A big departure from the Tour de France, it costs communities dearly but, on arrival, it can also pay big. At the European Metropolis of Lille (MEL), which estimates that it is “too early” to specify precisely the “important” economic benefits, they are estimated at “several million euros”.
In 2022, a study by the Brest-Brittany urban planning agency relating to the impact of the Grand Departure in 2021 in the Cité du Finistère had concluded that “three euros in the revenue by Euro Investi”. In Bilbao, Spanish city having hosted the event in 2023, the 12.2 million euros funded by the Basque institutions had generated 103.9 million euros, or 8.5 times the amount spent.
The North will not escape this trend. “A Tour de France, we cannot plant ourselves, it’s more profitable than investing in the stock market or in real estate! », Enthuses Antoine Sillani, vice-president (LR) in charge of sports at the Hauts-de-France Regional Council, who participated in the adventure up to 1.75 million euros. During the passage of the large 2022 loop in Lille, which was only “simple” step city, 3.4 million euros had already been injected into the local economy according to data from the Tourism Observatory of the Lille metropolis.
“It is clearly a boon”
For this 2025 vintage, the hotel industry, responsible for accommodating runners, sponsors, the media around the world, French, Belgian, Dutch, British tourists … will damn enjoy it. “It is clearly a boon,” applauds Boris Delacroix, to the helm of the High Standing Blessed Hotel in Wasquehal, on the Lille outskirts and president of the Lille Métropole hotel club.
The occupancy rate rises crescendo this week to reach on Saturday evening “93-95 %” on average in the establishments of the 95 municipalities of the MEL. “Or 35 points more than ordinary early July with higher average prices, up 40 %. It is comparable to a weekend of Lille clearance sale, ”he decrypts, referring to the huge flea market every early September in the capital of Flanders.
“Hotels is the benchmark. If you sleep on site, you have to eat well! Recalls a tourism professional. Estaminets and breweries – except those who are difficult to access due to the constraints linked to the organization of the event – therefore bet on “a big departure effect” in their caisse drawer.
“We will have more people and we are ready,” says Aurèle, boss of the mested chittery (Lille). There is no shortage of arguments to conquer the crowds: he was crowned world champion in the authentic fried in 2023.
