Certain visits, by officials, economic partners or journalists, were maintained at the Stellantis (ex-PSA) factory in Sochaux. But the tourist visits organized by the Peugeot museum in Sochaux have been stopped since the start of the 2020 health crisis. Not without consequences. “The PSA factory, there were 5,800 visitors in 2018” (Editor’s note: these are combined visits to the museum + the Sochaux production site, for € 22, € 15 for 12-18 year olds), details the communication manager of the Peugeot Adventure Museum, Emmanuelle Flaccus. When the museum records 55,000 annual visitors.
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Stellantis, a real powerhouse
This also represents a real locomotive for local tourism. “Some tour operators give up organizing trips when they learn that a visit to the Sochaux production site is not possible”. Which, even in a “normal” year, happens regularly. In fact, “confidentiality periods”, linked for example to the development of new vehicles, which can sometimes last several months, and also prevent visits to the site. A progress report should be made at the end of August, the beginning of September with the Sochaux site to provide for the relaunch of the tourist machine.
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“Show the know-how”
“We offer (free) tours twice a week, Wednesday and Thursday,” explains Sophie Cretin, manager of the store at Fruitières du Lomont, the fromagerie de Noirefontaine. Visits stopped at the start of 2021, but have just resumed in July. Of course, organizing visits quickly makes sense when a store is combined with the place of production and ultimately allows purchases to be made. “The objective is also to show know-how. And the fact that it is the cheese maker Philippe Croissant who makes the visit is very appreciated by people, they see that he is passionate, ”continues Sophie Cretin. Visits take place in the morning, around 9 a.m., by reservation.
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Cristel: “develop industrial tourism”
The purely tourist visits (free), organized with the Tourist Office are also at a standstill, at Cristel in Fesches-le-Châtel. As for Stellantis, since March 2020. Only a few professionals or students visit the site occasionally. Usually, the visits represent “around 1,000 people per year,” says Damien Dodane, in charge of communications. He recognizes the “economic interest” since visits are sometimes followed by purchases. But more broadly, “we have a project to develop industrial tourism, with a more attractive store”. Convinced that “communicating well about our know-how helps to build customer loyalty”.
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