“UMIH proposes a territorial strategy for Var municipalities”
In France’s leading tourist department, Var UMIH president Jean-Pierre Ghiribelli calls on future mayors for reinforced cooperation.
UMIH unveiled its 'Working Together' manifesto for the March municipal elections during a press conference on January 15th, inviting future elected officials to work in consultation with the hotel and restaurant sector. This national call has a particular resonance in Var, France’s leading tourist department, where cafés, hotels, restaurants, caterers, and nightclubs structure the local economy.
The president of Var UMIH recalls: “These establishments are the primary faces of hospitality, witnesses to living together.” This is a tangible reality in a territory where tourist influx, seasonality, and real estate pressure impose decisive political trade-offs.
AN UNRIVALED TOURIST WEIGHT With its seaside resorts, perched villages, harbors, and protected natural areas, Var welcomes millions of visitors every year. “This exceptional appeal makes the department a national driver of tourism. The figures — 175,421 restaurants, 17,405 hotels, and over 2 million direct and indirect jobs — take on a special resonance here: in many municipalities, CHRDTs form the backbone of economic activity,” adds Jean-Pierre Ghiribelli.
But this strength also creates tensions: an explosion in furnished tourist rentals, summer saturation, recruitment difficulties, and pressure on infrastructure. These are all challenges that UMIH invites to address “in a spirit of consultation.”
ATTRACTIVENESS: A VITAL ISSUE FOR VAR MUNICIPALITIES The head of Var hotels and restaurants continues: “The manifesto proposes several paths that Var mayors could adapt to their realities. UMIH calls for modernizing city entrance signage, developing multilingual pedestrian maps, and protecting 'licences IV', which are often threatened in backcountry villages.
It also encourages recognizing establishments as cultural third places, capable of hosting concerts, exhibitions, or debates, in order to revitalize town centers during the off-season.” The organization also proposes creating a municipal digital space grouping menus, events, and reservations—a relevant tool in a department where the offering is dense and highly competitive.
ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION: AN IMPERATIVE AMPLIFIED BY THE SUMMER SEASON In the face of droughts, fire risks, and summer overcrowding, UMIH’s proposals take on an operational dimension in Var: “The manifesto calls for the deployment of a ‘pro zero-waste’ kit, the implementation of reinforced bio-waste collection solutions in high season, and the installation of shared composters. The organization also proposes promoting certified establishments through municipal signage or an interactive map.
The stated goal: equipping 100% of CHRDTs within twelve months, would represent a major change of scale for coastal municipalities,” insists Jean-Pierre Ghiribelli. RECRUITMENT: THE SECTOR'S VULNERABILITY POINT However, the labor shortage is a structural issue in Var.
“UMIH calls for organizing seasonal employment forums, widely disseminating offers through city halls and local missions, and promoting the creation of mixed residences for seasonal workers, students, and apprentices. It also encourages setting up night mediation measures to prevent violence and anti-social behavior,” explains the Var president of UMIH.
REGULATION OF FURNISHED TOURIST RENTALS: A BURNING TOPIC The rise of short-term rentals has profoundly transformed real estate in Var. “UMIH asks mayors to fully utilize the available legal tools: mandatory registration, caps on overnight stays, a surcharge on second homes in high-demand areas, and reinforced controls.
It also calls for aligning fire safety standards for furnished rentals with those of the hotel industry,” decodes the federation’s representative. LIVING TOGETHER: FINDING THE BALANCE In a department where night markets, local festivals, and summer events rhythm the season, UMIH calls for balanced regulation: “It invites municipalities to assess the frequency of gourmet food markets, reinforce night security, and involve CHRDTs in decisions regarding opening hours or terraces.
Each establishment directly contributes to the commercial and cultural vitality of its municipality.” A ROADMAP ADAPTED TO VAR By publishing this manifesto, UMIH proposes a territorial strategy that Var municipalities, both coastal and rural, can adapt according to their needs.
In a department where hospitality is an economic, social, and cultural driver, the call to “work together” takes on a very concrete dimension. For Jean-Pierre Ghiribelli: “We are not coming with demands, but with proposals.
Our businesses are at the heart of community life: they train, employ, entertain, and weave social bonds. It is with elected officials that we want to act concretely for the future of our territories.”
It remains to be seen if future elected officials will take it up.
Interview conducted by Pierre Bégliomini.