A beautiful tourist season for gîtes in Gironde. The 450 Gîtes de France labeled accommodations have “a filling rate of 71%” for these Christmas holidays, explains Natacha Beauchêne, director of the network in Gironde. “From the start, the Arcachon Bay was called upon, which is normal for the destination. But the whole department was able to benefit from these Christmas rentals, whether they are gîtes for two, four, six or eight people”, she specifies.
According to Natacha Beauchêne, these reservations, up 1% over the second week of the Christmas holidays compared to 2019, prove “a need to get some fresh air” for tourists. Holidaymakers who come from all over France : “There is of course the Paris basin, Normandy, but also Toulouse and Tarn-et-Garonne”, details Natacha Beauchêne.
Calm and nature
Some even come from further afield, like the Boyer family. Arriving from Reunion Island, she booked a week’s vacation at “La cabane du forestier”, a guesthouse located at a place called Méogas, near Lacanau. “We will be calm, and we need it with everything that is going on, the Covid etc …”, underlines Chantal. Patrick, her husband, abounds: “For a year, we have not taken any leave. The confinement was difficult, we did not go out … Going out into the countryside, it’s ideal.” As for their son, Kévin, he explains that the format of the gîte is ideal for meeting with family : “We still feel at home, it’s warm, we are between us.”
We have the reservations, but we do not know if they will be made “, Jean-François Chazot, owner of a gîte in Gironde
As for Jean-François Chazot, owner of “La cabane du forestier”, he blows a little during these end of year celebrations. Its turnover was halved in 2020, because of the uncertainty caused by the health crisis.“We have the reservations, but until the last moment, we don’t know if they will be made. Until last year, we knew that the reservation calendar was full … Today we don’t know anything “, he regrets. And if his lodging is complete for these Christmas holidays, Jean-François Chazot is not very optimistic for the year 2021.
–
