French holiday camp operators call for a new national public policy after the end of the post‑Covid 'Colos apprenantes' scheme
Executive summary: Holiday camp associations in France have declared a crisis and demanded a new ambitious national public policy after the government ended the 'Colos apprenantes' support scheme launched in the wake of Covid‑19. The 'Colos apprenantes' programme provided critical funding and structural support for holiday camps; its removal threatens the viability of many operators and reduces access to affordable youth holidays.
Who is involved: French holiday camp associations (organisers of séjours), the French government (ministries responsible for youth, education and social policy).
Likely next: The associations will likely lobby for a replacement scheme in upcoming budget debates; the government may respond with a new policy proposal or targeted funding before the next holiday season.
Le Monde reports that organisers of holiday camps (colonies de vacances) are warning of a sector crisis following the discontinuation of the 'Colos apprenantes' programme, which was introduced to support the industry after the pandemic. The associations are urging the government to adopt an ambitious national policy to replace the scheme and secure the future of the sector.
Timeline
- — Colonies de vacances en crise : les associations organisatrices de séjours demandent « une politique publique nationale ambitieuse » (Le Monde — Économie)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Government budget discussions in autumn 2026 may include a replacement for 'Colos apprenantes'.
- Holiday camp federations plan a national meeting in September 2026 to coordinate lobbying.
Sectors affected
- Youth holiday camp operators
- Social tourism
- Non‑profit education and leisure providers
Regulatory implications
- Possible integration of holiday camps into broader youth policy (e.g., 'Service national universel').
Historical parallels
- Creation of 'Colos apprenantes' in 2021 as a post‑Covid recovery measure for the sector.
Sources
- Colonies de vacances en crise : les associations organisatrices de séjours demandent « une politique publique nationale ambitieuse » — Le Monde — Économie
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