Ophélie Artaud / Photo credit: SOTTO JEAN-MICHEL / HEMIS.FR / HEMIS.FR / HEMIS VIA AFP 16:54 p.m., October 19, 2023

In 2022, 82% of French people spent at least one night away from home. However, access to travel and the time spent depends on many factors, as revealed by INSEE in a study published on Thursday.

Income level, age, socio-professional category, etc. Not all French people have the same access to travel, as revealed by an INSEE study published on Thursday. While 82% of over-15s spent at least one night away from home in 2022 for personal reasons, according to the statistics agency, one in four French people cannot afford to go on holiday for a full week a year.

Lack of resources, the main obstacle to travel

Unsurprisingly, people with modest incomes are the ones who travel the least, whether for vacations, to visit relatives, or for family events. In practical terms, the more money a household earns, the more its members travel. If "62% of people living in a household with an income of less than 1,500 euros per month go on a trip during the year", this rises to 90% for those who earn more than 3,000 euros per month.

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But, as INSEE points out in its study, while the financial aspect is the main obstacle to travel (46% of cases), there are other reasons why the French do not want to leave. 30% of respondents say they prefer to stay at home. French people who live in a house, or in a department bordering the Mediterranean or the English Channel, travel less than others.

Other factors that limit travel: health reasons or difficulty getting around (24%). For example, French people who do not have a driving licence travel less than others.

Executives, the biggest travelers

Also, the socio-professional category influences the time spent travelling. While the average worker spent 11 nights away from home in 2022, this number rises to 26 for a manager. "These more trips by executives are linked to their greater ability to cover the cost of travel, but may also be due to the need to travel to see their loved ones. Indeed, executives move farther away than other socio-professional categories," the institute explains in its study.

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Finally, seniors travelled less in 2022. While only 64% of those aged 75 or over have travelled, this rises to 84% for 15-24 year olds and 25-34 year olds and 86% for those aged 35-49.