial line focused on cultural discovery and local encounters.

A 2027 program enriched with 12 new international itineraries

The 2027 edition of the catalog includes 12 new itineraries spread across four continents.

In Asia, the offering notably broadens with the ‘Yangtze Odyssey’ in China (22 days), the circuit ‘Gujarati Culture’ in India (16 days), the crossing ‘Bali and the Komodo Archipelago’ in Indonesia, as well as family-oriented options in Thailand and Vietnam.

On the American and European continents, the novelties include a grand itinerary spanning Ecuador to the Galápagos Islands, an option for hiking and whale-watching in the Azores, a crossing of Norway to the North Cape, an archaeological discovery of the Turkish coast, as well as family stays in Malta.

North Africa completes this panel with the Oasis Egypt and a family circuit in Tunisia.

A continued commitment to responsible tourism

Holding Travelife Partner certification and a member of the association Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable (ATR), Arts et Vie continues the rollout of its eco-responsibility criteria in shaping its offerings.

The organization’s charter governs the selection of engaged hotel providers, the progressive elimination of disposable plastics, and the optimization of transport flows.

The association also participates in funding environmental projects via the ATR Fund in partnership with 1% for the Planet France.

This sponsorship mechanism aims to support actions for the preservation of ecosystems and the support of local populations in the destinations served by its programs.

Travel Agents Cup Junior 2026: Five Finalists Revealed

September 6, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

La Travel Agent Cup Junior revient pour une 9e édition - Logo TAC Junior, IFTM

TAP Air Portugal

The competition is entering its final stretch.

The five finalists of the 9th edition of the Travel Agents Cup Junior are now known. They were selected after a first stage based on a candidacy video, five tourism studies students have earned their place for the grand final.

They will meet on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 1:30 PM, on the stage of Arena by Uzbekistan at IFTM, to try to convince a jury of tourism professionals and, in the process, the public.

A feature of this edition: the scenarios the candidates must respond to were allocated by random draw ahead of the final. A way to place the five students facing the same challenge: to show reactivity, creativity and above all the ability to place themselves in the shoes of a true professional in sales and travel advice.

The finalists are …

Petina Buadi, Saint Pierre Institute Brunoy

Axelle Garcia, ISTHIA Toulouse

Julien Gleizes, IFC Montpellier

Isaline Monnier, IMS Nantes

Thalia Renoud, ISTHIA Toulouse

Four minutes to convince

There is no question of reciting a memorized speech. The final is above all immersive, dynamic, and close to the conditions of a real customer experience.

Each of the five candidates will begin with a video prepared in advance, intended to present their background, their school, and their mentor teacher. They will then propose, on stage, a complete customer experience linked to the scenario assigned to them.

Time will be limited: four minutes per candidate, without notes, to convince the jury. Quality of speech, creativity, dynamism, ability to engage their interlocutor… All the ingredients will be brought together to distinguish the young talents.

A genuine test of public speaking, where they will have to transform a few minutes on stage into an experience sufficiently convincing to win over both professionals and the audience.

A panel of professionals to decide among the candidates

For this 9th edition, the finalists will be evaluated by a jury composed of tourism professionals:

Marie Allantaz, IFTM

Annette Masson, FFTST

Christine Fumeau, CDMV

Pascale Missoud, AJT

Claire Quartieri, Leclerc Voyages and winner of the Travel Agents Cup 2025

Dominique Abiven, Futuroscope, representing leisure parks

The jury will notably have the responsibility of electing the three best promoters of Destination France.

But professionals won’t be the only ones to have a say. As every year, the public can also vote for its favorite via an Instagram poll. A prize will also be awarded to the fifth finalist.

So who will succeed Cloe Triaud, winner of the previous edition, and claim this 9th Travel Agents Cup Junior? See you on September 17 at IFTM to find out.

