A mixed tourist season had been predicted for a city of Nice marred by tramway construction, but on the contrary, it might turn out to be a good season for the French Riviera this new summer of 2006.
An old town richly furnished, a Promenade des Anglais as popular as ever, and a lively pedestrian area in the evenings are indicators that do not deceive. The vacationers are definitely here, and as a result, the traders in Nice are trading their winter grimaces for sunnier smiles.
One sector that is also fully experiencing the arrival of the first holidaymakers is the hotel industry. From luxury palaces to small neighborhood hotels, Nice’s establishments are ready to welcome the thousands of visitors who will come to spend their nights or to take refreshing or even decadent naps in the many rooms of the local hotel industry.
Nice Première met with the President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Hoteliers, Michel Tschann, to gauge the temperature of a season that looks rather promising for Nice and the Azurean region. But, as there is always a but…
Nice Première: Mr. Tschann, how do July and the coming August look?
Michel Tschann: For now, they look good. Not everything is fully booked, far from it, but the “portfolio” of reservations is about 70%. There are many short stays and last-minute bookings that are expected to increase by the end of the FIFA World Cup.
NP: The French Consulate in Moscow is slow in issuing visas. Do you think this will be detrimental to Nice and the French Riviera?
MT: It’s detrimental to all of France as a destination. In June, visa issuance delays doubled. Russia is a huge country, and France—unlike our German friends—has only two consulates. All of Siberia and the maritime provinces must send their passports to Moscow, and this counts!
It’s even more detrimental to the French Riviera because other “sun” destinations like Tunisia and Turkey don’t even require a visa.
NP: Do you know the reasons for these rejections?
MT: It is normal that there are rejections. However, it is not normal for the consulate staff not to be increased when revenue increases. The consulate issues around 1000 visas a day, at 60 euros each, which would justify hiring additional staff. However, under the rules of fiscal universality, the revenues go to the French Treasury, which then decides whether or not to allocate new staff.
