AirlinePros: Leading American GSA Represented in France by Frédéric d’Hauthuille (Video)




In tourism, there are bosses who juggle multiple roles as others wear yellow jerseys.

Frédéric d’Hauthuille is one of them.

Not only is the founder and leader of Monde Authentique the driving force behind the Club des Créateurs de Voyages, but he also teaches at two tourism schools.

Do you think his commitments stop there?

“I am a partner and development director at Prodesti, which provides training to travel agents and the employees of tour operators.

And then, I speak of it less, but I hold the license for the French market of AirlinePros, which represents airlines.

I have worked within airlines since 1992 up to the launch of Monde Authentique. In 2022, AirlinePros contacted me
“, we share Frédéric d’Hauthuille.

Achma Asokan, the cofounder of the company, then decides to broaden the activity beyond the United States, where she has quickly established herself as one of the leading General Sales Agents, or general sales agents, for airlines.


What is AirlinePros?

AirlinePros was launched in the late 1990s, led by James W. Foster and Achma Asokan.

Its teams are located in India, the United States and Namibia. The company has opened offices around the world, eventually operating in more than 40 countries.

AirlinePros handles the representation of airlines, primarily in the United States and Canada. It counts 57 client airlines, therefore it represents 57 carriers.

In France, more than 50 airlines do not have a direct presence, but rather operate through a GSA, a general sales agent, hence a representative
“, explains Frédéric d’Hauthuille.

For newcomers, a GSA ensures the commercial representation of airlines that do not have the means, or the desire, to be present in France by employing their own staff.


AirlinePros: “InterCaribbean will open routes from Pointe-à-Pitre and Fort-de-France”


"Les clients refusent de voyager sur une compagnie aérienne du Golfe" selon Frédéric d’Hauthuille - RP

This model is widespread across the world. There are several players, such as Global Airline Services in France, Aviareps, APG, or AirlinePros, who will adapt to the needs of airlines according to markets.

Some do not need to be represented in France, while others do not need to be represented in the United States.

We have contracts with five airlines. The one occupying the most of my attention at the moment is InterCaribbean, based in the Turks and Caicos Islands, hence on a British territory, with British traffic rights.

InterCaribbean will open, in the coming months, routes from Pointe-à-Pitre and Fort-de-France.

We are laying out the strategy to be implemented with the airline’s headquarters on the Caribbean territories, and finding ways to route customers from mainland France onto the InterCaribbean network
“, reveals Frédéric d’Hauthuille.

If the name InterCaribbean doesn’t ring a bell, it’s partly because the airline has regularly changed its name.

Created in 1991, it was then called InterIsland Airways. Then, in 2003, it was renamed Air Turks & Caicos. Five years later, it merged with SkyKing, before taking its final name in 2013.

It operates around ten aircraft, mainly ATRs and Embraer jets. And that’s not all.

AirlinePros has signed a contract with Sunrise Airways, a Haitian carrier operating two weekly flights between Pointe-à-Pitre and Haiti, and it offers “excellent connections to reach Miami.

Between July and September 13, this route will be operated with an A320, replacing the Embraer 145. This represents a 180% increase in capacity, a major challenge for the summer.


“Customers refuse to travel on a Gulf airline”

The GSA also represents LIFT, a South African airline founded in 2020, as well as FastJet, a Zimbabwean carrier.

On the Prodesti side, Frédéric d’Hauthuille’s other hat, the first half-year was marked by a slowdown in trainings. In light of falling bookings, the leaders apparently paused some expenditures, starting with training.

We have 35 trainings and we will launch French Polynesia, which met a demand from our client travel agencies. For 2027, we are preparing trainings on China and Indonesia” announces the head.

As for his latest role, that of head of Monde Authentique, after the turmoil triggered by the war in Iran, with passengers stranded all over the world, evacuations to be carried out, and then bookings thinning out, the summer will be quieter.

A few last-minute dossiers could nevertheless improve the statistics. “We have noticed since late May that more than half of our sales pertain to departures in June, July and August. There are still plenty of seats almost everywhere. I have never seen this in 40 years in the industry.

Most clients, from the first contact, tell us they will refuse to travel on a Gulf airline. There are many who do not want to depart towards the East, i.e., toward Asia“, he explains, rather unconcerned about 2027, as clients already envision the next year.


Romain Pommier Publié par Romain Pommier Journaliste – TourMaG.com
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SAS Optimizes Ticket Prices with Amadeus AI


SAS optimise le prix de ses billets grâce à l’IA d’Amadeus - Depositphotos.com, Boarding2Now

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Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) s’appuie désormais sur l’intelligence artificielle pour optimiser la tarification de ses billets.

The airline has rolled out the Amadeus Air Pricing Optimization (AAPO) solution across its entire network.

In markets where the tool is already used via SAS’s website and its NDC distribution channels, Amadeus reports an average revenue uplift for the carrier of more than 3%. The technology provider does not specify the exact scope of markets involved nor the reference period used to measure this progression.

AAPO leverages artificial intelligence as well as real-time data to adjust fares according to demand and market context.

The objective is to enable SAS to gradually move away from a model based on booking classes with predefined fares, in favor of pricing that is more continuous and evolving.


Prices Adjusted More Gradually

For travelers, this evolution should especially make the booking experience more readable, according to Amadeus.

The prices can move more fluidly in response to demand, aiming to limit sharp gaps between different fare classes.

This approach should contribute to strengthening the transparency of the purchasing journey and passengers’ confidence when selecting their ticket.

The solution also enables commercial and revenue-management teams to reduce reliance on manual adjustments. Prices can be continuously modified as demand evolves, within pricing strategies and guardrails defined by the airline.


