Compared to the tourist boom of summer 2015 (+ 15% visitors in July!), This season will be a bit disappointing in the Loire-Atlantique. But professionals feel they have limited the damage …
Official figures for overnight stays are not ready yet. But Loire-Atlantique Development has already surveyed professionals to present a first report of the season yesterday in Nantes.
44% of them say they have recorded a decline in visitors. Only a one in five has seen an increase. According to these statements, the French clientele (which traditionally represents 9 of 10 tourists in the department) is “stable or falling for most professionals.” The foreign customers too. Especially the British, who have shunned France, this year.
“Objective: 5th national place”
Françoise Haméon, Vice President of the Departmental Council of Loire-Atlantique, in charge of tourism believes, for his part: “The balance of the season is pretty good, in a very difficult national context. We may be slightly below the 2015 season, which was an excellent vintage. (…) The foreign customers fell 7% in France, we will be less bad. For example, attendance sensors exploded about 408 km of cycling paths of Loire-Atlantique, popular with foreign tourists, especially Dutch. (…) Last spring, the Loire-Atlantique was moved from 9th to 7th French departments for the number of nights. Our project is to reach the 5th place … “
