Hossegor and Lacanau would not be outdone

While it is not quite complete, the summer tourism season is already more strong printing professionals than the previous, marked by a hesitant rise in attendance. Apart from perhaps the Languedoc-Roussillon, all the regions where this sector plays a leading economic role record a net rebound.

Those in the West, which were grey mine in 2005, end the month of August ragaillardies, including the Aquitaine where coastal knows a strong rush. At Biarritz, estimated at 2 hotel occupancy rate rising this summer. Hossegor and Lacanau would not be outdone. After an early July better than previous ones, the heat wave has benefited girondin coastal as well as in Bordeaux, the tourists are confusing the Spain and its extreme heat. The capital of Aquitaine has experienced an influx of foreigners, equivalent to half of its visitors. The British reinforced their presence in Aquitaine South via low-cost flights. Belgian, Spanish and Italian are also more numerous, the difference, it seems this year again, Germans. In Britain, the stations were full in July. "The heat effect has encouraged reservations", considers Bruno Petit, the owner of the Diana, a 4-star of Carnac (Morbihan), judge August also very good. After several years of decline, the British attendance resumes. The tourism office of the Saint-Cast-le-Guildo (coast-) speaks of a marked return "of the English, but also of the Dutch." To a capricious weather in August, the region offers solutions of withdrawal, such as the Grand Aquarium de Saint-Malo and the Océanopolis in Brest.

The report on the leisure facilities also plays in Poitou-Charentes. Futuroscope, experienced by the strong heats of the beginning of the summer (3 to 4 less entries in July), has "given" in August. "We are moving towards 245.000 entries, which is higher than last year", indicates its direction. In the Pays de la Loire, professionals have known a month of July rather favourable with an increase of overnight stays more than 3. On the Mediterranean coast, relief WINS in Paca: 82 of professionals are satisfied August and 79 see July positive, according to a survey of regional tourism Committee (TRC). Early figures show stability in attendance from 2005 with approximately 13 million tourists, confirming a trend reversal after poor seasons from 2001 to 2004. Foreigners are back. Marseille, they are more numerous than the French tourists first. Among them are many British, Germans, Belgians, Dutch, Italians and Spaniards, whose attendance had fallen by 10 to 20.

"It is a divine surprise".

On the Côte d'Azur, the summer ends in enthusiasm. After a 10 increase in July in the coastal hotels, professionals, concerned early August to the weakness of the reservations, show their satisfaction. "It is a divine surprise: August was also good, perhaps even better", summarized Michel Tschann, President of the Union of the Nice-Côte d'Azur Hotel. A calmer weather than elsewhere and a picture of security in a volatile international context are at the origin of this retrofit. If the British keep the head, the return of the Americans and Italians is confirmed, as fidelity visitors from the Middle East in Cannes. However, the Russian customer moves back 15.

Only the Languedoc-Roussillon appears to display a half balance sheets. After an excellent pre-season, professionals have known a month of July with a high influx halftone but a consumption in decline, mainly in restoration, because of the heat wave. The rally is felt that since August 15, the past two weeks, bad weather forces, having been marked by an attendance down. "We recorded a very strong demand for last-minute," confirms the Agency of tourism of Argelès. But he was not sure that this is sufficient for ironing the threshold of 100 million nights franchi in 2001 (103.8 million exactly).