Suche
Mein Konto
Start of the season: Sables-d’Olonne better prepared against surtourism!
Learn how surtourism will impact the coastal towns of Noirmoutier and Les Sables-d’Olonne in summer 2025 and highlight the challenges of sustainable tourism design.
Start of the season: Sables-d’Olonne better prepared against surtourism!
This year's holiday season promises to be particularly busy in the popular tourist regions on the French coast. A comparison between Noirmoutier-en-l'Île and Les Sables-d'Olonne shows significant differences: While the population of the small island increases to up to 100,000 people in summer, the number of guests in Les Sables-d'Olonne increases to around 300,000. This development highlights the challenges of so-called “surtourism”, as my-angers.info reports.
The island of Noirmoutier has around 4,600 residents all year round, but during the high season this number skyrockets to eleven times. In comparison, Les Sables-d’Olonne, where around 49,000 people live, can cope better with the tourist burden. This is perhaps because the city has better infrastructure and offers more space for rest and relaxation.
The dark side of tourism
Despite the beauties of the region, such as the picturesque beaches and the natural beauty of the landscape, the dark side of tourism is also evident. According to 20minutes.fr, 80% of tourists visit only 20% of French territory annually, leading to overcrowding and traffic problems. In order to counteract this situation, a plan to regulate tourism is currently being presented. The proposed measures include, but are not limited to, parking fees, entrance fees and even daily quotas for access to certain beaches and locations.
The idea of a visitor level for the island of Noirmoutier is supported by three out of four municipalities. Such innovative ideas could help to better manage tourist flows while protecting the quality of life of the local population.
Sustainability in tourism
The discussion about surtourism also raises questions about sustainability. The Umweltbundesamt states that tourism has both positive and negative effects on the environment and society. Sustainability means recognizing these influences and putting them in a balanced relationship. This includes not only environmental aspects, but also social and economic dimensions.
The need for a conscious and sustainable approach to tourist destinations is becoming increasingly urgent. Local authorities and communities have a duty to develop concepts that meet the needs of both tourists and local residents.
Overall, this year's season in the tourist hotspots will clearly show how well regions such as Les Sables-d'Olonne and Noirmoutier can prepare for the growing challenges of surtourism. The strategic regulatory measures could be game-changers for the future of tourism throughout France.