Review of the tourist season in Béziers: a month of July in the doldrums, August at the height

Des vacanciers se prélassent à Valras-Plage Midi Libre – Pierre Saliba

As the 2024 season draws to a close, tourism professionals in the Béziers region are drawing up a generally satisfactory assessment compared to 2023. This is despite low attendance in July, particularly due to the climate and the uncertainty caused by the early legislative elections. Another observation: tourists, limited by their purchasing power, have shunned leisure activities.  

"It's a satisfactory season. Compared to 2023, the figures are comparable, tourist attendance is slightly higher, notes the director of the Béziers Méditerranée tourist office Jean Muller, the occupancy rate of accommodation is 48% from April to August, i.e. 3 points more than the previous year. And it is 75% over the period from July to August.

This is despite a season that had difficulty getting off to a start due to the legislative elections caused by the dissolution of the National Assembly by Emmanuel Macron on Sunday 9 June, unless a month before the start of the school holidays…

“The beginning and end of July were very problematic”

“While August was very satisfactory and September promising, the beginning and end of July were very problematic,”60~/em> notes Philippe Robert, president of the Fédération de l'Hôtellerie de Plein Air Occitanie. In the last week of July, several establishments were not full, which never happens on the coastal strip.”

“The weather and the political situation played a role”

This drop in attendance in July was also observed by Anissa Rahali, Operational Director and HR Director at Siblu Villages, which owns the residential parks La Carabasse in Vias and Les Sables du Midi in Valras Plage. She thus recorded 94% occupancy in July, compared to 100% in August: “The sometimes gloomy weather and the political situation played a role, the French stayed at home to vote and overall, they go away less in July than in August. We have more and more holidaymakers who book very late, it's almost last minute, which is surprising because we're talking about a family clientele with children. We can really feel a change in behavior since Covid".

Campsites and residential parks are popular

Booked further in advance, and equipped with full services, campsites and residential parks (equipped with bungalows) are on the rise. On the other hand, the occupancy rate of hotels is decreasing. "This rate is more fragile, judges Jean Muller. The hotel industry, which is subject to last-minute bookings, is more sensitive to political and climatic hazards. In July, there were fewer people in hotels and therefore fewer people at other service providers, particularly leisure providers."

Although it has fallen, the hotel occupancy rate, at 70%, remains positive. However, this is 5.5 points less than in 2023. And it is not just the result of unforeseen events, as peer-to-peer platforms such as Airbnb and Abritel are showing an occupancy rate of 67%, i.e. 5.5 points higher than in 2023.

“All expenses related to accommodation have taken a big hit”

While they still go to restaurants and snack bars, holidaymakers tend to sacrifice leisure activities, due to a still weak purchasing power, reduced by inflation, notes Philippe Robert, who owns two restaurants: “One is mid-range, where you can eat for 25-30 euros, it's holding up but it's struggling, you can't afford to miss out on the quality-price ratio. And the other, more of a snack, between 15 euros and 20 euros, is doing very well. This highlights the fact that the pleasure is focused on catering if it is affordable, but all the expenses related to accommodation have taken a big hit. Holidaymakers have cut back on leisure activities. Amusement parks, canoeing, outdoor activities, it's expensive when you're with your family.

A trend confirmed by the Béziers Tourist Office: “Leisure activities are somewhat sacrificed, according to what leisure activity providers in the area tell us. They noted a later start, with a less frequent clientele, the preferred budget is accommodation and restaurant,”notes Jean Muller.

For July 2024: dissatisfied professionals according to the Regional Tourism Committee

In its note concerning the month of July 2024, the Regional Tourism and Leisure Committee of Occitanie reveals that more than one in two professionals considers that their level activity is lower than that of July 2023. Negative feelings are more pronounced among restaurateurs (65% dissatisfied), hoteliers (62% dissatisfied) and providers of sports and leisure tourism activities (60% dissatisfied).

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