“It’s terrifying, in fifty years, I have never experienced such a situation,”
says Christian Sarran, director of the Font Romeu tourist office.
There is little snow on the peaks, temperatures are high and, unlike last year, we have not had any rain in the mountains either.
The situation is unfortunately worse in the Têt, Agly and Aude valleys.”
For almost two years, the Pyrénées-Orientales have been experiencing extreme drought, just like neighboring Catalonia which has just declared a state of emergency.
The prefecture of this very touristy department (40% of economic activity) has extended the measures restricting the use of water until the beginning of April.
“We are all in close contact with the town halls and the prefecture and are awaiting recommendations for spring and summer
,” explains Rémi Chrétien, director of Vacancéole, which operates five tourist residences in 66, in the mountains (Font- Romeu, Les Angles) as well as at the sea (Argelès sur Mer, Canet-en-Roussillon, Perpignan, Saint Cyprien, Cerbère).
If he shares, like his peers, his concern about climate change, he is confident of being able to welcome vacationers in good conditions:
“we have already amplified communication on eco-friendly gestures, such as the duration of the shower and the use of the washing machine.
We no longer clean with a karcher and no longer water the plants.
It's sad, but if you explain it, customers understand.
Like last year, jacuzzis and spas will remain closed, but swimming pools open.
Instead of emptying them, we only add the water that evaporates
,” he says.
Reuse of shower water
Measures that have become common practice also in campsites.
The department has 191 with nearly 34,000 locations, which makes
“the outdoor hotel industry by far the leading accommodation provider in the Eastern Pyrenees
,” recalls Nicolas Dayot, president of the national federation of the branch.
Local campsites have been very committed to water conservation for several years.
Last spring, they made an ambitious commitment to reduce their consumption by 30% during the summer.
This objective was achieved: the water was saved and the season too.
And this through a set of measures to raise awareness among holidaymakers, for example in children's clubs, and to optimize the resource.
“Swimming pools are essential for vacationers, and more water efficient than private swimming pools, but the showers around them are closed or their duration and water flow reduced,”
he explains.
Water from cleaning swimming pool filters is also stored for firefighters.”
And to continue: “
to further reduce water consumption, longer and more expensive work must be carried out.
Campsites are working, throughout France, on reusing mobile home shower water for toilets.”
Adaptation of the program
Both accommodation providers and activity organizers rely on vacationers’ understanding of the local context.
“On rivers or lakes, water activities may have to be adapted.
Sometimes you will have to walk your canoe or do another activity near the water such as tree climbing
,” warns Philippe Sirech, co-founder of Spotyride, which lists more than 3,000 water activities around the world.
Or even decide not to stay on the coast and go discover the peaks which gave their name to the department.
“Apart from hiking and mountain biking, made easier by the opening of the ski lifts in summer, we offer many activities. In August, the air remains cooler than down below and we are now reaching winter occupancy rates. In July, however, we still have accommodation available. At attractive prices too
,” advises Christian Sarran.