François de Canson: "A year full of promise for outdoor hospitality"

Indeed, it is a year full of promise that should succeed the excellent vintage of 2024. This year will remain a benchmark year for tourism in France and particularly in the region, declared François de Canson when presenting the assessment of the year 2024, the outlook for 2025, and the action of the CRT: "In Région Sud, tourism represents €21 billion in economic benefits, 13% of the GDP, and 10% of jobs. It is the leading industry in our region, whose development we must consider today with the requirement of reconciling economy and ecology.

It is in this direction that the CRT conducts its action.

2024 was an excellent year for tourism in Région Sud since, on average over the 12 months, visitor numbers increased by nearly 3%, thanks to strong dynamics from our international clientele (+4%). After 2023, 2024 becomes the new benchmark year. Visitor periods outside of summer are those that progressed the most, which shows that the strategy of the Région Sud, led by President Renaud Muselier, and the actions developed by the CRT in favor of deseasonalization are bearing fruit!

» INCREASE IN VISITOR NUMBERS Detailing the assessment, the president of the CRT added: "In 10 years, our annual visitor numbers across all types of accommodation combined have increased by 7%, with stability during the peak of summer, which is already well-filled, and increases of 13% in winter, and 10% in spring and autumn, where we can better accommodate guests! In 2024, in urban hotels, the occupancy rate is slightly up compared to 2023, at 69%. We observe an increase in international overnight stays, especially long-haul, particularly from holidaymakers coming from North America and Asia.

As a reminder, the year 2023 had been exceptional for hotels, notably thanks to the Rugby World Cup, which explains this stability.

In outdoor hospitality—and you know my attachment to this sector—the 2024 season is part of an even more favorable dynamic, setting a new record with 17.5 million overnight stays and a 6% increase compared to last season and even 13% compared to 2019. The growth in visitor numbers was mainly driven by the sharp increase in international overnight stays, 11%, with French overnight stays changing by +2%." Furthermore, in the region, international tourism represents nearly 40% of overnight stays in outdoor hospitality, and even 50% in September.

The Netherlands took back the top spot among foreign markets in 2024, ahead of Germany. These two countries represent more than 60% of international campsite attendance. While the Dutch concentrate their visits in the heart of summer, Germans have visitor levels in May and September almost equivalent to those in August.

Across all clienteles, there are very strong increases in visitor numbers in the spring, with +20% in May, +9% in June, +6% in July, and relative stability in August and September (+2%). International visitors increased by +37% in May, +20% in July, and +12% in September.

THE VAR IN THE LEAD Dwelling on the figures, François de Canson revealed a focus on the départements: "Thus, campsites in the Var represent 53% of overnight stays. They are followed by the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (12%), the Bouches-du-Rhône (11%), the Vaucluse (11%), the Hautes-Alpes (8%), and the Alpes Maritimes (5%). Regarding 2024 visitor numbers, they grew by 8% in the Hautes-Alpes, 7% in the Vaucluse, 6% in the Bouches du Rhône, 5% in the Alpes-Maritimes, and 3% in the Var.

The Alpes-de-Haute-Provence benefited from the largest increase in 2024, with +12%, driven by a +22% increase in international clienteles, notably thanks to the impact of the Tour de France.

And to finish this update on outdoor hospitality, a look at France: Our region is No. 2 in terms of the evolution of overnight stays in 2024, behind Corse. For visitor volume, Nouvelle Aquitaine and Occitanie form the leading duo, with 29 million overnight stays each. Région Sud is No. 3, with 17.5 million overnight stays.

It must be said that our regions are not the same size, with 6 départements for the Sud compared to 12 and 13 for the 2 regions in pole position."

an essential economic sector. It has 631 campsites and 253,000 beds. By comparison, traditional hospitality (hotels) accounts for 1,986 hotels and 147,000 beds.

Furthermore, the Var is the 7th département in France with 234 campsites behind the Vendée (343 campsites), the Charente-Maritime (291), the Ardèche (266), the Finistère (244), and the Morbihan (239). However, in terms of the number of beds, the Var is the 4th département behind the Vendée, the Charente Maritime, and the Morbihan.

Finally, the president of the CRT emphasized the economic observation of outdoor hospitality: "With the CRT, I pushed for the HPA sector to be subject to reliable observation. A tool has been set up by France Tourisme Observation, co-financed by Atout France, the CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, and the departmental agencies, in connection with the FNHPA. The reliable and relevant that we can all exploit.

There should be no fear, quite the contrary; we must see it as an opportunity to better understand our sector of activity, and to be able to benefit from relevant information in real time," warned François de Canson.

• data it aggregates must allow a global view of the status of bookings. This tool is free. It guarantees total confidentiality and is very simple to set up for each of your establishments.

Unfortunately, to date, the number of campsites that have opened their data remains insufficient, despite regular reminders from the CRT and your federation." "We need a real mobilization! data