Published by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com Editor
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Exotismes Bets on All-Inclusive and Flexible Travel

September 6, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Julien et Sylvain Cisneros (assis) occupent le poste de directeur général et Gilbert Cisneros au centre, PDG d'Exotismes - Photo CE

TAP Air Portugal

Exotismes confirms its trajectory and the strength of its model.

In 2025, the tour operator wrapped up a “good year” according to Gilbert Cisneros, president of Exotismes, during his traditional year-start briefing with the trade press. But he adds: “good, without being exceptional.”

The target remains the same: prioritize profitability over revenue. Operating income rose by 93.58% compared with the pre-COVID period, and EBITDA stood at €8.7 million in 2025. For reference, it was €9.3 million in 2024 and €9.8 million in 2023.

After the rebound from the health crisis and the “revenge travel” wave, the long-haul travel market returned in 2025 to a slower, more measured pace, notes the executive.

The French Antilles remain Exotismes’ number-one destination: Guadeloupe and Martinique accounting for 18% and 15% of revenue respectively. In the Top 5, the Dominican Republic is gaining ground and now represents 16% of revenue, catching up with Mauritius (16% as well). Réunion closes the ranking (15% of revenue).

For 2026, Gilbert Cisneros does not hide that geopolitical tremors in Venezuela and the Middle East conflict will have an impact on revenue and results, “but it will remain a profitable year,” he adds.

Beyond the general context, what dampens demand is also the rise in the average price, which has climbed 54% between 2020 and 2027.

“The Caribbean benefited from a pull-forward effect, however the increase in the average price slowed that momentum, notably in the family segment,” analyzes Didier Sylvestre, deputy CEO in charge of sales.

Also to read: Maldives, Sri Lanka: how Exotismes chartered a special flight to repatriate clients

“Where we lost ground, in April, May and June, was at the entry-level prices, with fuel surcharges, as well as at the top end of the baskets, with the premium clientele, such as SME owners and executives, who had means and who told themselves: ‘We won’t go far, just in case something happens.’” continues Gilbert Cisneros, who notes that “what is lost is lost.”

In this economic environment, Exotismes is betting on all-inclusive packages. “We have reworked all our purchases across all axes and crafted a selection of products in an all-inclusive formula. It includes at a minimum: flights, transfers, accommodation, meals with drinks included,” details Sylvain Cisneros, managing director.

The Best of the Islands: an all-inclusive offer to manage the budget

La guide spécial agent de voyages 2027 - Photo CE

This specific offering, named “The Best of the Islands,” benefits from a dedicated website and includes 80 products.

It features the tour operator’s best-sellers on destinations that have long offered this format in the Dominican Republic and Mexico’s Riviera Maya.

Also added are the Caribbean, Réunion, Polynesia, the Seychelles and Sri Lanka, “destinations not yet seasoned to this kind of formula.” (see boxed note below)

A offering that could be close to a club-style product?

“No,” answers Gilbert Cisneros, “this is not a Club formula and we do not want to create a ‘Club Canada Dry’ version.”

Launched in early August, Didier Sylvestre confirms that this new product “is well received on the ground with already some initial sales.”

The Serenity Guarantee for more flexibility

In response to geopolitical uncertainties, Exotismes launched on June 1, 2026, the Serenity Guarantee for clients booking a stay in Guadeloupe, Martinique or Réunion, a guarantee the tour operator intends to make lasting.

“In the face of the geopolitical environment, customers are anxious; we must reassure them in terms of price, on-site expenses, and ‘disengagement’. It is also a real selling point for travel agents,” summarizes Gilbert Cisneros.

This option guarantees the price paid at booking, regardless of any potential increases in fuel costs or exchange-rate fluctuations, and allows cancellation without fees and without justification up to 15 days before departure.

On another front, Exotismes continues to accelerate its use of AI, always in service of travel agents.

“We have a certain maturity in artificial intelligence. We have taken it out of day-to-day operations as such, with a mission: to make agents more autonomous. The tool allows automating certain tasks so that travel agents can devote more time to sales and to customer relationships,” explains Julien Cisneros, CEO who leads the technology service and the R&D department within Exotismes.

