British demand for French holidays is currently soaring according to data, after interest in 2021 plummeted

Reopening its border for vaccinated travelers this month, recent figures indicate that Britons are once again considering France as a holiday destination with searches for ‘holidays to France’ in January being ​​194% higher than the same period last year.

And whilst those figures would have been affected by the UK banning international travel during January 2021, it is worth noting that this most recent search interest is still 92% higher than in May last year - the month when Brits were able to travel abroad again.

These figures, which were analysed by luxury travel specialists French Waterways , offer reassurance for the French travel and tourism industry after searches plummeted during summer last year.

Interest for ‘holidays to France’ was 76% lower in July 2021 than in the same month pre-pandemic and consumer data into UK holiday intentions revealed that demand for holidays to France was down 67% throughout 2021.

However, these latest figures indicate a positive upturn and this sudden surge could be a result of France relaxing its travel restrictions. Although the UK is currently on France’s red list, the French Government recently scrapped its requirement of needing a ‘compelling reason’ to travel and quarantine upon arrival.

This, coupled with the UK removing all travel restrictions for the vaccinated this month, means that holidaying in France is now once again a viable option.

James Newcombe, co-founder of French Waterways, said: “Behind Spain, France is actually the second most popular travel destination for UK holidaymakers so we’re certain that the relaxing of restrictions is greatly welcomed by many. We know that our customers cannot wait to set foot in France again and immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage and world-renowned food and wine. This hunger to travel to France will bring renewed hope for the French tourism industry for the strongest year yet.”

France also enforced ‘passe sanitaire’ vaccine passports last Saturday as a means of returning to normal life, which requires proof of full vaccination to enter venues such as bars and restaurants.

In addition to high vaccine rates in France, these measures will provide reassurance for those still anxious about Coronavirus. Expedia’s Traveler Value Index 2022 highlights the importance of this, with their data revealing that 54% of travelers choose destinations known for strong COVID-19 safety protocols.

For those whose anxieties are not yet quelled, France is an ideal option for a holiday abroad that does not require being exposed to busy airports and aeroplanes; the country can be easily reached from the UK by train, ferry or car.

And it seems that transport companies are pre-empting this too. Eurostar said that it is “ready to welcome more passengers on board and will continue to increase the frequency of our services in the coming weeks to offer passengers more flexibility and choice”, according to the Guardian.

In tandem with less-exposed transport methods, the travel industry is expected to experience a big influx in bookings for self-contained holidays including rental properties, caravanning, boating and barging.

There was a huge surge in demand for luxury barge holidays in the UK during summer last year and experts predict that this interest is likely to continue into the future and transpose into international travel as things continue to return to normal.

"France has the largest network of rivers and canals in Europe, with almost 8000km of waterways to be explored, so it’s the perfect destination for anyone who has enjoyed the slower pace of holidaying that has boomed over the last two years. We've seen an unprecedented demand for this coming year. For example, bookings of luxury hotel barge cruises this January alone total more than 50% of the sale value for the entire first quarter of 2021.

“Whilst a lot of these bookings are holidays that have been pushed back due to Covid, we have a lot of clients keen to book private charters and to take the opportunity to reconnect with family and friends. All are keen to travel, prioritising holidays over other luxuries and spending more money than they have previously. It's looking really optimistic,” says James.

The luxury barging specialists offer a peaceful yet luxurious way to experience the wonders of France through its range of upscale hotel barges, river cruises and self-drive boats in each of the country's eight regions.

The company caters for all needs and budgets and provides options from cabins in luxury hotel barges that offer an intimate and sublimely relaxing experience right through to self-drive hire boats that enable guests to navigate their own path.

French Waterways revealed that bookers are snapping up what availability is left for this year with confirmed bookings for 2022 already 3 times higher than those taken in 2021. A further 10% are currently booking cruises for 2023 and 2024.

French Waterways has seen high demand for its holiday options during the pandemic with self-drive barges being a good way to escape the crowds, and the company is also expecting increased demand for this type of cruising over the coming year.