Définition
According to the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), since 1995, holidays have been defined as all journeys for pleasure including at least four consecutive nights away from home.
The following are not counted as holidays :
- professional trips ;
- study trips ;
- vacations for reasons of illness or the death of a relative ;
- health vacations in specialised establishments ;
- short breaks (two or three nights) and weekends.
This is the notion used in the permanent living conditions surveys (EPCV) conducted by INSEE. This definition, found in similar surveys in all European Community countries, excludes weekends. It does not encompass the common notion of tourism. It is both broader (including all family vacations and non-tourist sites) and narrower (business tourism is not studied).
Remarque
It differs from the notion used until 1994 in INSEE surveys, by which "holidays" mean journeys comprising at least 4 consecutive days for reasons other than professional, studies and health.