AI at the service of travel agents

Specifically, this translates into tools. AI-powered digital brochures allow selling day and night, on both smartphones and computers. Agencies benefit from a real CRM to follow up on quotes, and they can also generate QR Codes and connected storefronts, as well as create mini-sites.

In short: an augmented phygital journey boosted by AI tools.

“Replacing humans with AI is a mistake; we are betting more on the augmented travel agent,” stresses Julien Cisneros.

AI as a tool, yes, but what about the competing artificial intelligence used by travel agencies themselves?

“Travel is not a purchase like any other. Clients save all year to go on vacation. Buying a stay with AI does not value the person. Clients search online, on ChatGPT, but to finalize: they want a human, because AI somehow undermines the product’s aura,” analyzes Gilbert Cisneros.

The offering is, of course, not left behind. Exotismes continues to broaden its production with several new products in the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean.

The 2027 departures are well underway

Best of the Islands: a few examples in the “soft all-inclusive” format

Polynesia: 3-island combo / 9 Nights

This combo includes 2 nights in Tahiti at the Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort & Spa ****, 3 nights in Moorea at the Manava Beach Resort & Spa **** and 4 nights in Bora Bora at the Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts *****.

From €5,599 per person, double occupancy, soft-inclusive, including flights and transfers.

Seychelles: stay at Coco de Mer & Black Parrot Suites ****

Located in Praslin, at Anse Bois de Rose on the southwest coast, this recently renovated hotel offers 40 rooms and 12 comfortable suites with balcony or terrace.

From €2,139 per person for a 7 days/5 nights package, double occupancy, soft-inclusive, including flights and transfers.

Caribbean / Guadeloupe

Located in Gosier, 7 km from Pointe-à-Pitre, on a white-sand beach, the Canella Beach ***, offers 143 studios and duplex apartments.

From €1,599 per person for a 6 days/5 nights package, double occupancy, soft-inclusive, including flights and transfers.

Published by Céline Eymery Editor-in-Chief – TourMaG.com
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ESCAET Brings Together 75 Students and Alumni at Travel Recruiters Day (Video)

September 5, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

La Journée des Recruteurs du Travel a réuni étudiants, alumni et entreprises du secteur touristique autour d'une journée dédiée à l'alternance, aux stages et à l'emploi - Photo : ESCAET

TAP Air Portugal

ESCAET hosted, on June 12, 2026, a new edition of its Travel Recruiters Day, an event aimed at fostering connections between tourism companies and the school’s students or alumni.

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

The event revolved around two job-dating sessions scheduled during the day.

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

This edition was primarily devoted to the recruitment needs of tourism companies for the coming months.

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.

FRAM Launches Selfcare to Automate Flight-Cancellation Management for Travel Agencies

September 2, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

FRAM lance Selfcare pour automatiser la gestion des annulations de vols des agences - Depositphotos.com Auteur visuals6x

TAP Air Portugal

A few weeks after unveiling the project at the Convenc’Tour of the CEDIV, FRAM unveils a new tool for travel agencies.

The tour operator announces the launch of Selfcare, a new tool integrated into its BtoB FRAMPRO platform, designed to simplify the management of flight cancellations.

This feature addresses a recurring issue driven by the rising disruptions in air travel, which heavily involve travel agencies and the teams of tour operators.

In a first phase, the tool concerns Stay (holidays) files

Specifically, Selfcare enables agencies to receive cancellations communicated by airlines more quickly, immediately access the available re-protection options, and confirm with their clients the chosen option on the spot, without prior revalidation by FRAM when the processing is automated.

The aim is to shorten processing times for cases while allowing the tour operator’s teams to focus on the more complex scenarios. When automatic processing is not feasible, the file is forwarded to the Service Avant Départ.

In this initial phase, the tool covers Stay dossiers for which a reprotection solution is available. Other cases will continue to be handled by FRAM teams.

