In the very beautiful Debussy Auditorium in Cannes, the 4th departmental meetings of Côte d’Azur tourism were held this Monday. On the agenda were announcements and a reflection on culture in a historically very attractive geographical area.
The Alpes-Maritimes have always been a place benefiting from strong cultural activity and significant tourism. But as Nicolas Barret, a destination marketing specialist, reminded us, these two notions do not mean the same thing. “The audiences for culture and tourism are not the same,” he notes. It is true that we perceive tourist influx as an economic data point, unlike culture, which is more nobly associated with the world of arts and creation.
With 11 million tourists in 2018, it seems essential to evolve the attractiveness of the Côte d’Azur, taking into account the increasing digitalization of society. This is why the creation of a Culture and Tourism Cluster was announced during these meetings, to merge the two sectors.
David Lisnard, the mayor of Cannes, spoke about the many efforts being made in these areas, including the success of the “Côtedazurfrance” hashtag and its 1.3 million shares. “We have all the assets to be an attractive destination,” he declared.
The change in consumption patterns is pushing institutions to rethink how culture is spread to visitors coming from all over the world. The department is fortunate to possess exceptional heritage and surroundings. In conclusion, the Côte d’Azur is not just about the beach!
