Did the year end finally end well?

I want to talk about the yoyo effect for 2021 with good times and other tragic ones. The 2020-2021 winter season was quite catastrophic since the skiing activity was put on hold. But we experienced a real craze for discovering the mountain in its natural aspect and practices such as snowshoes, ski touring and others. The summer has been good and the current autumn and winter are very good in terms of attendance since the Haute-Garonne Tourisme reservation center recorded figures approaching those of 2019 with a volume of business of ” 1.7 million euros and 2,600 cases processed. Haute-Garonne did well despite the context and the very difficult situation of restaurateurs.

How to explain the success of the mountain?

The mountain is not just skiing! It was the great discovery of last winter for a local clientele, especially Toulouse, who appreciated the breath of fresh air and the return of sensations of which it had been deprived whereas one can practice all types of hikes in the area. nature near the metropolis and in the Pyrenees. We communicated a lot on the values ​​linked to sustainable tourism, to nature, on the return to healthy values.

Communication which has clearly borne fruit …

We mobilized on FaceBook Lives which punctuated all summer, made talk about them with a superb audience. This is a source of satisfaction because we have given the floor to all the players in the field. The lodgings are not empty! This summer we had a lot of hits from July 15 to August 15! Thanks to this local clientele and to the Parisians, who came in large numbers, as well as the tourists from the Atlantic coast and, more timidly, our Spanish neighbors as well as the Belgians. Today, our department benefits from an image linked to outdoor sports. It was a desire of the Departmental Council to include our territory in this dynamic.

There is no lack of assets …

Yes, the landscapes and opportunities for discovery are numerous and cycling was very busy this year. You can learn here on the slopes of the great cols of the Tour de France or stroll quietly along the Canal du Midi. Via Garonna has found its family audience who enjoy walking along the water’s edge, and the GR10 taken to the very high mountains. You can kayak between Toulouse and Grenada or set off just after the border on the Garonne on well-engaged rapids.

What are the prospects?

The Omicron variant bothers and worries us. But in view of the very difficult past year due to the health crisis, the Haute-Garonne has fared well. The next February holidays are promising as are reservations for the summer. The image of the department has preserved a permit to register it in this dynamic nature with the help of the actors in the field who have been able to adapt.