A controversial proposal regarding the removal of two bank holidays from the French calendar may do more harm than good with regard to domestic tourism.
On Tuesday, 15th July, French Prime Minister François Bayrou announced his plan to reduce the deficit in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to just 4.6 percent by next year.
French government officials explained that two extra working days per year would result in gains of up to €4.2 billion thanks to increased production.
The holidays in question are Easter Monday, which is a moveable feast, and 8th May on which the country commemorates the Allies’ victory against the Nazis.
The latter is a point of sore contention already, given the current global political climate wherein governments are being called out for leaning towards the far-right, institutionalised racism, and anti-Samitism.
According to a report from Le Monde, the proposed measure has already stirred a hornets’ nest of controversy among labour advocates, as well as those in the travel and tourism sectors.
A professional weighs in
Guillaume Sardain, director of sales and marketing in EMEA for hospitality revenue management company IDeaS, is one of those looking upon the proposal with a wary eye.
Sardain said of the upcoming removal of holidays: “On paper, cutting a couple of bank holidays might look like a sensible step towards easing the national debt. But for France’s hotels and restaurants, it’s a real hit to business.”
Sardain explained that, for domestic tourism and hospitality, the month of May, traditionally boosted by long weekends, serves as a vital commercial anchor for regional hotels.
He said: “A reduction of public holidays would reduce the demand of short-leisure travel, weakening occupancy and turnover precisely when many properties rely on domestic demand to hit their revenue targets for the year.
Sardain further pointed out that holidays are not downtime for travel, tourism, and hospitality; indeed, these are some of the busiest, most profitable days of the year.
Industry estimates suggest that losing just Easter Monday and 8th May could cost cafés, hotels, and restaurants as much as €200 million.
Sardain concluded by saying: “Whatever the outcome, hoteliers will need to think carefully about how they adapt and plan for the uncertainty ahead.”
