More visitors
If the 2023 edition of the Christmas market was historic in terms of attendance, with around 1.7 million visitors, what adjective can be attached to this year's? During the municipality's press breakfast, Mayor Eric Straumann put forward an initial estimate of +10% tourists in Colmar during the period.
How is this percentage obtained? Thanks to mobile phone marking which makes it possible to determine the town or country of origin of the owner of the phone, the time spent on site and its route. Rest assured, this is not individual data but a study of groups of around fifteen people each time.
Portrait-robot
The typical visitor does not yet have an identikit. According to the first results, a lot of it comes from Spain, especially Madrid, probably linked to the landing of low-cost airlines at Strasbourg airport. There is an average of three hours left in Colmar.
“Many make the Strasbourg-Colmar-Kaysersberg-Eguisheim-Ribeauvillé pilgrimage. »
Place Rapp, new attraction
“The remarkable success of this year is Place Rapp,” observes Eric Straumann. We have launched a call for expressions of interest. » It was the Dehondt family who won. This local operator “has really done something exceptional! It is outside the scope of the Christmas market. »
But for visitors, the magic begins there. The City is also celebrating: it receives a royalty of €20,000 and 2% of turnover. The attractions will continue until the end of the school holidays on January 5.
The gourmet market and silent local residents
The gourmet market seems to be unanimous. The mayor believes that the food served there is “relatively good quality”. The Ferris wheel is adopted: “I no longer hear anything. This was widely criticized at the start. Now everyone takes a photo of themselves in front. » Local residents are no longer making themselves heard, the municipality having banned music in all stands and closing at 7 p.m.
Overheating coaches
“We have a record number of coach operators,” says Eric Straumann, citing an increase of 30 to 40% compared to 2023. “We welcomed 445 coaches last weekend [du 15 décembre] entered into our process, in addition to wild deposits. It will be necessary to organize it in the future. Especially since we have space to park them at the exhibition center. »
It is possible that a decision to ban access to the city center for coaches will be taken. “We must then propose something else. » The City is also eyeing Riquewihr where a fee for tourist coaches of €80 exists with reservations to be taken.
Economic benefits
The Christmas markets represent 120 million euros of economic impact, an estimate of the turnover achieved during the period by hoteliers, restaurateurs and traders.
“In the future, the City will also have to find its way financially. It’s an expense of €800,000 per year for the municipality,” announces Eric Straumann, a good economics expert. The mayor suggests reviewing parking prices and, “ultimately, when it is well organized, charging for toilets and providing on-site service”. On the other hand, the tourist tax does not change, being already at its maximum.
“We cannot legally go beyond that. I find it ridiculous compared to the price of the room. » It is therefore €2.50 per person for a 4-star hotel, €3 for a 5-star hotel. “It’s very weak. »
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