Politics · France · 18 hrs ago
Tourism groups oppose France’s planned €125 million holiday-voucher levy
France’s government plans to take €125 million from the holiday-voucher agency’s reserves to help reduce the public deficit.
The money is held by the National Agency for Holiday Vouchers, which issues vouchers used for travel, accommodation, meals and leisure.
The proposed levy is nearly 70% of the agency’s €183.8 million in reserves at the end of 2025.
Tourism groups oppose the plan, warning that it could reduce help for people on low incomes who want to take a holiday.
In 2025, 4.8 million employees and self-employed workers received vouchers, and the agency’s holiday support helped 300,000 people take a trip.
The government says the agency would still have enough resources to meet its commitments, while one tourism group predicts its social support could be cut from 2028; the group has urged lawmakers to reject the levy.
France’s tourism industry groups oppose a government plan to take €125 million from the reserves of the National Agency for Holiday Vouchers.
The government says the levy would help reduce the public deficit and that the agency would retain enough funds to meet its commitments.
The Groupement des hôteliers et restaurations de France says the measure could reduce holiday assistance and harm tourism businesses.
The agency’s holiday vouchers reached 4.8 million employees and self-employed workers in 2025.
The GHR warns the levy could exhaust the agency’s reserves by the end of 2029 and force cuts to its social action from 2028.
- Who
- The French government proposes the levy; tourism groups, including the GHR and CAT, oppose it.
- What
- The government plans to take €125 million from the National Agency for Holiday Vouchers’ reserves.
- When
- The plan was included in the 2027 budget presented on October 1. Tourism groups raised concerns on Tuesday.
- Where
- France.
- Why
- The government says the money would contribute to reducing the public deficit. Tourism groups fear it will weaken holiday assistance and tourism businesses.
French government
Tourism groups, including the GHR and CAT
Purpose of the levy
French government
The government says the €125 million would help restore public finances.
Tourism groups, including the GHR and CAT
The groups say the levy threatens holiday assistance and tourism activity.
Effect on the agency
French government
The government says the agency would retain enough financial room to maintain its economic model and meet commitments.
Tourism groups, including the GHR and CAT
The GHR says reserves would be exhausted by the end of 2029 and social action would have to be reduced from 2028.
The National Agency for Holiday Vouchers was created as a public institution.
The government presented its 2027 budget, which included the proposed €125 million levy.
Tourism professionals raised concerns about the proposed levy.
Holiday vouchers were received by 4.8 million employees and self-employed workers.
- Proposed levy
- €125 million
- Agency reserves
- €183.8 million at the end of 2025
- Voucher recipients
- 4.8 million employees and self-employed workers in 2025
- Vouchers reimbursed
- €1.75 billion in 2025
- Holiday assistance recipients
- 300,000 people according to the agency’s latest annual report
3 sources
France : les professionnels du tourisme contestent un prélèvement de 125 millions d’euros
L'État veut piocher 125 millions d'euros dans les caisses des chèques-vacances pour réduire son déficit, les professionnels du tourisme s'insurgent
Les acteurs du tourisme s'alarment du projet de l'État de piocher dans les chèques-vacances
What people are saying
l'agence conserverait des marges suffisantes pour garantir l'équilibre de son modèle économique
aux parlementaires de s'opposer aux prélèvements de l'État sur les réserves ANCV
Cette mesure compromettrait le financement des aides au départ en vacances et pénaliserait l'activité des professionnels du tourisme, dont les hôtels, cafés et restaurants
l'accès aux vacances des Français les plus modestes