Independent tourism professionals now have their own barometer. Travel Force, in partnership with IFTM, is launching the first national study dedicated to these professionals who often work in the shadows of the industry, while they contribute every day to the production, advice, training, content, sales or support of companies in the sector.
For consultants, travel planners, trainers, content creators, coaches, business developers, journalists, outsourced sales representatives, and industry experts, the challenge is clear: to have their reality reflected in the numbers. The questionnaire is open until Friday, July 31, 2026, with a presentation of the results planned for IFTM 2026 in Paris.
Summary
Independent tourism professionals are finally emerging from the shadows
Travel Force's press release makes a simple observation: independents are playing an increasingly important role in the tourism industry, but no benchmark study currently exists to accurately measure their activity, business model, or prospects.
This lack of data is a real issue for the industry. Companies work with freelancers to strengthen their teams, develop their production, structure their marketing, outsource part of their sales, or support their transformation. Yet, their income, status, difficulties, methods of collaboration, and actual influence remain poorly documented.
The press release highlights the growing role of independent operators in the tourism industry, but there is currently no benchmark study on their activities, business models, and prospects. Without consolidated data, it remains difficult to understand the true impact of this shift on businesses, networks, trade shows, training organizations, and institutions.
A barometer to objectify a professional reality
Travel Force presents this barometer as the first national survey dedicated to independent tourism professionals. The study aims to provide an overview based on data from January 1st to December 31st, 2025.
The questionnaire is aimed at all self-employed tourism professionals, regardless of their status, profession, or level of activity. It focuses in particular on the respondents' profile, their activity, turnover, income, specializations, methods of collaboration, difficulties, development prospects, and their perception of the future of their profession.
The format was designed to remain accessible. The press release mentions less than ten minutes to complete, while the form indicates an estimated response time of five to six minutes. Responses are presented as anonymous and confidential.
Olivier Charmes wants to give statistical recognition to independent workers
"Independent operators are everywhere in tourism, but nowhere to be seen in the statistics. We talk about them, we work with them, but no one had ever really listened to them on a national scale. This barometer finally gives them statistical recognition, and the more responses we receive, the stronger their voice will be."
This statement from Olivier Charmes, President of Travel Force, sums up the project's objective. It's not about producing a ranking, nor about judging a profession. The goal is to create a common foundation for better understanding a professional group that has become essential.
For independent tourism professionals, this point is important. Without a national overview, each one often remains isolated in their own model, with few reference points on market practices, activity levels, collaborations, or shared difficulties.
Why IFTM is a strategic framework
The results will be analyzed during the summer and presented as a preview at a conference organized during IFTM. The participation form indicates a presentation on September 17, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. in the Agora room.
The choice of venue is logical. IFTM 2026 will be held from September 15 to 17, 2026, at Paris Porte de Versailles, Hall 1. The central theme of this edition is "The Value of Travel: Let's Reveal Together What Creates Impact." In this context, dedicating significant time to independent tourism professionals means examining a form of value that is often overlooked in traditional statistics.
"The central theme of this edition of IFTM is to reveal the value created by travel, and independent professionals create an essential part of it every day, often invisible in statistics. Hosting the presentation of this first barometer was a natural choice: it provides the entire sector with data that was missing to understand these professionals and work with them."
This quote from Marie Allantaz, editorial and strategic director at IFTM, shows that the subject goes beyond the freelance community alone. It concerns the entire professional chain.
Marjorie Govinden emphasizes economic recognition
“Behind every independent tourism professional, there is a real business model, deliberate lifestyle choices, and expertise that the sector still underestimates. With this barometer, we want to objectively demonstrate this reality, backed by data. I invite every independent professional to take ten minutes to respond: it's our collective family portrait.”
The statement by Marjorie Govinden, Managing Director of Travel Force, highlights another key point: economic recognition. Many freelancers are not simply temporary reinforcements. They bring expertise, a portfolio, a specialization, and sometimes a real capacity for commercial or editorial influence.
The barometer can therefore be used to better understand how these professionals build their business, how they bill, who they collaborate with, what obstacles they encounter and what ambitions they have.
What this barometer can change for tourism businesses
For travel agencies, tour operators, DMCs, travel tech companies, accommodation providers, networks, media outlets, and training organizations, the study can become a useful tool. A better understanding of independent tourism professionals also leads to better collaboration with them.
Today, many collaborations still rely on word-of-mouth, personal trust, or ad hoc needs. Consolidated data can help companies structure their partnerships, better define their missions, adjust their budgets, and identify the expertise available on the market.
This study can also shed light on training needs, remuneration expectations, administrative difficulties, commercial challenges and how freelancers envision themselves in the coming years.
Participate in the 2026 barometer
An initiative that comes at the right time
The launch of this barometer comes at a time when tourism businesses are seeking greater flexibility, specialized skills, and operational support. Freelancers often meet these needs, but their role remains poorly defined.
Travel Force is directly familiar with this reality. The agency presents itself as a consulting and operational support structure specializing in assisting tourism companies, with missions in organization, human resources, production, business development and transformation.
Because it works with freelancers on a daily basis, Travel Force is in a unique position to launch this type of study. The partnership with IFTM, for its part, provides national visibility among industry professionals.
Why freelancers must respond before July 31st
The quality of the barometer will depend directly on the number and diversity of responses. This is the main challenge of this first edition. If participation is broad, the study will be able to produce a more credible snapshot of the market. If it remains limited, the insights will inevitably be less powerful.
For a self-employed tourism professional, answering the questionnaire is therefore not just an individual step. It is a way to contribute to a collective vision of the profession.
The form indicates that participants will be able to access the consolidated results of the study at the IFTM trade show on September 17, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. in the Agora room. It also provides an opportunity to compare their findings with existing practices, income levels, challenges, and models.
A tool to better communicate about independent tourism professionals
The main advantage of this barometer is that it moves from impressionistic discourse to actionable data. For several years, the industry has observed the rise of independent businesses, but analyses often remain incomplete.
With this study, the sector can finally have a first foundation to answer simple questions: who are these professionals, how do they work, with what income, in what jobs, with what difficulties and what prospects?
This type of data can inform discussions at IFTM, but also company decisions, service offerings, conference programs, support mechanisms and collaboration strategies.
The real test begins now
The launch of the barometer is good news for independent tourism professionals. However, its usefulness will depend on participation from the field. To become a benchmark, this study needs to gather enough responses and reflect the true diversity of the professions within the sector.
Freelancers are often used to working for others, reinforcing existing systems, and remaining in the background. This time, they have the opportunity to bring their own reality to the forefront.
The message is simple: if independent tourism businesses want to have a greater influence in the sector, they must first be visible. This barometer can be a concrete first step.
Editorial update
This article was written based on the Travel Force press release published on July 7, 2026, the official form of the Independent Tourism Barometer, and publicly available information from the IFTM. Quotes have been reproduced without modification.
Sources
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_lV7TCtBR8WX-IlYPhVqHtxvneUwWBn4Hap52ZSsBYDdSVg/viewform
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