Summer 2026 Tourist Season Faces Pressure in Tunisia and Morocco

A recent study by the Alliance France Tourisme, as reported by Libération, suggests that the French may be less likely to take vacations this summer and spend less, due to the economic context marked by inflation and international tensions.

Decline in Departures and Increasing Uncertainty

The numbers confirm a significant slowdown. According to the study conducted with Ifop, 68% of French people plan to take a trip for at least a week, a 9-point decrease from 2025. More telling, only 37% are certain they will take a trip, compared to 50% last year, illustrating a growing sense of uncertainty.

This caution is largely explained by the decline in purchasing power. The average vacation budget is now estimated at €1,530, a decrease of around €150 over the past year. In the face of these constraints, more than six out of ten French people plan to reduce their expenses, particularly by shortening their stays or limiting activities on site.

A Shift in Consumer Habits

Beyond the numbers, the study highlights a profound change in consumer behavior. Vacations are now taking on a logic of proximity, sobriety, and recentering.

Thus, 71% of French people prefer domestic trips, compared to 23% in Europe and only 9% to distant destinations. This trend is accompanied by an increased use of more economical solutions: free accommodation is increasing significantly, while camping is experiencing a significant resurgence of interest.

Tunisia and Morocco in the Front Line

Despite these adjustments, the French remain attached to vacations. Approximately 86% of them are willing to dip into their savings to take a trip, indicating that traveling remains a priority, even in a constrained context.

In this context, the consequences for Tunisia and Morocco could be significant. These two destinations are among the most popular among French tourists, on whom they largely depend.

Morocco is the leading tourist market for French people outside of Europe, while Tunisia remains one of the main Mediterranean destinations and a key market for European tourism.

The expected decline in departures, combined with reduced budgets, could result in a decrease in the number of visitors and a decrease in spending per tourist. In the long term, this could affect foreign exchange earnings and employment in a strategic sector for both economies.

This evolution takes place in a global environment marked by rising energy costs, geopolitical tensions, and persistent inflation. The surge in fuel prices, in particular, increases the cost of transportation, especially air travel, which directly affects travel decisions.

In this context, destinations perceived as close, accessible, and less financially risky are preferred over longer trips.

For Tunisia and Morocco, the summer of 2026 could thus constitute an important test for the resilience of their tourism sector. In the face of more cautious demand, tourism professionals may be forced to adapt their offer, focusing on competitive prices and market diversification.

If the current trend continues, it could mark a lasting turning point in European tourist behavior, with direct repercussions for destinations in the Maghreb.