A quiet town of fishermen, St-Tropez on the French Riviera has transformed into one of the busiest summer resorts in the Mediterranean. The picturesqueness of this place goes hand in hand with luxury and chic life. This is why every day more than 80 thousand people come here during peak season (July-August) to mix with its small population of 4,000 souls.
France’s Overtourism Crisis St-Tropez
Due to overtourism, France will be the world’s most visited country but it will have a lot of challenges. In line with the World Travel & Tourism Council, by 2025 France is projected to attract above 93 million international visitors and American travelers are large contributors to this growth. On the other hand, this popularity carries some negative effects like these popular places experiencing environmental damage due to over-tourism and the pressure on local facilities’ ability to cope.
Sustainable Tourism Initiatives St-Tropez
The French government has prepared an action plan for encouraging sustainable tourism with ten points underlined. Some measures include promoting a greener hotel classification system; improving cycling infrastructure and investing in public transport have been put in place. Importantly, all domestic flights traveling less than two hours and thirty minutes by train were stopped while young people received €49 monthly pass for trains so they could use eco-friendly means of transport.
Encouraging Off-Season Visits
Tourists are being urged by regional tourist offices not only to visit less popular areas throughout these regions. But also to discourage traveling during summer holidays. When there is heavy traffic congestion at most attractions for vacationers. Instead for example, tourists can choose Valaurie. Which is a medieval village found in Drôme department instead of going to Sénanque Abbey among others that are well known thus reducing their numbers. In a bid to conserve delicate environments. Authorities have dismantled a car park built on the cliff top in Etretat. And Calanques National Park located just near Marseille is partially closed during the height of summer.
St-Tropez’s Plea to Tourists
To maintain its appeal and avoid overpopulation. St-Tropez decided to take an unusual way by asking tourists not to visit the city at peak time. Mayor of St-Tropez Sylvie Siri bluntly says: “Don’t come in the summer. Come in spring when it’s like the St-Tropez of our childhoods.” This program forms part of a new initiative dubbed Secret St-Tropez. Which aims at popularizing the town among off-season travelers. Who can enjoy its intrinsic beauty without having to be crowded with tourists during summertime.
