In Villefranche-de-Rouergue, the summer season is struggling to take off. Between capricious weather and tense economic context, tourism professionals agree that the high season is slow to start.
“We worked well in April and May,” says Christine, manager of the Rouergue-Onlycamp campsite. If spring has been encouraging, summer has started much more slowly. June was sealed by work in the neighborhood. “People were getting lost, some were turning around. We lost a lot of time with that.”
The weather did not help anything. Between hot weather, thunderstorms and general instability, attendance remains shy. “Right now, we are 40-45 % of filling. But we know that everything is played out from the end of July.” Christine keeps hope however: “For August, we are already almost complete. Like every year, the weather will decide.” She still notes a change in the profiles: “This year, we have a lot of Dutch, some Spaniards and Italians, but very little English. And especially the French.”
On the side of the Les Fleurines hotel, the observation is similar. “We are down compared to previous years,” says the director. “Compared to a classic year, we are between – 12 and – 15 % in July.” Again, tourist customers are rarer, partially offset by a professional activity. “What keeps us afloat are business trips, there are fewer and fewer families or conventional vacationers.” The stays are shorter, and the reservations later.
“Vacationers look more at their budget”
Even felt at the Balladins hotel, which observes a comparable dynamic. “It is not terrible. We especially welcome workers and salespeople traveling. The filling remains low, barely half. In fact, we work almost better outside the summer, on more regular pros clienteles.” A phenomenon already observed in previous years, but more marked this season.
Professionals also point to a central factor: the economic context. “People prefer to save, they pay attention to everything,” observes Christine. “They leave less, consume less, or change completely with destination.” According to the manager, it is clear: “Today, it is cheaper to go on vacation in Tunisia or Morocco than staying in France.”
In restoration too, the trend seems to be the same. “Restorers’ friends tell us that average tickets are falling. Vacationers are looking at their budget. It feels everywhere.” In Villefranche, the summer of 2025 begins with difficulty. It remains to be seen whether August, which concentrates most of the reservations, will save a season weakened by the weather and the economic context.
