PRESS RELEASE. 30 August Press Contact - Bénédicte ALZATI - T+33 (0)

Transcription

1 PRESS RELEASE 30 August

2 Renaud MUSELIER, president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d Azur Regional Tourism Committee: At the beginning of the tourist season, I set ambitious targets for our region: 4% growth in tourist activity in 2017 and the return of international visitors who are those who spend most here. Now, as we carry out our first review, we see that the growth has been achieved and our international clientele has returned. In spite of an unprecedented situation after the Nice terror attack on 14 July 2016, the tremendous efforts of all professionals in the sector (who I wish to commend on their energy and enthusiasm) have enabled us to enjoy a successful peak tourist season. Thanks to its three global brands- Provence, Alpes, Côte d Azur - our region still tops the list of the world s most attractive and tourism-friendly regions. This is not only something we take pride in, but it also represents a tremendous economic asset. It also proves that the strategy we put in place by launching the Provence and Côte d Azur destination brands is bearing fruit. So I shall be launching the Alpes Brand by the end of the year. Job creation, economic benefits, innovations and biodiversity conservation all stem from this industry which occupies such a pivotal role in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d Azur region. With biodiversity unlike anywhere else on earth, a remarkable coastline, rich and varied landscapes and a mild climate, we are establishing ourselves as a truly global tourist destination. 2

3 Our international clientele has returned and the French love the Provence-Alpes-Côte d Azur region Provence-Alpes-Côte d Azur remains as attractive as ever for domestic tourists and is reinforcing is position as the second most visited region by international tourists (after Paris and the Île-de-France). The French tourists who chose to visit the region this summer (67% of visitor numbers) came mainly from (in order) the Paris-Ile de France, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, and Hauts-de-France regions. As for our international visitors (33% of visitor numbers), the most numerous were Germans, Belgians, and then Italians and Britons, in equal numbers. In total, in July and August, income from tourism is estimated at around 6.4 billion. A positive mid-season review for the tourism professionals of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d Azur region IPSOS survey conducted between 16 and 22 August among 507 tourism professionals in the region - 74% of tourism professionals consider tourist numbers in their establishments during the summer of 2017 as good, an increase of 2 percentage points on the 2016 figure. - This level of satisfaction where visitor numbers are concerned is at a very high level for the month of August, at 84% (up 6 percentage points). This is a generally positive trend: the high level of satisfaction applies to both the destination brands (Provence, Alpes du Sud, Côte d Azur) and to all tourist areas (urban, seaside, inland areas and mountains) (see annex) 3

4 Average accommodation occupancy rate on the rise The average occupancy rate for traditional commercial accommodation in the region (hotels, campsites, holiday villages, gîtes, bed and breakfasts,...) is high: 75% for July and August (up 2% on the same period in 2016). In August, it gets close to or well beyond 90%. Digital platforms for arranging accommodation between individuals: increasing at a rapid rate This summer, digital accommodation platforms are continuing to flourish; Airbnb, for example, registered the arrival of over 650,000 tourists to the region between 15 June and 15 August, up 25% on the same period in The market share of these accommodation platforms is now estimated at 12% of the number of visitors using commercial accommodation in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d Azur. Number of overnight stays: increased numbers of French and international visitors For the peak summer period (July and August), the number of overnight stays in the region is estimated at almost 108 million in 2017, an increase of 3% on the July and August 2016 figure of 105 million. Over the first 7 months of the year, the number of overnight stays in the region s hotels increased by 3.3% in comparison with the same period in 2016, which represents 424,000 extra overnight stays. 4

5 This increase applies to both overnight stays by domestic visitors, with 261,000 extra nights, and overnight stays by international visitors (up by 163,000 nights), with the top five being (in order): Germans (45,000 more nights), Americans (34,700 more nights), Italians (32,000 more nights), Russians (26,000 more nights) and Swiss (22,600 more nights). As for visitors from further afield, it is also worth noting that hotels have seen a rise in visitors from China (up 6.2%), The Near and Middle East (up 10.7%), and South and Central America (up 16.8%). On the other hand, the number of overnight stays by British visitors has fallen by 11% over 7 months (the Brexit effect). However, Britons still occupy the region s hotels in the greatest numbers (with a total of 659,000 overnight stays). A positive trend which we need to maintain in the 2nd half of 2017 After a 3.4% fall in the number of tourists visiting the Provence-Alpes-Côte d Azur region in 2016, these signs of an upturn in tourism in the region for the peak holiday season are, therefore, positive. Major campaigns to promote and showcase the destinations of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d Azur region by the Regional Tourism Committee, its partners and Atout France will support this trend throughout the second half of These will include, at the end of the year, the launch of the Alpes destination in the wake of the launch in under a year of the Cote D Azur (end of 2016) and Provence (April 2017) global destination brands onto international markets. 5

6 Key tourism statistics in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d Azur region > 30 million tourist arrivals in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d Azur region, including 6 million visits by international tourists. > Tourist numbers peak (around 15 August) estimated at 2.6 million visitors. > Average spend per person per day: 64 ( 53 for French visitors, 114 for foreign visitors). > 207 million overnight stays (44% of these in commercial accommodation). > Annual revenue of 18 billion from tourism-related spending. > Revenue of 35 million for communes in the region thanks to tourist tax. > 13% of the region s GDP. > 25,000 businesses and more than 140,000 jobs, 120,000 of which are salaried, that is almost 10 % of salaried jobs in the region. > More than 2,000 hotels, 700 campsites, 420 holiday villages 6