Earlier this week, we published an article on the impact of fires in Gironde on seasonal rentals and tourism. Still with the support of our concierge in Arcachon, today we are taking stock of this new week which has seen the fires progress sharply. If these are currently not yet fixed, it seems that their rate has decreased and that no active flame front seems to persist, at least for the time being. On the other hand, the repercussions on tourism and seasonal rentals in Arcachon and the surrounding area are beginning to be measured. Many personalities, from local elected officials to personnel involved in crisis management, are beginning to make their voices heard and to take stock of these devastating fires.
First tourist impact: the destruction of campsites
This is one of the points that appeared in our previous article and which has indeed been confirmed over the days: no less than 5 campsites have perished by the flames, including the very famous Camping des Blue Waves. The latter was made famous a few years ago by the film Camping, in which Franck Dubosc played the main role, shot at Camping des Flots Bleus. The latter had been evacuated as a precaution and with good reason: he was unfortunately the victim of the fire. Franck Couderc, boss of the campsite, then went to the scene "We needed to go there, not to reassure ourselves, but to measure the extent of the damage for ourselves" as he said. explained in the media. For his part, Franck Dubosc was moved by this disappearance on Twitter:
We will rebuild our campsite! pic.twitter.com/QvUQJkiHPS
— franckdubosc (@dubosc_franck) July 18, 2022
Tourism at half mast around Arcachon:
Our concierge agency in Arcachon can only confirm that the fires inevitably had a negative impact on the presence of holidaymakers in the area. If Arcachon was not the direct victim of the fires, the latter having been limited to the forest and natural sectors of its neighboring town La-Teste-de-Buch, the annoying smoke, blown by the winds, will have been able to inconvenience tourists and residents on multiple occasions. Likewise, this more than particular context will have been able to sow doubt and concern in the minds of many travelers and inhabitants. Result, a drop in the frequentation of shops, leisure activities, the beaches of Arcachon and the Bassin but also of the weekly market, abnormally empty for this period of the year. “Normally, at this hour, there are people, there are tourists everywhere” confided a trader to France Info last Wednesday.
A drop in turnover for tourism professionals:
In Arcachon, La Teste-de-Buch and surrounding areas, this negative dynamic of local tourism has a direct impact on professionals in the tourism sector. When these generally make half of their turnover for the year over the few weeks of the summer season, they find themselves deprived of an important windfall for the management of their businesses. Surfing courses canceled due to the closure of the beaches, the occupancy rate which drops from 90% to 40% in certain hotels in the Arcachon sector... The tourist office completes this observation with additional data: the decline in turnover felt by restaurants would already be around 30%. If cancellations in Airbnb rentals in Arcachon in the properties managed by our concierge service have taken place in the Arcachon and Teste-de-Buch sector, these nevertheless remain at a reasonable level.
Our concierge services in Arcachon and La Teste available to their customers:
Our local Airbnb concierge agencies in Arcachon, La-Teste-de-Buch and Gujan-Mestras are of course available to their customers, owners and tenants to inform them of the situation and consider solutions when necessary. At present, it seems that the fires are on the way to being fully controlled and that the season will be able to resume its course. Many professionals remain determined to ensure that holidaymakers enjoy a great summer and are ready to maintain their activities in the best possible conditions until things return to normal. Our agencies in the Arcachon basin send their sincere support to their fellow tourism professionals in Gironde and to all the merchants who are victims of the fires.