A Step in the Modernization of Air Distribution

With this deployment, Amadeus also aims to illustrate one of the growing uses of artificial intelligence in the aviation sector: analyzing large volumes of data to automate and refine certain commercial decisions.

The group says it intends to support this evolution within a governance framework anchored notably in its AI Office and through strategic partnerships.

For SAS, the challenge now is to continue integrating these tools into a more flexible distribution strategy while maintaining human oversight over the rules and boundaries that govern pricing.


Amelia Brille Published by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com Editor
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Integration with Lufthansa, NDC, New Routes, and Rome Hub: ITA Airways’ Ambitions


Intégration à Lufthansa, NDC, nouvelles lignes et hub de Rome : les ambitions d'ITA Airways !

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TourMaG – Tensions in the Middle East have significantly disrupted air travel. What impact has that had on ITA Airways?

Samy Addou: The impact is the same as for all market participants. The situation is not easy.

At ITA Airways, we have been very dynamic. We have leveraged fuel hedges that cover about 80% through year-end to try to control costs and, above all, to limit the impact of rising prices.

And we have primarily adjusted capacity and destinations to be as responsive as possible.

As part of this recovery plan, we reopened Tel Aviv on July 1. We will reopen Riyadh in September.

TourMaG – Should we expect capacity adjustments on certain routes?

Samy Addou: No, that is not the case. The program remains stable via Rome-Fiumicino, whether heading to Italy or on the long-haul network.


TourMaG – Travel agencies are noticing later bookings and customers who are more budget-conscious. Do you see the same trend?

Samy Addou: Yes, absolutely, that is a trend that is being confirmed. But what we note is that even if bookings are increasingly late, it does not affect overall demand.

What is very important for us is revenue, so we focus on load factors and yield to ensure we achieve our objectives.

We also adjust capacity, as I mentioned, but also our commercial strategy on a continuous basis, and that is very important for us.



TourMaG – What exactly does this commercial strategy entail?


Samy Addou: We stay close to market players, to distributors, and we work to support them in managing operational variabilities and finding solutions for their clients because ultimately, our distributors need support and we are at their service.


“Marseille is a great success”: ITA Airways continues its development in France

TourMaG – You recently launched the Marseille-Rome route and strengthened Nice. How is this development going?

Samy Addou: Marseille is a great success. The launch is going wonderfully, first of all thanks to our distribution partners. I want to particularly thank them. But also thanks to the Marseille airport, with whom we are working extremely well, and that is very important for us.

The value proposition from Marseille to Rome-Fiumicino is not only point-to-point, but it also enables connectivity from the region to Italy, and beyond, on ITA Airways’ long-haul network.

This is part of a seasonal development plan, as we also opened, at the same time as Marseille, Malaga, Valencia, Alicante, Mykonos and Trapani.

We have also added frequencies on important seasonal destinations in Southern Italy with Brindisi, Lampedusa, Pantelleria, Palma de Mallorca and, above all, Nice.

TourMaG – Specifically, why does Nice occupy a special place in your network?

Samy Addou: Nice is a destination and/or starting point in France that is historic for ITA Airways. The city has accompanied us since the start of operations.

We added a fourth flight starting July 1, through September. And this flight is a night stop. The aircraft stays in Nice and departs very early the next morning. It connects to the entire ITA Airways network.

This enables Nice residents and the PACA region, but also Monaco, to travel to all destinations in our network.

This increase in frequencies and capacity reflects the commitment of customers, but also of distributors to the route; it also reflects growing demand.

Our strategy is really to be efficient and to put in place solutions that are profitable for the future.

TourMaG – Can the Rome-Fiumicino hub become a genuine alternative to other major hubs in Europe or the Middle East?

Samy Addou: For me, it is a more than credible alternative. Rome-Fiumicino is a five-star airport as rated by Skytrax. That is the maximum rating.

The airport was totally renovated after Covid; it is brand new. Connections are a short walk from the Schengen area to non-Schengen. You have access to all the best Italian cuisine, and to many shops. It is really a pleasure to connect via Rome-Fiumicino.

I have no doubt that the other airports are also excellent. But if you travel via Rome, you will not be disappointed.


“Rome-Fiumicino is a more than credible alternative to the major hubs”

TourMaG – Which long-haul routes are currently the most promising via Rome-Fiumicino?

Samy Addou: Thank you for asking, because ITA Airways is of course the national Italian airline, but not only that.

We have a long-haul network that has grown in recent years, and we cover all five continents.

The strongest destinations from Rome-Fiumicino are in North America, because ITA serves Toronto in Canada and eight destinations in the United States.

We also have a wonderful network in South America: Rio daily, Sao Paulo twice daily, Buenos Aires nine to ten times a week. That is very important to us.

We have also developed our network in West Africa, the Middle East, Oceania with the Maldives, Mauritius, and Asia, of course, with Tokyo Haneda, Bangkok, and India.

TourMaG – Could France benefit from new regional route openings?

Samy Addou: I would like to give you an answer, but it is a bit premature.

What I can tell you is that at ITA Airways we are very attentive to network efficiency. We study all opportunities and we will seize, if the opportunity arises, the opening of new regional routes.

TourMaG – Lufthansa Group intends to raise its stake to 90%. concretely, what does that change for ITA Airways?

Samy Addou: Before talking about the future, I will first talk about the present, because concretely, it brings a lot of value for customers and passengers.

Since April 1, we have joined Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance.

We have also joined the Miles & More loyalty program of the Lufthansa Group.

The integration allows for code-sharing. For ITA, that already means 150 additional destinations, 130 lounges that our passengers can access directly thanks to this development in recent weeks.

In Germany, at Frankfurt and Munich airports, we are now a single entity under the Lufthansa Group. We have already joined Lufthansa for operations.

