After a very difficult winter, the months of April, May, and June were rather good—although the increase in VAT encroached on net revenues. July was very average, while it was excellent last year, despite major events like the Jazz festivals in Nice and Juan-les-Pins.
This result does not align with what was announced by the mayor of Nice yesterday, during the inauguration of the municipal Police station and the Port Brigade: +27% for hotels and restaurants.
If hoteliers are foreign to this percentage, should we conclude that restaurants in Nice and on the Côte d’Azur are always full? Or that the reported figure is simply incorrect… and not verified?
Several reasons explain this, beyond the widespread discouragement of the French and, consequently, local hoteliers and restaurateurs.
First, the weather, which was not very good and greatly penalized the inland areas, resulting in a very poor summer season,
The negative impression given abroad by France: taxes, strikes, demonstrations, and insecurity,
The crisis in Ukraine, which led to a decline in Russian clientele,
Ramadan, which deprived Cannes of Saudis,
The World Cup effect, which probably encouraged some to stay home on their couches, as evidenced by the rise in home or takeout dining during this period,
And the Tour de France, which last year started from Nice and was a significant boost for Nice and the Metropolis.
The month of August looks more promising thanks to the return of Canadians, Italians, and Americans, although shooting down an aircraft dissuades using this means of transport, highlighting, once again, the urgency of rapid rail links both east and west.
September and October appear more normal, but winter is very worrying, with the prospect of witnessing the closure of some hotels and restaurants already in difficulty.
For Michel Tschann, president of this professional union: “We are naturally continuing our efforts in training our staff, necessary renovations, the environment, etc. … but we also need a coherent, stable, and competitive economic, administrative, and social environment compared to our competitors.”
Understand who will… or can!
