Toulouse Metropolis. Culture, sport and the Garonne to attract new tourists
Since the beginning of the year, it has moved and transformed. The local semi-public company (SEML) became a local public company (SPL) and joined the Toulouse Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), near Esquirol. The Toulouse Métropole attractiveness agency also has a new managing director, in the person of Patrice Vassal, former managing director of Toulouse Events, the subsidiary of GL Events which manages the Meett.
A breath of fresh air in a slightly more favorable atmosphere. After a year 2020 where tourism fell due to the Covid, 2021 was more lenient in the Toulouse metropolis. Jean-Claude Dardelet, president of the Toulouse Métropole attractiveness agency, lists the good figures for last year: “4.5 million visitors, 1.6 million people in tourist sites, 3.8 million passengers at Toulouse-Blagnac airport and 3.4 million overnight stays. The agency in a vice of 5 million by 2024.
The Rugby World Cup in sight
To do so, it met its many cultural and sporting events ahead of time. Way to play on all tables and all terrains. On the cultural side, a novelty has particularly attracted attention, a program mixing classical and pop music which should take place from July 14 for several weeks at the Prairie des Filtres. The Orchester national du Capitole should notably take part in this new summer event. For the rest, still a lot of mystery.
On the same site, a year later, oval ball aficionados from all over the world could vibrate, from the beginning of September, for the different teams in one of the “Villages” (slightly more charming name given to the Fan zones) of the Rugby World Cup 2023. Toulouse is indeed one of the host cities of the competition. Last innovation presented, a call for projects launched until April to revitalize the Garonne. Whether it is river transport, cultural or sports programming, the Metropolis wants to better organize activities related to the river. Cécile Dufraisse, deputy mayor of Toulouse in charge of the question, gave some minor details: “Ten locations have been identified for the passage of river shuttles. (…) Tisseo will not manage this transport part. »
Jean-Claude Dardelet ended the press conference with other positive data, places of its various thematic offices. “Invest in Toulouse has supported the installation of thirty new companies and its work should make it possible to generate, within three years, 1047 jobs”, assured in particular the president of the attractiveness agency, before concluding: ” The Shooting Office supported 265 professional shoots, including twelve major ones. In 2019, there were 197 including five major ones. »
Mathias Hardoy
Pictured: Cécile Dufraisse, Deputy Mayor of Toulouse in charge of Rivers and Canals, Jean-Claude Dardelet, President of the Toulouse Métropole Attractiveness Agency, Laurence Arribagé, Deputy Mayor of Toulouse in charge of Sports, and Francis Grass , Deputy Mayor of Toulouse in charge of Culture. Credit: Hélène Ressayres – ToulÉco.