Then, there is a whole range of advantages: cargo is unified, fares are aligned, and we benefit from cost reductions in distribution costs (GDS).

And the big novelty is the NDC, which we migrated to on May 12.

TourMaG – Is the move to NDC linked to the closer integration with Lufthansa?

Samy Addou: We are doing things in order. Migrating to NDC solutions was part of our action plan.

The advantage is that we benefited from the great expertise and experience of the Lufthansa Group, which is a pioneer on the subject.

This greatly facilitated our internal tasks, but above all, it allowed a very smooth implementation for all our partners since May 12.

TourMaG – Where will tourism professionals be able to meet you in the coming months?

Samy Addou: I invite them to meet at the start of the season, at IFTM, on the Business Club, where we will have a shared stand with the Lufthansa Group.

We will be eager to present our innovations to them, represent the group at our stand, and then welcome them for a spritz.


Céline Eymery Published by Céline Eymery Editor-in-Chief – TourMaG.com
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Air France Launches Paris Stopover to Transform Layovers into Tourist Stays


Air France et Extime Travel lancent officiellement « Paris Stopover » - Depositphotos.com @alexeynovikov

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Air France et Extime Travel viennent de lancer « Paris Stopover », une nouvelle offre destinée à transformer les longues correspondances à Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle en véritables séjours touristiques.

Le service, conçu et opéré par Extime Travel, la marque commerciale du Groupe ADP dédiée aux expériences touristiques, permet aux clients d’Air France de prolonger leur escale dans la capitale, à l’aller comme au retour, et de réserver un package comprenant hébergement, transferts et activités.

Le dispositif s’adresse aux passagers ayant réservé un billet Air France incluant une correspondance d’au moins 27 heures à Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle.

Ils peuvent choisir de prolonger leur escale pour une durée comprise entre une et quatre nuits, puis sélectionner leur expérience auprès d’Extime Travel.

L’offre est disponible quelle que soit la cabine de voyage, de l’Economy à La Première, en passant par les classes Premium et Business.

Les prestations peuvent être réservées jusqu’à 48 heures avant le départ, sous réserve de disponibilité.


Une offre clé en main pour les passagers en correspondance

« Paris Stopover » a été conçu pour proposer une prise en charge complète du séjour.

Chaque formule comprend des transferts, une ou plusieurs nuits dans des hôtels quatre ou cinq étoiles ainsi qu’un choix d’activités, à adapter en fonction de la durée de l’escale et des envies du voyageur.

Deux expériences sont proposées au lancement. « Paris Incontournables » permet de découvrir les principaux sites touristiques de la capitale, de la tour Eiffel au Louvre. Une seconde offre est consacrée à Disneyland Paris.

Extime Travel prévoit d’enrichir progressivement le catalogue avec de nouvelles expériences premium ainsi que des excursions culturelles, gastronomiques et festives.

Le groupe souhaite également développer des offres permettant de découvrir les territoires situés autour de l’aéroport Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle.


Un potentiel important auprès des voyageurs internationaux

L’enjeu est significatif pour Air France. La compagnie indique que 50% de ses clients arrivant à Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle sont en correspondance vers une autre destination.

La demande semble également présente chez les voyageurs concernés. Selon une étude de la Chaire Pégase publiée en avril 2026, 81% des passagers en correspondance à Paris se déclarent plutôt ou très intéressés par la possibilité de quitter l’aéroport pendant leur escale afin de découvrir Paris ou des attractions situées à proximité de Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle.

L’intérêt est encore plus marqué chez certaines clientèles internationales, notamment brésilienne, avec 92,3% de voyageurs intéressés, et indienne, avec 90%. Ces deux marchés bénéficient, par ailleurs, depuis avril 2026 d’une exemption de visa de transit aéroportuaire en France, un élément susceptible de faciliter ce type de séjour.


Une nouvelle étape pour le hub de Paris-CDG

Le lancement de « Paris Stopover » s’inscrit dans le cadre de « Connect France », le partenariat stratégique signé en juin 2025 entre Air France-KLM et le Groupe ADP pour renforcer l’attractivité et la performance du hub de Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle.

L’offre doit contribuer à faire de Paris une étape à part entière dans le parcours des voyageurs en correspondance, alors que les grands hubs internationaux cherchent de plus en plus à transformer leurs passagers en visiteurs temporaires.

Air France et le Groupe ADP présentent ainsi « Paris Stopover » comme une nouvelle manière de valoriser le trafic de correspondance et de renforcer le rayonnement de la destination France. Les deux partenaires indiquent que Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle devient, avec ce dispositif, le premier grand hub européen à proposer une expérience touristique de ce type entre deux vols.


Amelia Brille Publié par Amelia Brille Rédactrice TourMaG.com
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Aviation: Sébastien Lecornu Under Pressure to Avert a Nationwide Strike


Aérien : l’intersyndicale exige un engagement écrit avant le 31 juillet 2026, pour éviter une grève nationale - Photo : RP, modifiée avec l'IA

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Meetings in ministerial offices are stacking up for the interunion of cabin crew members (PNC). Each time, they leave a sense of things unfinished for the profession’s representatives.

The first one took place with Philippe Tabarot, nearly two weeks ago, as we disclosed to you.

The Minister of Transport acknowledged the particularities of the PNC regarding the employment-retirement accrual reform (CER) and stated that he would support, with the Prime Minister, the interunion’s proposal to exclude this group from the text.

Earlier this week, it was the turn of the Ministry of Labor to receive the representatives.

The technical and legal advisers of Jean-Pierre Farandou recognized that the “cabin crew are the great forgotten ones of this reform” and that their “demands are legitimate given the specifics” of their professions and of the CRPN.

