Gard Tourisme recently conducted an economic survey among 750 Gard tourism professionals, offering a valuable overview of tourist activity for the month of May 2024. The results reveal encouraging dynamics and positive prospects.
The start of the tourist season looks promising! Indeed, 64% of the professionals surveyed estimate their attendance higher or equivalent to that of May 2023. 64% also consider themselves very or fairly satisfied with the attendance of their structure during this month of May 2024.
Some 33% of the professionals questioned even noticed an increase in their activity. A figure down compared to 45% in May 2023. Conversely, 35% reported a decrease in attendance (compared to 27% in 2023), while 31% observed stability (compared to 26% the previous year ). The cultural tourism and sports and leisure tourism sectors nevertheless performed well, with respective increases of 50% and 31%.
Despite these fluctuations, overall satisfaction remains relatively positive: 19% of respondents say they are very satisfied with attendance at their structure, 45% quite satisfied, and only 5% are not at all satisfied.
The Cévennes, a popular area for tourists!
The survey distinguished five tourist sectors: Camargue, Mediterranean, Cévennes, Nîmes Pont du Gard and Provence. The results are varied:
- Camargue : here, attendance is balanced compared to May 2023. (48% higher or equivalent compared to 52% lower)
- Cevennes : 76% of professionals note an increase or stability. Among the 5 destinations in Gard, this is the area which records the most professionals estimating an increase or stability in attendance.
- Mediterranean : 54% of professionals note a drop in attendance.
- Nîmes Pont du Gard : 62% report stable or increasing attendance.
- Provence : 50% of professionals estimate higher activity than May 2023.
While questions linked to purchasing power are at the heart of the news, particularly in the light of the early legislative elections, the economic report from Gard tourism is enlightening: the average customer basket in May 2024 is considered equivalent to that of the previous year by a majority of professionals! New this year in the survey carried out by Gard Tourisme: eco-responsible approaches! 63% of professionals say they have implemented actions in favor of the environment, and 20% have defined a structured action plan, marking an encouraging step forward for the ecological transition.
A 5-day weekend ideal for tourism!
The feeling of satisfaction varies depending on the period: barely 10% of professionals say they are very satisfied with the Easter holidays, compared to nearly 48% for the May 8 and Ascension bridge, taking advantage of a long weekend of five days and radiant weather.
Germans and Dutch mainly represented
The ranking of foreign nationalities remains unchanged, with the Germans in the lead, followed by the Dutch, particularly present in the outdoor hotel industry.
Thus, the Gard Tourisme survey highlights a month of May 2024 marked by contrasts certainly, both in terms of attendance and satisfaction, but in fact underlines a positive dynamic. We also note a growing environmental awareness among tourism professionals which we can only congratulate.
Read also :
Aigues-Mortes Destination Emotion: a new brand and a new logo
Nîmes and its region in the spotlight in the prestigious newspaper The Guardian!
