Haute-Garonne, Hérault, Spain… Where do the tourists who pass through Carcassonne come from?

Which tourists come in the greatest number to Carcassonne? They are not the Spanish or the Anglo-Saxons but the inhabitants of the Occitanie region. From the phones that were limited from January 1 to the end of September in the prefectural city of Aude, the tourism office was able to check a share of overnight stays of 27.9%, or 269,930 overnight stays to total And the “Occitans” are in the lead.

But this phenomenon is not new. It came up during the health crisis, a time when the French were mostly living in France. Another view can be drawn: the change in practice during your stay. “Tourists from the area come to spend just a few daysspecifies the director of the tourist office, Muriel Brunet. On average, we are between 3 and 4 days.”

Haute-Garonne and Hérault ahead

Which region of the region do most people travel to Carcassonne? First, these are the residents of Haute-Garonne with a share of 9.4% of overnight stays. In the second position are the Héraultais with 6.3%. According to Muriel Brunet, several reasons explain these trips to the provincial capital: “In particular, there are people from Toulouse who come by bike through the Canal du Midi. We are thinking of new developments because there is a real eco-responsibility drive. Our challenge is to keep developing the concept. We thought there would be a fall after Covid-19, but in fact the opposite has just happened. “explains the director of the tourist office. Before sending: “Today people are flying less and less and they want local tourism in the regions close to where they live. “

And as for the other regions of France? It is the residents of Ile de France (Île de France) who take advantage of the holidays in the prefectural city: 164,930 cumulative nights (a share of 17%) from the beginning of the year to the end of September. In the third position, we find those from the Nouvelle Aquitaine region with 115,838 overnight stays (12%).

La Cité will continue to be a major attraction for foreign tourists

In terms of foreign tourists, the Spanish are in pole position: 20.8% of overnight stays, followed by those from the United Kingdom with 13.8%. Behind them, the Germans with 7.3% and the Americans with 5.5%. “La Cité will continue to be a major attraction for foreign tourists.analyzing Muriel Brunet.

Also note that Carcassonne beat its record for overnight stays from last year by 4%.