If the union flyer drafted after this meeting aims to be positive, it also reveals shortcomings in the ministry’s commitment to resolve the issue.

A massive strike, affecting all companies, is still not to be ruled out, even though an ultimatum has been given to Sébastien Lecornu.

To read: easyJet France: anger is mounting, a strike looming in August?


Reform of the employment-retirement accrual: patchwork, without taking cabin crew out of the text

Indeed, according to the flyer, the ministerial team has not been able to offer a firm solution to the problem raised by the interunion.

For reference, the reform, which will come into force on January 1, 2027, provides that all earnings, including unemployment benefits, could be deducted from the CRPN pension. Yet the CRPN is a private and mandatory retirement fund.

The unions fear that the State will seize the reserves and, more broadly, that “unpaid CRPN pensions” would go to “fuel the public accounts.”

For now, this would amount to little more than “patchwork,” in the words of the various unions who attended the meeting, which was proposed without removing the PNC from the reform text.

Following the meeting with the Ministry of Labor, a new letter was sent to Sébastien Lecornu, after the July 8 letter that remained unanswered.

In addition to recalling the recent context, with the three visits to ministerial offices, the letter explains that these meetings have allowed to confirm “that applying this reform to cabin crew constitutes an unanticipated side effect, arising from the lack of consultation and impact assessment on the specificities of air transport.”


Aviation: the interunion demands a written commitment by July 31, 2026!

The decision on this possible exclusion of PNC now rests with the Prime Minister. And the answer should not be delayed.

The不可-negotiable deadlines tied to the settlement of CRPN pensions require a solution to be decided by July 31, 2026.

Otherwise, a wave of early departures cannot be prevented, posing a risk of a major industrial accident in French air transport, with particularly heavy operational, economic, and social consequences
“, the communication states.

If by the end of the month no serious response is provided to the unions’ demands, France could face a nationally significant social movement.

The interunion simply wants the complete exclusion of cabin crew from the new reform scheme and does not want a mere alternative solution designed to limit its impact.

They also want to participate in the legislative work planned within the framework of the 2027 Social Security financing bill, since that is where the reform is positioned.

In the absence of a written commitment before July 31, 2026, or if the commitments made should not be respected during the drafting of the bill in the autumn, our organizations will take responsibility.

They will then undertake the necessary steps to organize nationwide, large-scale strikes
“, the letter concludes, also signed by the SNPL.

The countdown has begun…


Romain Pommier Published by Romain Pommier Journalist – TourMaG.com
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Finnair Reports Record Q2 2026 Results, Capacity Trimmed


Finnair revoit à la baisse sa croissance de capacité pour 2026 - Photo : Finnair

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Finnair shows a clear improvement in its performance in the first half of 2026, driven by strong demand and rising traffic.

The Finnish airline has, however, revised downward its annual capacity forecast, notably due to the cancellation of flights to the Middle East.

The second quarter of 2026 proved particularly favorable for Finnair. Between April and June, the group’s revenue rose by 16.4%, to €916.7 million, vs €787.7 million a year earlier.

The comparable operating profit reached €78.4 million, versus €10.3 million in the second quarter of 2025.

Finnair notes that the comparison period had been penalized by social movements, which had a direct negative impact of around €29 million on this indicator.

The operating result stands at €86.6 million, compared with €19.2 million a year earlier. Earnings per share reach €0.28, versus €0.06 in Q2 2025.


6.1 million passengers carried in the first half

The growth in traffic accompanies this improvement in results. Over the three months from April to June, Finnair carried 3.3 million passengers, up 7.6%.

The load factor rose by 3.4 points to 79.9%. Capacity, measured in available seat-kilometers (ASK), grew by 2%, to 10.4 billion kilometers.

For the first half of the year as a whole, Finnair’s revenue reached €1.69 billion, up 14.4%. The comparable operating profit stood at €77.8 million, versus a loss of €52.3 million in the first half of 2025. Operating profit meanwhile rose from €-34.2 million to €90.2 million.

Finnair carried 6.1 million passengers between January and June, up 7.4% from the same period last year. The load factor reached 79%, up by 3.8 percentage points.

The airline benefits notably from robust demand, especially in Asian traffic, as well as a rise in ancillary revenues and cargo activities. According to its CEO, Turkka Kuusisto, temporary capacity adjustments on the market have also allowed Finnair to benefit from higher unit revenues.


Annual capacity revised downward

Despite these results, Finnair has adjusted its outlook for 2026. The airline now expects an increase of about 1% in total capacity, measured in ASK, versus a growth of 3% anticipated in April.

This revision is explained in particular by the cancellation of flights to the Middle East. The number of passengers carried on Finnair’s own network should nonetheless rise by around 7% for the full year.

The company also maintains its forecast for comparable operating profit, now expected to be between €120-190 million. Its revenue guidance is, however, raised to €3.4-3.5 billion, up from €3.3-3.4 billion previously.


Geopolitical tensions weigh on the outlook

Finnair nonetheless highlights the uncertainties surrounding the second half of the year. International conflicts, political instability and the risk of renewed trade tensions could affect the operating environment.

The situation in the Middle East is notably a risk factor for fuel availability and price. Costs linked to environmental regulations continue to weigh on the group’s profitability.

Finnair says it has hedged 82% of its fuel purchases in the second quarter. The hedging rate reaches 81% for the third quarter, a strategy aimed at limiting the impact of volatility in oil prices.


The company gears up for renewal of its medium-haul fleet

On the commercial and operational front, Finnair continues to roll out its strategy. The carrier plans notably to resume routes to Turku and Tampere, to strengthen links between these two Finnish regional hubs and its international network.

The carrier is also preparing for the arrival of new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft and has signed letters of intent to lease six Airbus A320ceo. This renewal of the mid-haul fleet is intended to accompany the network’s development and strengthen the airline’s competitiveness.

