The Covid-19 crisis associated with a desire to stay in France, the jackpot for rural departments? Several territories located far from Paris and the big cities and relatively untouched by the coronavirus intend to take advantage of the current context to attract tourists this summer… or even more if affinities! For this, they multiply the communication and advertising operations, up to the aisles of the Paris metro.
Since mid-June, for almost three weeks, the people of Ile-de-France have come across 700 posters touting the city of Alès (Gars), "the capital that has no shortage of air!" The price of the operation: only 20,000 euros, advertisers being cautious in the midst of an economic crisis.
“We have a lot of feedback, especially through social networks. A few years ago, people said to themselves when talking about Alès: who do they think they are the little ones for? Today, we are looked at differently, “rejoices Christophe Rivenq, deputy mayor of the“ capital ”of the Cévennes and regional councilor of Occitania.
71% of residents plan to stay in France this summer
On paper, these territories, notably in the center and the south of the country, have quite a game to play. Due to the gradual reopening of borders and the still very complicated health context in certain foreign countries, many French people say they want to stay in France for their holidays this summer. This is the case for 71% of them, whereas they were only 55% to predict it initially, according to an OpinionWay poll for Sofinco carried out at the end of May. Conversely, only 16% planned to go abroad, compared to 44% several months earlier.
“The French are very loyal to their summer holidays and they often go to the same place. But there, we also have those who are going to leave when they do not do it systematically, and all those who usually go abroad and who are going to say: well , we are going to stay in France this year ", supports the sociologist Jean Viard, specialist in free time and holidays, interviewed by Le Parisen.
So many potential vacationers to convince, especially in these departments which deplore few serious cases and deaths due to the Covid-19. Even if Christophe Rivenq assures him: “We don't bet on it and we don't play tricks, because you never know how the situation will evolve. "
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For the rest, all means are good. The tourist office of Lozère multiplies the posts on Facebook praising "various nautical activities like catamaran or windsurfing" or even "sunset in extraordinary colors" on a lake.
The same goes for Corrèze, which encourages internet users to share their most beautiful photos of the department.
Fifteen weekends to win in Haute-Vienne
In Haute-Vienne, a competition was organized to bring around fifteen families on a “discovery” weekend at the end of August. Three days before the end of the registration period, 1,500 candidates have already applied. “They come mainly from mainland France, but also from Guyana and even from abroad. It is beyond our expectations ”, savor Marie Lees, marketing and communication director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of Limoges, partner of the operation.
You are now 1500 to participate in the operation @souriez_hv
A big 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒊 for your enthusiasm, and for your interest in @hautevienne_dep 🌱
If you plan your future in #hautevienne, go to https://t.co/qosDosfOmr@CCILimoges # souriezen87 pic.twitter.com/zDf5BGxBMF
The winners will then be invited to the department on August 29 and 30. "There will be things organized, in particular to discover the tourist places, but we will also leave them free time. And if there are entrepreneur profiles among them, we will try to get them to come a day earlier to make them meet economic players, ”says Marie Lees.
Because if bringing holidaymakers is one thing, turning them into residents is another ... that is just as ambitious for tourist offices and local elected officials. "We say to people: come and live here, and come and test while waiting, " says Christophe Rivenq, confident: "Try Alès, it's adopting it!" "
"We don't know about traffic jams"
To maximize the chances of convincing the “urban”, these departments put forward in particular the quality of life, far from big cities and pollution. Many of them are sparsely populated and sparse, and physical and social distance was natural there long before it was recommended to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. "32 is the number of our department, but it is also the number of inhabitants per square kilometer with us", laughs Philippe Martin, the president of the departmental council of Gers.
If they want vacationers to stay on their land, they will also have to prove their capacity to accommodate families over time. Several new factors will then come into play, such as the Internet connection for teleworking, the price of real estate, or even the educational conditions for children.
"We have another fundamental asset: the very important development of fiber", boasts Philippe Martin, while many digital "white areas" still exist in France.
Deployments are continuing at a good pace: in June, 1,701 businesses and homes in #Gers became eligible for #fiber on our public network.
Especially in Lectoure, Cazaubon, Condom, Nogaro or Vic.
👉 Check your eligibility here: https://t.co/M25Lo4RvTn pic.twitter.com/1MtXr5TPnW
“With teleworking, we think differently about how we are active. Anyway, we, the traffic jams, we don't know, ”smiles, she, Marie Lees.
Christophe Rivenq recognizes for his part that Alès, "like many medium-sized cities", does not have universities. But Jean Viard predicted: “Before, we had a second home for the weekend. Soon, more and more often, there will be a secondary workplace in town for certain days during the week. "