Gard Rhone: there are “a lot of uncertainties” about summer tourist numbers

The president of the association Jérémie Castor, the director of Provence Occitane Sandy Eysseric and the vice-president of the Agglo delegated to tourism, Benoît Trichot The 2024 summer season is launched! C. C. – Midi Libre

The Provence Occitane tourist office, bringing together 255 professionals from the region, launched the season. 

The season launch of the Provence Occitane tourist office took place on Tuesday within "a nugget of the territory" dixit president Jérémie Castor. Either at the Accroche adventure park in Saint-Julien-de-Peyrolas. The opportunity to present the activities organized by Provence Occitane and the summer magazine, entitled Mag’Vac, in front of partners and members. Magazine that all accommodation providers can distribute to their customers and that can also be found in the four tourist offices in the area (including that of Bagnols which will reopen frequently, read here)." Mag’Vac is an essential tool with focuses and an agenda, both for visitors and locals", said Sandy Eysseric, who directs Provence Occitane since January, inviting members, tourism professionals, "to come see us in order to develop offers adapted to your needs and those of visitors". The association has 255 members. Since 2022, "the first membership is free, specifies Jérémie Castor. And we work for the entire territory, members and not – members."

"Upgrading"  

"In 2023, Occitanie benefited from a significant increase in visitors. In recent months, there has been +2.8% tourist overnight stays. And a clear increase in last minute reservations ", indicated in the preamble the vice-president of the Agglo delegated to tourism Benoît Trichot. The neighbors of Paca and Rhône-Alpes-Auvergne "love our territory". Leading among the European neighbors: the Germans, the Belgians and the Swiss. "This corresponds to the desire for nature, calm and serenity. Our territory is totally suitable for this. The Agglo must manage the impact of tourism in a sustainable manner, declared Benoît Trichot. The ’idea is to move upmarket, while being aware of environmental issues." A few days before the summer holidays. rsquo;summer, the reservation level is low. "We encourage all hosts to move upmarket. Because the high end is not experiencing the crisis." François Giraud, manager of the Bosquet fruité in Bagnols (gîte and guest rooms), confirms : "I've been working a lot since January. In June, I explode! For July and August, I have very few reservations. There are a lot of uncertainties…" Between the weather, the national and international context. Benoît Trichot also mentioned the important work of inventorying and upgrading hiking and mountain biking trails, for this nature destination that is the Rhone Gard. "There are discovery trails in Sabran, Vénéjan, at César's camp, in Lirac… We are working to develop the trails and find funding. We are very helped by the Department for studies and marking."

The return of picnics, wine aperitifs, nature walks and hikes at sunrise

Among the activities organized by Provence Occitane, it is the return of winegrower aperitifs (Tuesdays, from July 16 to August 13) & agrave; Vénéjan, Sabran or Saint-Victor-la-Coste; "picnics from Provence Occitane", "in the heart of a village to share a gourmet and friendly evening& quot; (Monday from July 15 to August 19), in six different municipalities; the "sunrise hikes", on Thursdays from July 18 to August 8, take place at the Cascades du Sautadet; and nature walks, Wednesdays from July 17 to August 21, "to discover paths and trails, with a naturalist guide", from five different sites. Registration required on 04 66 39 44 45.