Finnair also notes the improvement in customer satisfaction, with a Net Promoter Score held at 42, as well as the improvement of its employee engagement indicator.


The 18–40 Market: A Highly Heterogeneous Core Target Audience [ABO]


Selon une récente étude VVF et Ifop sur les vacanciers âgés de 18 à 40 ans, le modèle des vacances reproduites à l’identique de génération en génération s'effrite au profit d'un choix plus identitaire - DepositPhotos.com, NewAfrica

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A brief look back at the history of tourism reminds us quickly that the first paid holidays granted to workers produced images that became iconic in holiday iconography.

On a bicycle, in beach attire, attempting awkward strokes, picnicking along lake shores… the earliest vacationers did not rush toward distant destinations, nor even toward close ones.

Most spent their free time not as they « could » but as they « knew » how to do it.

For the occupation of “vacations” by leisure activities and, in particular, travel, a know-how and above all a culture is required, which would only develop later, after World War II, with the emergence of mass destinations equipped to host mass tourism!

Read on this subject: Edgar Morin: toward a time of increasingly complex leisure

To such an extent that 600,000 reduced-fare train tickets were sold in 1936 and 1.8 million the following year! In a country inhabited by around 40 million people.



Youth studied: a question of the era

To return to the mythology of paid vacations in France, note that photos and documentary films from the Popular Front era show vacationers who were rather young.

How old were they? They were obviously part of the active population, hence over 14 years old.

Were they really considered young? Of course. But they were mainly “young adults,” already fathers or mothers, employees, workers, more or less educated… most of whom had little culture or experience of leisure time.

Times changed and compulsory education being set at 18, yesterday’s youths are not those of today.

Moreover, as marketing has entered our habits, consumer-behavior studies of vacationers increasingly dissect many population segments to target them more effectively. Children, adolescents, families, seniors, women, solo travelers, very high incomes, city dwellers, etc.: the list is long.

Thus, VVF in partnership with Ifop revealed a study on the 18 – 40 age segment that provides some quantitative and qualitative elements not to be neglected, though far from exhaustive. They poorly reflect the obvious differences between the 15 – 24 and the 18 – 34-year-olds traditionally used by study institutes.

Between a 25-year-old, single, employed and a 40-year-old family man with two young children, the differences are dizzying and clearly show up in their vacation consumption.

On one side, you can be a young startup entrepreneur, comfortably paid, teleworking from the other side of the world and making generous use of your credit card and last-minute flights, despite the appearance of an eternal backpacker, backpack on your back and multiple screens.

On the other, you’ll have a dad building sandcastles with two little ones or a single mother struggling to take care of her children.


Generations: qualitative segmentation that works

It is also worth noting that the generation-based segmentation, which is far more qualitative, enjoys great prominence.

Generations X, Y, and especially Z have captured popular imagination. Everyone, almost, knows that Gen Z, currently aged 15 to 29, must be watched closely since they anticipate the behaviors of tomorrow.

Yet one must know how to segment them from their dominant attitudes:

– engaged

– pragmatic

– hedonistic

– ultra-connected

– creative…

And that is still not enough, since Publicis Media, for example, proposes a slightly different and more operational segmentation, based on the dominant personality traits of Gen Z and their consumption:

– the militants (impact and values)

– the shrewd (prices and promotions)

– the explorers (experiences and trends)

– the creators (influence and content)

– the ambitious (success and status)

– the securitarians (savings and stability).


“The Silent Rift in Vacations Among 18-40s”

In this labyrinth that we will revisit, set up by marketers, what does the Ifop/VVF study, which sought to learn more about vacationers aged 18 to 40, tell us?

First observation, according to this study: the majority of 18-40-year-olds treat themselves to at least one trip per year. But, for 38% of them, it is a single trip and mainly in summer. This does not mean that spring vacations are not beginning to emerge. On the contrary, 16% of those who travel do so, while 11% opt for weekends!

Fragmented, the “new departures” are undeniably linked to new working times and their new organizations, especially teleworking and the reduction of working time.

But budget remains the main concern this year, more than others: 86% worry about it and 55% see it as the main influencer on their vacation choices. With costs in mind: accommodation for 66% of respondents, especially the older ones.




Nature, yes! But ecology… meh!

Other noteworthy observations: 53% of young people imagine future vacations that are more environmentally responsible, but only 6% of respondents currently place environmental concerns as the main trigger for their vacation choices in light of the cost-of-living pressure.

And yet, returning to roots and nature constitutes the most widely supported projection for 62% of them… but in 20 years! A convenient way to excuse their current practices and, in particular, their urge to travel far!

Finally, it seems interesting to note that the model of vacations reproduced identically from generation to generation is eroding in favor of a more identity-driven choice. People no longer depart as they did in childhood.

It must be said that today’s offer is not only massive, but diverse, accessible and fully integrated into consumption. The urge for disruption is therefore enormous. Henceforth, “92% of young adults perceive at least one change in their way of traveling compared to their parents, with the destination becoming the main marker of this generational rupture.”

“A strong symbol of this emancipation, one in two French people (50%) aged 18 to 40 categorically rejects the idea of an imposed family tradition and does not wish to perpetuate their parents’ vacation rituals”!

Yet! Considering the number of young people who enjoy sharing their vacations with their parents to benefit from their lifestyle, financial help, and ability to take care of grandchildren, there would still be a lot to say on this topic!

There would be as much to say about differences between generational behaviors and ages or even about subjective ages…


The holiday village: an unbeatable model for families

In the face of these changes, the study highlights a very strong attachment to the holiday village model: 40% of respondents say they mainly choose this type of accommodation, far ahead of hotels (9%).

