Despite the sanitary situation and the rainy weather, tourists are present in Burgundy. Certainly there are few foreigners but many French summer visitors. Often passing through the region, they take advantage of visiting the Côte-d’Or. This delights the professionals of the sector.
After a mixed summer in Burgundy in 2020, the tourism sector was counting on a revival in 2021. This was without counting the progress of the Delta variant and the constraints linked to the health pass. Add to that a weather worthy of an early fall: the cocktail has something to leave a bitter taste to professionals.
And yet, the Julyists responded present. Katia Tunc sees her worries gradually dissipate. “The month did not necessarily start very well but then we had a lot of people over the last two weeks“, notes this manager of a delicatessen in Dijon.
French customers
Katia Tunc is confident about the summer results. Customers abound in the shop between two showers and contrary to custom, they are mostly French, come “from fairly close regions“, she remarks.”Usually they didn’t stay. It is a city of passage. But there they take the time to visit Dijon so for us it is rather positive.“
We had a few French clients who stayed for several days. While the passing customer will stay a night or two nights but rarely more
Same observation on the wine coast, in the establishment of Pierre Gille. “We had a few French clients who stayed for several days. While the passing customer will stay a night or two nights but rarely more“, reports this owner of a bed and breakfast in Nuits-Saint-Georges (Côte-d’Or).
Its traditional customers from Northern Europe, on their way to the South of France, are also present. After a shy month of June, it is almost sold out for the summer. “The bad weather didn’t change anything“, rejoices Pierre Gille.
Better than 2020
In hotels too, the results for July are better than in 2020, “even if they remain lower than in previous years“, specifies Patrick Jacquier, president of the Union des Métiers et des Industries de l’Hôtellerie en Côte-d’Or. August seems to be on a good start but here again reservations are made at the last minute,”48 hours, 24 hours, even 12 hours in advance.”
At the counter of the Beaune tourist office, Sandrine Sagrange also notes a higher attendance compared to last season. But with only 20% of foreign customers.
“Mostly Belgians, Dutch, Scandinavians too. For a week we have seen a few Spaniards and Italians“, lists the reception manager.”The tourists we have lost are the British.“And the big absentees as in 2020 remain the Americans and Asians.
Sandrine Sagrande also observes “new habits“in the Beaune region.”We have more requests for green tourism. Hiking, cycling … and if it rains there is a plethora of cultural tourism offers, especially in Beaune.“This week alone, the Hospices de Beaune welcomed up to 2,700 visitors per day.
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