**A Summer of Contrasts for French Travelers** The latest figures from the Observatoire des vacances des Français, compiled by Les Entreprises du Voyage (EdV) from the Orchestra booking platform, paint a nuanced picture of the 2026 summer season. While the number of package holiday departures in July 2026 has declined compared to the same period in 2025, the average spend per traveler has edged upward, suggesting a market that is contracting in volume but holding its own in value. **Departures: A Slower Start** By the end of July 2026, organized tour departures booked through travel agencies were down about 6% in number of files, with business volume falling roughly 4.5%. The average basket rose slightly to nearly €2,100, a gain of just over 1%, reflecting moderate inflation on package prices and a higher spend per traveler. However, this upmarket shift has not been enough to offset the drop in volumes, confirming a cooling demand that was already visible in June. **Regional Disparities** Geographically, the trends diverge sharply. France itself saw a 4% decline in business volume, hampered by a 7% drop in the number of files, despite a 4% rise in average basket. Medium-haul destinations proved more resilient, with business volume down only 2% as a slight decrease in files (-3%) was partly compensated by a 1% increase in basket value. Long-haul suffered the most, with a near 18% plunge in files and a similar drop in business volume, even as the average basket inched up slightly. **Destination Highlights** In the top 20 destinations, France remains the leading choice, though it saw a 7% decline in files. Spain continued its positive momentum with growth of over 4%, while Greece, Tunisia, and Italy experienced more moderate declines of between 3% and 9%. On medium-haul routes, Albania stood out with a spectacular near 300% surge, and Morocco grew by about 6%, whereas Turkey, Portugal, and Egypt suffered severe drops. In long-haul, the United States and Tanzania were among the weakest markets, while Japan, Canada, and the Dominican Republic managed to maintain slightly positive trends. **Bookings: Value Over Volume** For reservations made between July 1 and 28, 2026, the market showed near stability, with business volume almost flat compared to July 2025 (-0.3%) but a 4% decline in the number of files. The average basket rose about 4% to nearly €1,909, indicating that the season is being sustained more by the value of bookings than by their quantity. Interestingly, there has been no massive shift toward last-minute purchases: late bookings (under 30 days before departure) accounted for 47% of files, down slightly from 48% in July 2025, while early bookings (over 90 days) stood at about 14%, just below last year's level. **Medium-Haul Leads, Long-Haul Lags** In terms of bookings, medium-haul emerged as the strongest segment, with business volume up 5%, driven by a 3% increase in files and a 2% rise in basket value. France, conversely, saw a 6% drop in business volume and a 9% decline in files, though a 4% basket increase softened the blow. Long-haul remained under pressure, with business volume down about 12% and files down 13%, as a 2% basket gain failed to compensate. In the top 20 destinations, France retained the top spot but saw a near 10% decline in files. Spain (+5%), Tunisia (+4%), and Greece (+2%) showed positive trends, while Albania and Finland posted spectacular growth on medium-haul routes, exceeding 300% and 100% respectively. Mauritius was the only long-haul destination in the top 20 with strong growth (about +17%), while the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the United States retreated noticeably.