The holiday village reaches the same cumulative level as rental and camping combined.

This success rests on several strong expectations: the simplicity of organization, comfort, sociability and suitability for family stays.

The study thus reveals two major vacation models:

– an experiential and autonomous model, driven by rentals and camping;

– a more structured, reassuring, and family-oriented model embodied by the holiday village.



Josette Sicsic - DR

Journalist, consultant, lecturer, Josette Sicsic has been observing the world’s changes for over 25 years to analyze their consequences for the tourism sector.

After having developed the Touriscopie journal for more than 20 years, she remains at the front lines of current events where she decodes the present to forecast the future. On the site www.tourmag.com, Futuroscopie section, she publishes several times a week forward-looking and analytical articles.

Contact: 06 14 47 99 04

Email: [email protected]


150 Years of Holiday Camps: A French Exception Worth Preserving [ABO]


La « colo » devrait avoir de beaux jours devant elle. A condition que le pouvoir politique admette la nécessité de ne pas détruire un « jouet » qui a mis 150 ans à se développer… - DepositPhotos.com, gpointstudio

Costa Rica


Que s’est-il passé ? Depuis une époque douloureuse où les villes asphyxiées par l’installation d’usines, d’ateliers et de transports divers, ne recelaient plus un air respirable, des âmes sensibles suivant le modèle mis en place en Suisse (voir encadré) eurent l’idée d’envoyer à la campagne des enfants malingres, chétifs, désœuvrés et livrés à eux-mêmes dans un espace urbain ouvert à tous les dangers, donc risquant de « mal tourner » !

Reçus soit dans des familles d’accueil, soit dans des centres collectifs histoire de se faire une santé physique, ces jeunes profitèrent aussi des valeurs prônées par les mouvements d’éducation populaire qui, au fil des années, tentaient de façonner un tourisme accessible et profitable à tous.

La machine était lancée.

Répondant à la vocation hygiéniste de l’époque, l’Etat et la collectivité participaient au financement de tels séjours qui, dans les années soixante, accueillaient plus de 4 millions de jeunes Français. Un record jamais égalé depuis!



A Continuing Decline

Au contraire ! L’histoire glorieuse des « colos » n’est pas linéaire.

Entre 2018-2019 et 2024-2025, près de 132 000 départs de mineurs ont été rayés des listes des jeunes vacanciers. Soit une baisse de 9%.

Sur la seule année passée observée, le nombre de départs en séjours avec hébergement recule de 4%, soit de 50 000 départs, alors que la population augmente. Mais, pourquoi cette hémorragie ?


A Chronic Financial Problem

Une récente enquête Ifop concernant des enfants de 5 à 19 ans, comme tant d’autres au fil des années, invoque cette fois encore, le coût des « colos » !

Pour 52% des parents d’enfants, c’est bel et bien le cas.

Et cela d’autant plus que le paradoxe de la formule réside dans le fait que les classes les plus modestes sont aidées financièrement en fonction des quotients familiaux, alors que la classe moyenne supérieure, en particulier celle qui ne dispose pas de Comités d’entreprise, ne l’est pas.

Une singularité qui fait baisser drastiquement le nombre de partants, surtout quand on sait qu’un séjour qui s’appuie sur une activité nécessitant équipements et personnels très qualifiés (voile, équitation, ski, golf… et séjours linguistiques) avoisine les 400 à 500 euros la semaine, voire plus !

Une somme que peu de familles peuvent débourser, surtout quand elles ont deux ou trois enfants à envoyer en vacances ! Et qu’elles ont ensuite les séjours familiaux à payer.

Quand on sait que le budget moyen pour un foyer pour les vacances estivales se situe autour de 2 000 euros, le calcul est vite fait.

On sacrifie la « colo » et l’on se dépanne comme on peut pendant une partie des vacances avant de s’offrir quelques jours ensemble.

Ainsi, depuis 2020, on enregistre 7% de départs supplémentaires en famille. Une bonne nouvelle confortant la nécessité pour parents et enfants de se retrouver dans un cadre délivré de contraintes.

Mais, dans le même temps, un tiers des enfants et des jeunes âgés de 5 à 19 ans ne sont pas partis du tout en vacances en 2025. Une mauvaise nouvelle qui représente 4,2 millions d’enfants et de jeunes et souligne les inégalités sociales d’un pays comme le nôtre.

Lire aussi : Les colonies de vacances menacées par le budget 2026 ?


Safety under Question

Autre frein à l’envoi d’enfants en « colos », celui concernant la sécurité en général.

Sécurité sanitaire et sécurité liée à des risques de maltraitance de la part de l’encadrement. Une crainte intensifiée par le climat dans lequel est plongée la France à l’heure actuelle.

Certes, les cas sont rares. A moins qu’ils ne soient pas encore révélés. Mais, l’anxiété est réelle et pénalisante pour une formule qui est pourtant soumise à des règles drastiques en matière d’encadrement, activités de loisirs et éducatives.

Autre obstacle au départ, le rejet des séjours collectifs par certains enfants. Généralement les plus jeunes qui, soit ont fait une mauvaise expérience, soit ont entendu leurs proches en parler, soit préfèrent rester chez eux ou chez leurs grands-parents. Lesquels ne l’oublions pas, offrent une solution de « gardienage » très utile aux jeunes couples ne disposant pas d’autant de temps libre que leurs enfants.

N’oublions pas non plus que les 5 semaines de congés ne suffisent pas à prendre en charge des enfants dont les congés sont de 16 semaines !


