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Whilst the clean-up continues across the region after tempete Xynthia, thoughts are now turning to the rapidly approaching tourist season, with Charente Maritime economy likely to be the most keenly affected should tourists choose to stay away from the areas worst hit.

Although there were ten camping sites badly affected by the storm, many escaped any severe damage, and will open for business as normal.  Officials say that more than 95% of the 220,000 commercial tourist beds (hotels, camping etc) were unaffected by the storm, and that sites in the south and inland were the least affected.

Beaches and cycle tracks on the islands of Ré and Oléron are expected to be back in shape by the end of March.  Further tides and truck-loads of sand will help replenish the beaches, and local volunteers have already started mobilising to clean up any debris.   

Holiday company Siblu, who have three parcs along the Charente Maritime coast, said that they had been ‘very lucky’ in missing the worst of the weather, and their sites at Les Charmettes, Bonne Anse Plage and La Pignade suffered no damage, and will open for business as normal on 3 April (1 May for Bonne Anse Plage).

The conseil général of Charente-Maritime has already released funds towards dealing with the aftermath of the storm, and have set aside some 750,000 euros for the tourist board to help promote the area further as a holiday destination, underlining how important tourism is for the local economy.

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