FRAM: empowering agencies with autonomy and responsiveness

The group plans a gradual scaling of the system. By the end of 2026, nearly all FRAM and Plein Vent files affected by this type of processing should be integrated into Selfcare.

« Our partners asked for more autonomy and responsiveness when a flight is canceled.

Selfcare directly answers this expectation. It is a useful innovation, built from their feedback. And this is only the first step: we will continue to enhance Selfcare in the coming months », states Cyrille Fradin, president of Groupe Karavel-FRAM.

Up to 50 euros covered per person in case of air re-protection

In parallel with this technological evolution, FRAM announces a commercial measure aimed at reducing the financial impact of transport changes.

In the event of an air reprotection, the tour operator will now cover up to 50 euros per person for any additional transport costs. This contribution will be directly added to the file to lessen the traveler’s out-of-pocket amount and to facilitate securing departures.

This announcement comes amid a context where air disruptions have heavily strained the entire distribution chain in recent months.

At the Convenc’Tour of the CEDIV held in June, Jean-Christophe Guillin recalled that FRAM had recorded 3,800 PNR cancellations between April 1 and August 31 due to the conflict in the Middle East.

These figures illustrate the scale of the processing to be managed and the need to automate part of the processes.

Vacation 2026: Heatwaves Shake French Travel Plans

September 1, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Vacances d'été 2026 : budget et canicule bousculent les choix des Français, photo by VVF

Costa Rica

For their summer holidays, the French now apply the “four-hour drive rule” and prefer cooler destinations.

According to data published by VVF and IFOP, the cost and duration of travel, as well as climate comfort, have become decisive criteria, directly benefiting regions such as Brittany or the Hautes-Alpes.

The tight economic context and rising fuel prices are forcing families to reassess their entire vacation budget.

Transportation costs push them to limit the distance traveled, while stays within a four-hour drive from home are drawing a growing share of bookings.

To read: Tourism: Serge Papin expresses confidence for the summer season

According to the IFOP study, budget is the main obstacle to departure for 57% of 18-40-year-olds, prompting vacationers to prioritize proximity rather than forgoing their getaways.

Holidays: seeking cooler weather and nature

Comme le souligne Stéphane Le Bihan, directeur général de VVF : “les arbitrages ne portent plus uniquement sur le prix de l’hébergement.

Le coût du trajet devient un critère de choix à part entière. Les destinations accessibles rapidement, offrant un environnement plus tempéré, gagnent en attractivité.

Cette évolution traduit une nouvelle manière de choisir ses vacances d’été.

Parallèlement aux enjeux financiers, le facteur climatique transforme les critères de sélection. Les territoires offrant des températures plus clémentes ou des environnements naturels adaptés enregistrent une hausse nette d’attractivité.

Pour l’été 2026, les données de réservation de VVF font état d’une progression de 5 points pour la Bretagne et de 8 points pour les Hautes-Alpes par rapport à l’année précédente, portée par la recherche de moyenne montagne, de lacs ou de littoraux tempérés.

A lire : VVF takes a new direction and will open a holiday village right in the middle of… the city!

Pour répondre à cette demande d’adaptation aux fortes chaleurs, VVF propose une garantie de flexibilité permettant de modifier sans frais le lieu de séjour jusqu’à deux jours avant le départ en cas d’épisode caniculaire.

L’étude souligne également qu’au-delà de l’aspect financier, 62 % des jeunes actifs et familles aspirent à des vacances davantage tournées vers la nature et le bien-être.

360 Surf Travel Aims to Ride the B2B Wave

September 1, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

L’agence 360° Surf Travel, basée en Guadeloupe, propose des séjours sur mesure autour du surf, du kite ou de la plongée. @360 surf travel

Costa Rica

For more than ten years, Matthieu Ruty has nurtured 360 Surf Travel in defiance of traditional tourism models. Created in 2013 after a around-the-world trip with his wife, the agency specializing in surf stays built itself without a network, without a physical storefront, and almost exclusively in B2C.