The “Tour of the Colos”: a Summer Initiative of the JPA


The Invention of Summer Camps

« Les colonies de vacances sont nées à la fin du XIXe siècle. Si certains chercheurs proposent différentes origines aux « colos » en s’appuyant sur des structures existantes auparavant, c’est souvent le pasteur Bion qui en est présenté comme l’inventeur. Ce serait d’ailleurs lui qui leur a donné leur nom, « Ferienkolonien ».

En 1876, ce pasteur de Zurich constate que des enfants de la ville étaient en mauvaise santé alors que les enfants de la campagne étaient en meilleure santé. Il décide alors d’amener 68 enfants de Zurich sur le plateau d’Appenzell durant les mois d’été et continue sur sa lancée les années suivantes, impulsant un mouvement imité dans de nombreux pays d’Europe.

Très vite, il a existé deux types de colonies : le placement familial, par groupes de deux ou trois enfants dans une famille, le plus souvent paysanne et la colonie collective où les enfants logent tous dans la même structure.

Organisée en 1881 par le pasteur Lorriaux, la première colonie de vacances française (de type placement familial) a été soutenue par des Caisses des Écoles, notamment Parisiennes sous le nom de colonies scolaires. Elles étaient laïques, puis se sont diversifiées parmi les pratiquants des autres religions… »

Extrait de « Enfances et jeunesse infos »



Josette Sicsic - DR

Journaliste, consultante, conférencière, Josette Sicsic observe depuis plus de 25 ans, les mutations du monde afin d’en analyser les conséquences sur le secteur du tourisme.

Après avoir développé pendant plus de 20 ans le journal Touriscopie, elle est toujours sur le pont de l’actualité où elle décode le présent pour prévoir le futur. Sur le site www.tourmag.com, rubrique Futuroscopie, elle publie plusieurs fois par semaine les articles prospectifs et analytiques.

Contact : 06 14 47 99 04

Mail : [email protected]

Tourism: Can We Reimagine the Climate?


Tourisme : peut-on réinventer le climat ? - Depositphotos.com  Auteur IgorVetushko

Costa Rica


The moment is grave.

On July 1st, it was announced that the average ocean temperature had risen to 20.98°C. Unprecedented! Also alarming, a third heat wave is forecast for this coming weekend? It is enough to unsettled many holidaymakers for whom climate change has become a reality, forcing them to ask questions they had never asked before.

It is now clear that people wonder whether they will tomorrow spend the spring in Andalusia and abandon snow-covered fields to a few privileged ones? Will we also visit the wastelands that have become the Emirates and their pharaonic constructions?

Will we attend outdoor events that are entirely climate-controlled? Will we abandon the centers of European cities that have become unbreathable? Will we again invest in luxurious second homes in the Lubéron or the Centre-Var at low prices?

… These questions, as we have written, have been asked for decades without the urgency being acknowledged. That is why policymakers are now making our next elections hinge on a debate about fans!

Fortunately, scientists have not been idle. In search of solutions, they are conducting research gathered under the umbrella of geoengineering. A broad term describing “deliberate, large-scale interventions in the Earth’s natural systems to combat climate change.”

Still relatively little known to the general public, especially in France, these technologies are the fruit of much more intensive research in Canada, Germany, the USA, the United Kingdom and especially in China. And some climatologists, including renowned ones, are envisioning their deployment on a large scale to prevent excessive warming.



Two broad categories of solutions

But, it is worth distinguishing two major categories of techniques that are based on very different approaches and carry different risks.

The first category concerns solutions that remove CO₂ from the atmosphere in order to reduce its amount. Known, they include efforts to reforest forests, peat bogs, plant trees, or restore ecosystems that naturally absorb CO₂. But they also involve capturing CO₂ directly from the air with air-filtering plants that extract carbon dioxide, which is then stored underground. You follow?

Transforming vegetation waste into a stable charcoal that is buried in soils is also a solution that, in addition, improves soil quality. Meanwhile, there is knowledge of altering and spreading crushed rocks (such as basalt) on soils to accelerate chemical reactions that capture CO₂!


Second Solution: We Think More About Sunlight

The techniques grouped in this other category do not remove CO₂ but seek to decrease the amount of heat absorbed by the Earth.

Here are some more or less well-known examples, such as injecting aerosols into the stratosphere to scatter very fine particles that reflect a portion of solar radiation.

We can also proceed with brightening marine clouds by spraying seawater to render some clouds more reflective. Or, more simply, we can repaint roofs white or use highly reflective materials to achieve temperature drops of several degrees. As for high-altitude clouds that trap heat… We know how to modify them.

All these solutions, however, are not without risks and are debated among scientific communities worldwide that are experimenting with these approaches.

To be clearer, here are a few examples of ongoing experiments in the tourism destinations most affected by a complex phenomenon that will not spare us… and will spare us even less because the investments required are particularly heavy and risky.


Solutions in place around the world

  • China operates the largest cloud-seeding program in the world to induce rain or snow in certain regions. The Great Green Wall is, for its part, a vast reforestation program aimed at slowing desertification, sequestering carbon, and protecting soils. Finally, the Middle Kingdom is also developing research on stratospheric aerosol injection.

  • Dubai and the Emirates, designed and built to be full-time tourist destinations, regularly use cloud seeding to create artificial rainfall. A technology often cited as an example of meteorological geoengineering, even though it operates on a regional rather than planetary scale.

  • Qatar uses technologies for emissions reduction with carbon capture and storage in natural gas facilities. The country also conducts research on greening desert zones and agriculture adapted to arid climates.

  • In Iceland: the Orca and Mammoth facilities directly capture CO₂ from the air and store it in basalt rocks.

  • In the United States: the SCoPEx project (from Harvard University) studied stratospheric aerosol injection, but outdoor trials were suspended.
  • In Australia: researchers are experimenting with marine cloud brightening to protect the Great Barrier Reef from warming.

