Tourism: unsatisfactory or correct… what is the assessment for the month of July in Sète and the Thau basin ?

Ce mardi, la rue Gambetta et ses terrasses étaient noires de monde sur les coups de midi. MIDI LIBRE – KELMAN MARTI

Au mois de juillet, les touristes ont débarqué tardivement à Sète et sur le bassin de Thau. Bilan du premier de cet été.

Let's not waste any time, July was a bad month for many tourism professionals. 53% of them are even dissatisfied with the attendance in the first part of the summer, according to a recent study conducted by the Thau archipelago tourist office among 220 hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. located on the basin.

Overall, “a lot of figures down” and “a complicated start to the season”, summarizes Tiphaine Collet, director of the organization, who points out that tourism represents more than 1 billion euros of economic spinoffs on the basin.

Professionals sometimes dissatisfied

Starting with the level of satisfaction of professionals in the sector regarding their commercial activity: 60% of respondents consider it to be down compared to July 2023. The observation is similar in Marseillan (65%), Frontignan (73%), at the Hérault level (56%), and seems to point in the same direction throughout France.

For Jordan, manager of the restaurant Chez Jojo, “it's even a surprise to have an average month of July”. “We didn't expect that! People are clearly spending less and the weather in early July didn't help”, notes the entrepreneur. From Saint-Clair to the beaches and the canals, everyone has their own little explanation. “We had 30% less attendance than in other years, reveals Jeanne Lafalla, marketing director of Sète Croisières, which organizes boat trips. Foreign tourists are not responding to the call. Political instability and the climate of insecurity are not helping."

However, "foreign customers were there, identical to last year in terms of overnight stays and up 12% for day visits", notes the tourist office report. While "French customers were the most lacking in July" with 50% of professionals estimating it to be lower than a year ago.

Purchasing power, JO… the reasons for a decline

“There is a real problem with purchasing power. Customers limit the number of spending acts by making choices, but when they decide to spend, the level is close to that of last year”, underlines Tiphaine Collet. “It is true that families do not deprive themselves of vacations, but pay more attention to their spending. Afterwards, it must be remembered that the year 2023 had been exceptional since those who were wary of Covid had dared to go on holiday", says Armelle Vaudo, manager of the Sète and Co boutique.

"And then, we must not forget that the school holidays started late and the absence of the July 14th bank holiday, nor the effect of the Olympic Games", adds the director of the tourist office. "There are many people who prefer to stay at home watching television", says Jeanne Lafalla.

However, not all sectors are suffering from a decline in tourist activity. 52% of accommodation providers (hotels, campsites) thus observe an identical level or an increase in reservations compared to July 2023, despite an overall decrease of 3% in overnight stays. Also note that some restaurants, such as Marie-Jean which relies on its regulars or Tabary’s, which also has a bar and ice cream parlor, are satisfied with their numbers.

August, reasons to hope for better ?

Historically, the month of August has always been more successful for tourism professionals. There are more customers, particularly because of Saint-Louis. “Professionals are certainly hoping for better this month, after that we can't know. We'll do the accounts in September”, announces Tiphaine Collet. The only certainty for the moment is that reservations for August are very encouraging for 17% of the accommodation providers surveyed and quite encouraging for 56% of them.

“It's a good factor, but there's no guarantee that tourists will then consume”, continues the director of the tourist office. For now, this beginning of August is in line with July for many professionals interviewed in the city center of Sète. "It's not necessarily better", laments Jeanne Lafalla, while the three boats of Sète Croisières do not always make their journeys in full.

I subscribe to read the rest