Today, the leader aims to open a new chapter.

« Up to now, we worked very little with other agencies. But I sincerely believe we can offer them something on two- or three-week projects around surfing, kiteboarding or diving », he explains, with bold emphasis preserved.

This willingness to get closer to distribution is not unrelated to his recent presence at several professional events, notably the IFTM and more recently the Ditex. « I come mainly to understand how the sector works, meet the players and see where we can position ourselves », he notes.

360 Surf Travel: a niche expertise to share

A former agency director in the temporary work sector, Matthieu Ruty is not from the tourism world. A trait he embraces openly.

« Two years ago, I didn’t even know that agency networks existed. Today, I’m discovering an extremely dynamic universe with many players and many opportunities. »

Yet his company has carved out a niche. What started with four destinations now offers more than 120 surf destinations, 80 kite spots and just launched a diving-focused offering. Each segment now has its own dedicated site.

The year 2025 marked a turning point, with nearly 800 stays sold and revenue of €600,000.

« We were a small artisanal outfit. Today, one starts to think we can become a recognized player in our sector », declares Matthieu Ruty.

Understand Before Growing

Matthieu Ruty a co-fondé 360° Surf Travel, agence de voyage spécialisée dans les séjours surf et sports de glisse, en 2013, avec son épouse. @360 surf travel

For the moment, the leader advances with caution. Approached by several networks, he does not want to rush the steps.

« If I join a network, it’s to bring something. I’m still in a phase where I’m learning the sector’s codes, » says the CEO of 360 Surf Travel.

The same approach applies to a potential fundraising round. The topic exists, but remains under consideration.

« If one day we really accelerate, it will be to strengthen the teams, expand production and structure the B2B further. »

Find here our dossier dedicated to networks

Goal: one million euros in revenue

Parallel to this, 360 Surf Travel continues its ascent upmarket. The agency progressively reduces the most “backpacker” products to better serve a more mature clientele seeking comfort and personalized experiences.

A member of the ATR (Act for Responsible Tourism), 360 Surf Travel also states that it is strengthening its environmental and social requirements in partner selection.

Despite a geopolitical context that has weighed heavily on bookings in recent months, Matthieu Ruty remains confident: « People always need to travel. They may wait longer to book, but the desire to travel remains.”

In the medium term, the clearly stated ambition is: to surpass one million euros in revenue within three years.

Publié par Caroline Lelievre Journaliste – TourMaG.com
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Salaün Holidays Tests a Mobile Travel Agency in Markets

August 31, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Salaün Holidays teste une agence de voyages mobile sur les marchés - Photo : Salaün Holidays

Costa Rica

What if your next trip was planned between buying a few vegetables and picking up a local cheese?

C’est le pari de Salaün Holidays avec son opération estivale “Your travel agency comes to meet you”.

À bord d’un Mercedes Marco Polo habillé aux couleurs de l’enseigne, deux conseillers commerciaux installent ponctuellement leur bureau sur les marchés de communes de la Sarthe et de l’Orne.

Pour Franck Autret, directeur général du réseau d’agences de voyages Salaün Holidays, cette initiative répond à une réflexion plus large sur l’évolution de la distribution.

“Nous sommes à la fois tour-opérateur, agent de voyages, mais aussi transporteur. Dans nos réflexions pour développer notre activité, cette idée a émergé : pourquoi ne pas créer une agence qui va directement à la rencontre des clients ?”

L’entreprise disposait déjà d’un van, qu’elle a transformé en agence mobile. Deux conseillers, habituellement en poste en agence, se sont portés volontaires pour participer à cette première expérimentation.

L’objectif est simple : recréer un contact de proximité avec une clientèle qui ne dispose pas toujours d’une agence de voyages à quelques kilomètres de chez elle, tout en suscitant des projets de vacances dans un cadre plus spontané.

A start slowed by the heatwave

The tour, however, began under unusual conditions. The first stops coincided with the heatwave that hit France in late June.

