“In ten years, the Région has consolidated its leading position”

Ramatuelle, an emblematic place on the Var coastline, Région Sud, through François de Canson, vice-president of the Région and president of the Comité Régional de Tourisme (CRT), launched the 2026 peak tourist season. Six years after the health crisis that paralyzed the sector, it is time to look forward to a structured future, marked by new challenges and strategic investments. During his speech, the president of the CRT recalled the path traveled since 2020, a year when uncertainty dominated: “The Fête des Terrasses initiative symbolized an act of resilience, a turning point where the sector chose not to suffer.

A successful bet that laid the foundations for a profound transformation of regional tourism.”

« En dix ans, la Région a consolidé sa position de leader »

TRANSFORMATION François de Canson also explained: “In ten years, the Région has consolidated its leading position by treating tourism as its primary industry. Economic benefits rose from €18 to €22 billion, while the number of visitors climbed from 30 to 36 million, supporting 150,000 non-relocatable jobs. Beyond the raw figures, it is the tourism model that has evolved towards greater sustainability and balance.

The share of commercial accommodation rose from 46% to 59%, a sign of increased professionalization. Attendance was better distributed throughout the year, with notable growth off-season (+16% in winter, +10% in spring, and +13% in autumn). This move upmarket is accompanied by record customer satisfaction, reaching 96%, and an evolution in mobility, with the share of visitors using the train within the region jumping from 4% to 14%.”

The year 2025 served as a benchmark, with attendance, an upmarket shift, and international clientele reaching unprecedented levels. The momentum is confirmed in 2026 as the occupancy rate for Easter reached 79%, with peaks of 95% on the Côte d'Azur. Spring holidays were expected to be up by 2% compared to 2025, and bookings for May showed an increase of 5%.

In the Alpes, the 2025-2026 winter season closed with attendance up by 2.2%.

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE Furthermore, the president of the CRT insisted: “In the face of an uncertain global context, the region intends to capitalize on its assets as a 'reassuring, accessible destination that offers both quality and safety'. To maintain this position, a study on tourist accommodation was conducted, analyzing more than 116,000 data points. Confirming the solidity of the model, it highlights major areas of vigilance.

Thus, 46% of businesses experience recruitment difficulties, seasonal worker housing has become a critical issue, and the energy renovation of the housing stock is becoming a necessity to avoid a depreciation of the offer. These findings feed the long-term vision, with the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in sight. Far from being a simple showcase, the event is perceived as 'a strategic choice, an accelerator, an eye-opener.

The goal is clear: we are not doing the Games to shine. We are doing them to build.”

To achieve these ambitions, the year 2026 will see the creation of an Opération d'Intérêt Régional (OIR) dedicated to tourism. This initiative marks a change of scale, aiming to move from support to acceleration. “The OIR’s mission is to lead the sector, support the most strategic projects, and mobilize more funding, particularly European.

In this regard, an investment of €350,000 was announced to develop handitourism in the mountains. For, a fairer tourism only holds if it is also more powerful,” warned the vice-president of the Région.