  • Saudi Arabia, uncertain, has stepped back. Saudi Arabia, whose tourism ambitions have not escaped anyone, does not pursue a large-scale geoengineering climate program. Instead, it is investing heavily in technologies for local environmental modification and in related infrastructure. Confident, it has invested in the Trojena project, planned to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games, outside the NEON framework.
    But, facing difficulties in establishing a true snow-making system, the Kingdom, despite its billions, announced the postponement of the Games to an indeterminate date. Not only are water supply and management via desalination, storage, and recycling complex, but reinventing the local climate does not come easy.
    As a substitute, Saudi Arabia announces the holding of smaller winter sport events in the coming years, in order to at least stay in the spotlight…

Kid-Friendly: A Guaranteed Future [ABO]


Kid Friendly : un futur garanti - Depositphotos.Com Auteur mac_sim

Costa Rica


It takes time for everything. In 1991, I had created the Kid Label aimed at coastal and mountain resorts that knew how to welcome families with children.

A vast topic and the first promotion: 44 resorts ranging from La Grande Motte to Le Grand Bornand. A second promotion: 20 additional resorts where accommodation, restaurants, skiing, activities, transportation… were tailored to families with children.

Transformed into the Family Plus Label, the Kid label became a trigger.

At the same time, the Austrians were moving from conference to seminar to explain how they had built the voluntary chain of Kinder Hotels. Hotels obviously dedicated to family clients seeking specific services for their offspring.

As for North American and Scandinavian tourism professionals, they did not wait to offer family rooms, children’s menus and stroller loans!

Meanwhile, French associative tourism did not wait to establish a family offer consisting of baby, mini, teen clubs… wonderfully imitated by Club Méditerranée and its range of “family” villages where GMs would drop off their children early in the morning to pick them up again in the evening after a day during which they and their children had fun. But, each on their own.

A good way to unwind before gathering for the evening in particularly refined productions.

Perfectly adapted by other vacation village brands, camps, and tourist residences… these equipments and activities have proved stubborn because, despite the changing behavior of our children, the basic model has not moved much.

Some new sports and games, of course. A more flexible timing allowing parents to choose their schedules and especially to shorten them.

Even cruises joined in and made their child-friendly receptions a strong selling point for family clients who can shed the burden of running from one deck to another, from one pool to another… to entertain the little ones.

The little ones’ requests diversify according to age, and we try to keep them as far from screens as possible in favor of physical activities.



An Age-Based Segmentation

There are indeed children of all sorts. From the youngest to teenagers, the range is particularly wide and must be respected to satisfy both parents and children.

Knowing that the loveliest age of childhood sits around eight years old and the most challenging around pre-adolescence and adolescence. A period where one should be “monitored” but in the most discreet and informal possible way.


It’s Mom Who Chooses!

But, let us now see what the Family Barometer tells us in its recent study conducted by the Voyage-Family media outlet.

In terms of vacation preparation, attitudes change little.

Mother is regarded as 72% the primary organizer of family vacations whereas 17% of fathers contribute to this task. And yet, the new family leave should allow fathers to undertake more research, bookings, date choices and price considerations.

The survey also notes that the dominant family model (63%) is the traditional model: two parents and children.

But it should be noted that single mothers who have custody of the children in 80% of cases are increasingly numerous and have specific requirements.

They often form with their children a kind of two-person couple that makes decisions together. “I consult my daughter before deciding on a destination,” confesses a mother who knows this is the only way for her to have acceptable holidays. And who also tries to think of herself to enjoy a few good moments.

About 11%, these mothers are complemented by 11% of families extended by grandparents and by 5% of tribes.

Pet-owning families: as for families traveling sometimes with their pets, they are estimated at 15% and those who do so occasionally are 6%. But beware, 6% of requests for stays with animals are not satisfied.


The Budget, a Sacred Budget!

Although the Barometer estimates only 33% of families prioritizing the budget when making choices, it seems to us that this percentage is underestimated.

In these times and in general, the family vacation budget weighs heavily in their expenditures.

The choice of lodging, above all its location is decisive for the success of the stay (71%). Hotels, apartments, gîtes, campsites, and unusual accommodations are favored.

But contrary to assumptions, mobile travel by motorhome attracts only 17% of respondents.

As for the proximity of activities, it is imperative, especially for families. After all, reunions are important for family units where the parents are overwhelmed by their professional activities.



The Dream of Elsewhere Remains Tenacious


Nature Is Still a Priority

If reunion, sharing, and relaxation largely dominate expectations for family vacations, note that nature and culture remain at the top of desired experiences. This is not surprising.

But sporting activities and hiking are sought by more than half of the interviewed families, while adventure and outdoor activities in general account for 40% of expectations.

Theme parks, for their part, attract 35% of requests. As for the swimming pool, it remains a definite must.

And further, if needed, the sea remains the favorite destination for families, in summer (41%) but also in winter (26%). The mountains on their side collect only 14% of requests during the summer season…


A Market of 8 Million Families

Finally, and to conclude, note that the “No Kid” will not win the game against the “Kid Friendly”!

On the contrary, at a time when birth rates are falling sharply, the child is more than ever an important member of French society whose consumption and prescribing power are decisive.

The aim is to safeguard their integrity and to make vacation time a moment that is both playful and educational. And this, regardless of the family budget.

For those who do not travel, everything must be done to help them pack their backpack!

Source: Voyagefamily.pro



Josette Sicsic - DR

Josette Sicsic, journalist, consultant, speaker, has been observing for over 25 years the mutations of the world to analyze their consequences for the tourism sector.

After developing the Touriscopie journal 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 publishes several times a week forward-looking and analytical articles.

Contact: 06 14 47 99 04

Mail: [email protected]