François de Canson answers questions from La Gazette du Var.

What are the outlooks for 2025?

The high season looks very promising, with reservation rates identical to those of 2024, an exceptional year. It is driven by highly successful international events such as the Jeux olympiques et paralympiques, which allowed us to record 200 million in economic benefits, the 80th anniversary of the Débarquement de la Libération de Provence, and unprecedented promotional investments. It is quite simple: 2024 has become the new benchmark year for regional tourism. The region is even the only one in France, along with Corse, to record rising results. Across our entire territory, attendance increased by 3%, thanks to the dynamism of international visitors (+4%). In traditional hotels, the increase is 1.5%. And in outdoor hotels, it is 6%, and in rentals, more than 10%.

Particularly in the golfe de Saint-Tropez?

Indeed. Here, 52% of hotel overnight stays are made by international visitors compared to 30% for Var hotels and 37% in regional hotels. Yes, the Saint-Tropez hotel industry is exceptional! Saint-Tropez is the municipality in the region with the most 5-star hotels (12 as of January 1, 2025), far ahead of the 2nd city (Cannes with 7 hotels) and the 3rd city (Nice with 6 hotels). At the national level, Saint-Tropez ranks 3rd after Paris (111 hotels) and Courchevel (23 hotels). Our region is more attractive than ever, and its international reputation continues to grow. Proof of this is the healthy air traffic, which increased by 16% this year.

How do you intend to stay on course?

For the coming years, we will continue to adapt our tourism strategy. With 237 million overnight stays and 37 million stays generated in 2024, the region is a major tourist destination that knows how to manage its flows. For example, in the hotel industry in 2019, summer represented 30% of overnight stays, whereas today it represents "only" 27%. This result is partly explained by focusing the promotion of our destinations off-season, for several years, to stimulate stays during other seasons and better distribute attendance over time. Furthermore, for the sake of consistency, it seemed appropriate to bring together the promotion of business tourism, supported by Linkeus, and the promotion of leisure tourism within the Comité régional de tourisme.

And regarding flow management, how do you proceed?

Région Sud accompanies "sensitive" sites that wish it. First of all, with observation in order to collect as much useful data as possible to facilitate decision-making via, for example, eco-counters and customer reviews left by visitors. Then with assistance for on-site development through the Region's support scheme for "Sites touristiques exemplaires". Then, with the support of the CRT in improving communication around sensitive tourist sites. Incentives to travel by public transport (bus and train) have been put in place by the Region. And it is effective because in 10 years, the share of train use by tourists rose from 4% to 14%. Major efforts are also being made, in connection with other mobility organizing authorities, to develop bicycle touring. May I remind you that 22 million French people say they ride a bicycle during their holidays. The region has 3,600 kilometers of cycling routes and 1,108 facilities benefit from the "Accueil Vélo" label.

Finally, is the region a protected area?

Considerable efforts are being made by the Region to protect our natural setting. Today, 60% of the regional territory is located in a protected natural area, which is more than any other region in France! We have 4 Parcs nationaux (Calanques, Écrins, Mercantour and Port-Cros) and 9 Parcs naturels régionaux (Alpilles, Baronnies provençales, Camargue, Luberon, Préalpes d’Azur, Queyras, Sainte-Baume, Mont Ventoux and Verdon). This dynamic will continue in the coming months, notably with the project for a 10th Parc naturel regional on the massifs des Maures, de l’Estérel et du Tanneron. 53 municipalities in Var and Alpes-Maritimes are concerned and 47 have already voted. •

In the presence of: Sylvie SIRI, mayor of Saint-Tropez, Philippe LEONELLI, mayor of Cavalairesur-Mer, Bernard MARTY, president of l'UMIH de la région Sud, Jean-Pierre GHIRIBELLI, president of l'UMIH du Var, Guillaume DECARD, president of Var Tourisme, Thierry COULON, president of la fédération de l'hôtellerie de plein air, Michel PERROT, deputy mayor of Saint-Tropez, in charge of Tourism, Jean-ROCH, personality of the nightlife world.