INTERVIEW. Remove a holiday: what impact on tourism? “May bridges can make the success or failure of a season”

La Dépêche du Midi: The bridges of the month of May are often questioned in the public debate. What impact really do they have on the tourism sector?

Didier Arino : May bridges, as are spring holidays, are essential. They mark the Real launch of the season for many seaside destinations. For some restaurateurs, only one beautiful day during a bridge can represent a turnover equivalent to that of a day of full months of August.

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So these are determining moments for the cash flow of professionals?

Exactly. After winter, these bridges allow you to redo cash. The heart of the season is roughly from July 20 to the end of August, with a last week of August very reserved because it is cheaper. But it is not this period that makes the difference: it is the April holidays, the May bridges and the back season. In May, a tourist will spend more on average at night than in summer, because these are short stays where we want to have fun. This represents between 12 and 18 % of the annual turnover of the sector.

If one of the bridges were to disappear, would the impact be heavy for professionals?

He would not necessarily be dramatic. The French do not go to all the bridges, they choose according to their budget, knowing that 50 % of them already make sacrifices on other positions to be able to leave. So a bridge less, it might compensate. The really decisive factor is the weather. A nice weather is 25 % more turnover for accommodation, 40 % for restaurants and shops. It’s huge.

The bridges also make it possible to distribute tourist flows …

Yes, it’s fundamental. They avoid monster traffic jams and the feeling of surcourism. They allow to spread the flows, therefore to better manage the frequentations. And with more bridges, you can also lower prices. Fewer bridges means peaks of demand and therefore an increase in prices.

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And what are the regions that benefit the most from these bridges?

Occitania is very well placed. It checks all the boxes: sunshine, affordable prices, accessibility, accommodation volume. It also has a large regional or local clientele, which comes to the day or for a short stay, especially from Toulouse, Montpellier or Nîmes. This local tourism is vital for coastal stations like Gruissan, Grau-du-Roi or the Grande Motte.

Could Occitania do even better?

She has the potential. But it is too perceived as a classic seaside destination. It should further enhance its heritage, its sliding sports, its cultural offer less than two hours from the coast, its charming villages, its Cathar castles, wine tourism, outdoor activities … All this exists, but it is not well known to tourists.

Finally, the abolition of a public holiday would not be such a big problem?

It would not be good news, but it is not the heart of concerns. Real concerns are recruitment difficulties, increased charges, international competition that is in force … Many restaurants are in danger of closure.

Is the sector therefore structurally weakened?

The problem is that there is a real gap between public policies and the needs of the sector. Today, we have gone to 30 % of French tourists who go abroad in the spring. Low cost flights, the Mediterranean with its attractive prices, a quality of welcome … All this plays. Prices in France have increased by almost 28 % in four years. It’s a lot. The challenge is to improve quality without making prices soar. And that’s why spring is crucial. It represents 25 % of the annual turnover. A good spring can make a difference between a company surviving and another flowing.