“We started in the middle of a heatwave, which obviously didn’t help. On the first day, there weren’t many people at the market with nearly 40 °C“, acknowledges Franck Autret.

The following days proved more encouraging. “We had more contacts with traders than visitors at first, but also several inquiries and quotes. I wouldn’t say we are making sales every day, but this first test is quite interesting. The concept arouses curiosity and the initial feedback is positive.”

According to the group, the stops at Longny-les-Villages and Bellême notably allowed measuring public interest, both from exhibitors and residents.

An experiment that could be extended

This first tour will continue until July 17, 2026 on several markets in Sarthe and Orne.

At its end, Salaün Holidays will draw an initial assessment before deciding on the next steps.

If the idea of an itinerant agency year-round does not seem on the agenda, the concept could return in the autumn in another region. “If we find the experience to be conclusive, we could renew the operation in the autumn on another territory. In the long term, it’s a concept that could be sustained, or even developed“, says Franck Autret.

Next steps of the tour

• Thursday, July 2 : Saint-Calais

• Friday, July 3 : Malicorne-sur-Sarthe

• Tuesday, July 7 : Bonnétable

• Wednesday, July 8 : Longny-les-Villages

• Thursday, July 9 : Saint-Calais

• Friday, July 10 : Malicorne-sur-Sarthe

• Wednesday, July 15 : Longny-les-Villages

• Thursday, July 16 : Saint-Calais

• Friday, July 17 : Malicorne-sur-Sarthe

Written by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com Editor
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Just Travel: Making Travel Accessible for People with Disabilities

August 31, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Just Travel : Le pari de rendre le monde accessible à tous, Stéphane Amado et Julie Smith, photo de Just Travel

Costa Rica

TourMaG – Could you introduce yourselves and explain what Just Travel is?

Stéphane Amado: The idea for Just Travel was born from a personal event. My brother had a serious accident on Réunion. Following his stay in intensive care, he found himself living with a disability and asked me to take him on vacation.

Accompanying him and allowing him to escape really marked me, and I looked for a way to turn it into my profession.

Julie Smith: Together with Stéphane, we met about six years ago. I initially completed a degree in communication and marketing, then we joined forces to pursue a Master’s in a business school focused on tourism, specifically to design this travel-agency project.

TourMaG – You have a travel agency that helps people with disabilities travel. Could you explain how it works?

Stéphane Amado: We are a specialized agency for people with motor disabilities, even if we’re not closed to other types of disability in the future.

Our highlight is to offer human support during the stay: if a traveler does not have a companion to accompany them, we send a professional companion (such as a specialized educator).

We manage everything from A to Z: accommodations, transport, accompaniment and help with activities of daily living (meals, moving around, etc.). For the first year, we are focusing on these guided stays, but we will also offer at some point stays without accompaniment, “turnkey” ones.

Behind the Scenes of Its Creation

TourMaG – What were the triggers and the journey to officially launch this agency?

Julie Smith : We had the theoretical concept in mind, but we weren’t sure how to structure it. The real turning point happened during our studies and thanks to our entry into an incubator for social-impact businesses.

We were supported by a program that helps young entrepreneurs who aim to move the needle and transform the social environment.

In studying the market, we realized there was a real equality gap. Many people with major motor disabilities crave travel but encounter enormous logistical barriers. The on-site contacts we made confirmed there was a crucial need for a structure like ours.

TourMaG – What were your main financial or logistical challenges when launching?

Stéphane Amado: The main obstacle to creating a travel agency is obtaining the mandatory financial guarantee. When you’re starting out with little equity, it’s nearly impossible: traditional organizations like the APST sometimes require guarantees of 100,000 or 200,000 euros.

Fortunately, we were supported by UNAT (National Union of Tourism Associations) through their financial-guarantee mechanism for social economy and solidarity structures. We were among the first dossiers of this kind to be accepted, and without that, the project could never have become a reality.

