Who are the tourists who choose Gard? What is the evolution of overnight stays compared to 2023? What are the projections? Answers with Gard Tourisme.
The season from April to September 2024 is judged “satisfactory”, notes Pascale Fortunat-Deschamps, president of Gard Tourisme and mayor of Vergèze, a town which also has a new water park (our article). Thanks to telephone demarcation conducted with Flux Vision (Orange subsidiary), it was recorded a 3% increase in overnight stays over this period compared to 2023, i.e. 23 million nightsincluding those of the Gardois. The French clientele remains stable, the foreign clientele is clearly increasing, it jumps by 14% in July. No surprise, a surge was recorded in May, during the five-day bridge.
1.3 billion euros in 2023
The sector which has suffered the most remains catering, as the boss of the Palace in Nîmes told us (our article here). “We can explain it by the drop in purchasing power, the tense geopolitical context, the legislative elections and the unpredictable weather,” supposes the president. However, 55% of professionals surveyed by Gard tourism say they “satisfied and very satisfied” of their season, but recognize an adaptation to be carried out according to trends: cancellation at the last moment, spreading over the wings of the season, short stays… So many levers to grasp in order to retain the title of 3rd most attractive destination in Occitanie after the Pyrénées-Orientales and Hérault. Note, tourism is the 3rd economic pillar of Gard, estimated at 1.3 billion euros in 2023 and approximately 10,000 direct jobs.
45% of nights of the month on Ascension
The start of the season is difficile » due to the weather. Tourist overnight stays are down by 11%, the Easter weekend sees overnight stays decrease by 25%. “The season starts at the end of May” with 45% of the month’s nights recorded on the Ascension weekend alone. Despite the legislative elections, overnight stays in June remain stable. July and August recorded a 10% increase in overnight stays compared to 2023, of which 38% concerned foreign customers.
What nationalities?
Over the period studied, the Germans record the most overnight stays (29%), ahead of Dutch (23%), Belgians (22%), Swiss (14%) and Spaniards (11%). Germany, which followed the Netherlands last year, moves into first position in this 2024 season. The British have fallen out of the top and made way for the Spaniards. What attracts them? “Maybe our bike roaming, they are fond of this type of activity and then the sun”, notes Barbara Plaidi, head of the Gard Tourisme observation center. In addition to the Gardois in the top 5 French clientele, Gard traditionally welcomes residents of the Rhône departments and those of Paris.
The biggest drop for the coast
Overall, the majority of Gard destinations are experiencing positive and stable growth, except the Mediterranean and Camargue areas which are recording a decline. Overnight stays are up 2% for Nîmes Pont du Gard, 1% for Provence, 1% for the Cévennes. On the other hand, a drop of 7% was noted for the Mediterranean and 2% for the Camargue. “Tourists avoid going to the coast in July and August, they prefer the Indian summer,” assumes Pascale Fortunat-Deschamps. A welcome change in behavior with regard to overtourism…