Motor Disability: Filling a Gap in the Tourism Market

Stéphane Amado et Julie Smith, photo de Just Travel

Tour-MaG – Why focus mainly on motor disability rather than mental or psychological disability?

Julie Smith : The current market for adapted travel agencies (notably those with specific approvals like VAO – Organized Adapted Vacations) already covers mental disability fairly well.

However, there is a glaring lack of structured offers for motor disability, brain injury or polytrauma.

Moreover, in our past experiences in the mental-disability sector, we noticed that departures on holidays often corresponded to “respite” stays organized by institutions, without the person always having expressed a deep travel preference.

At Just Travel, we target an audience that takes an active approach and has a genuine “thirst” to discover the world.

No Declarations, 100% On-the-Ground

TourMaG – How do you manage the complexity of arranging a trip and the restrictions of each traveler?

Julie Smith : This is the most complex aspect of our work: every person and every disability is entirely unique. Even if we create standard stays in our catalog, we must systematically rethink and tailor everything according to the exact restrictions and medical needs of the person.

You literally have to put yourself in their shoes to anticipate the slightest obstacle.

If someone needs daily nursing care (for example, one to two visits per day for specific care), our accompanying person can coordinate the intervention of a private nurse on the vacation site.

Conversely, if the pathology requires a medical presence or heavy care 6 to 7 times a day, the organization becomes much more complex and requires substantial sanitary logistics in advance.

TourMaG – How do you concretely verify the accessibility of a destination?

Julie Smith : We never rely on mere statements from a website or a hotellerie saying “yes, yes, it’s accessible at my place.”

There are too many surprises. Our methodology is based on strict upstream verification: we contact providers directly and, as far as possible, we go to visit and test the places ourselves.

There are a multitude of micro-details to check. For example, the type of battery in an electric wheelchair: some airlines categorically refuse certain battery models (lithium, etc.).

It is experience that lets us know exactly which questions to ask airlines and accommodations. And if a hitch occurs on-site despite everything, the presence of our accompanying person helps cover the lack of accessibility and find an immediate solution.

Tourism, Finally Accessible?

TourMaG – Which destinations are the most accessible today, and where is there still the most work to be done?

Stéphane Amado : The most accessible are those involving sea or river cruises. It’s a wonderful product for motor disability. You stay on the boat; accessibility is designed from the outset, elevators are wide, and moving around is easy, even with large electric wheelchairs.

Likewise, some natural spaces are making incredible efforts: I think of certain Regional Natural Parks or protected areas that, despite challenging terrain, have set up specific, flat and smooth routes for people with reduced mobility. Transportation there is also often well thought out.

Conversely, in historically wealthy countries with aging infrastructures, such as Egypt, visiting narrow tombs, descending into crypts or moving around ancient archaeological sites in a wheelchair can be impossible by conventional means.

However, we believe that with goodwill and hands, one can always adapt the trip. That is why we stress the presence of an accompanying person.

If a person in a wheelchair wants to attend a concert or visit a site and official PMR tickets are sold out, the presence of a solid companion allows them to purchase a regular ticket and manage the human logistics so that the person can enjoy the event like everyone else.

TourMaG – Is the tourism sector moving positively toward greater inclusion?

Just Travel : Yes, accessibility is becoming more of a focal point, sometimes even driven by marketing interests from traditional providers, but it is moving the needle.

Travel players are recognizing that it’s a real market. Yet there is still a huge amount of logistical and on-the-ground training work to do.

It’s no longer just a fashionable topic; there is genuine involvement from many sector players (transit networks, hoteliers) who offer partnerships or competitive rates to help us develop the agency. This is very encouraging for the future.

Travel Agencies: Is Train Travel Easier to Sell Than Plane Tickets?

August 31, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Si les ventes de billets de train progressent en agences, il reste encore de nombreux freins à son développement - Depositphotos.com, frimufilms

Costa Rica

Rail travel is gaining ground, especially for trips within France.

At Déclic Evasion, rail stays rose by 16% between 2024 and 2025. « This evolution is explained by the increase in stays in France since the health crisis, the reduction of certain domestic air links and the development of alternatives such as Ouigo », explains Olivier Bernard.

The arrival of Trenitalia on Paris-Marseille has also helped to energize certain routes.

At Versailles Voyages, Myriam Tord also notes a progression, even though the train started from a long way off. « We progressed because we were almost starting from zero. The train wasn’t really something that was offered before. »

For her, the turning point comes from personal experience: after completing the Trans-Canada journey between Toronto and Vancouver, she discovered the train as a genuine travel experience.

At Quartier Libre, the assessment is more mixed. The tour operator has been offering since 2025 a train option to Scotland, but it accounts for about 10% of sales on that destination. « It’s a nice calling card, but it remains limited in volume », says Stéphane Dossetto.

What are the arguments for selling train travel?

The primary argument is the experience. For Myriam Tord, train travel should not be presented solely as an alternative to air travel: « It is a different way to travel. »

The train lets passengers take their time, enjoy the scenery and discover a destination in a different way. It is particularly well suited to Canada, Scotland, Switzerland, or Italy.

Professionals also highlight the comfort: arriving in the city center, no baggage constraints, and less waiting before departure — the train offers a different kind of simplicity.

For Olivier Bernard, the train is also appealing for leisure groups. The conditions offered by SNCF on Inoui trains provide greater flexibility for CSE clients, especially regarding registrations and cancellations.

The ecological argument remains present, but it is not always enough. Stéphane Dossetto believes that practicality should also be addressed: « We talk a lot about carbon footprint, but we forget about comfort. »

What are the barriers?

The first obstacle remains the rail offering. Olivier Bernard specifically points to the weakness of province-to-province links. “From Marseille, the availability of direct TGV services remains insufficient.”

For international destinations, connections also complicate sales. Stéphane Dossetto cites the example of Scotland: from Paris, the journey is possible, but from some regions in France, the accumulation of changes makes flying more attractive.

Price also remains a topic. On certain destinations, particularly in the face of low-cost carriers, air travel preserves an advantage.

Customer habits are another brake. Many still appreciate the comfort of a coach trip where they have nothing to manage. « Customers love the cocoon of the coach: they drop their luggage and don’t have to deal with anything », explains Stéphane Dossetto.

Finally, the management of disruptions worries agencies. « If a train is canceled, you have to find another solution: another train, a hotel, a new arrangement. After-sales service is more complicated », remarks Myriam Tord.

What about the tools?

Professionals deem rail tools still inadequately adapted.

For Myriam Tord, the problem also relates to knowledge: « For air travel, we go to Amadeus and it’s quite simple. For trains, you have to know the providers. »

Solutions exist, such as Rail Europe or Resaneo, but they remain little known to agents.

In the group market, expectations are even higher. Olivier Bernard particularly regrets the late opening of sales and the absence of a functional Ouigo group tool.

He also believes it is necessary to improve features: management of traveler typologies, changes in headcount, or seat selection.

Beyond digital tools, human support remains essential. For Déclic Evasion, having a dedicated BtoB contact at Inoui is a real asset during group sales and in case of unforeseen events.

How can train sales be improved?

For the professionals surveyed, the priority is to better promote the product.

« It has to be tested », says Myriam Tord. According to her, an agent who has traveled by train will be more capable of conveying the experience to the client.

Training is therefore an important lever, as is a shift in the way rail travel is sold. The train should not be presented solely as an ecological solution, but as a new travel experience.

It is also necessary to facilitate marketing: better visibility of availability, tools more suited to agencies, and a clearer offer.

Finally, remuneration remains an issue. Olivier Bernard recalls that rail travel retains a commission-based system, unlike air travel, but he believes current levels are insufficient.

The train is thus making progress in agency catalogs, but it has not yet become a sales reflex. To gain ground against aviation, it will need to continue improving its tools and, above all, its ability to appeal beyond the environmental argument.