Castres: the tourist office records good attendance this summer

Despite the heat wave and a health crisis still in the background even if there are no more restrictions, the Castres-Mazamet tourist office has recorded a good interim report for this summer. In July, 4,887 people passed through the doors of the Castres (3,052) and Mazamet (1,835) offices. For the wool city, it is also much more than in 2019 before the Covid. But it must be said that since the opening hours of the Mazametan office have been considerably extended and that is where you have to pick up the harnesses to do the new via ferrata. In Castres, we find similar figures to last year which was already a good season. But the remarkable figure is the 25% increase in people informed. This shows an interest of tourists for the activities offered in the area. “They actually consume more than that in terms of activities offered or objects sold in our offices,” says Fabienne Van Eeckhout, director of the Castres-Mazamet tourist office. It must be said that the tourist office has gone all out this season. “We are indeed offering more activities than usual”, continues Fabienne Van Eeckhout, citing new features such as offbeat visits or those of know-how in addition to the usual traditional visits. Without forgetting the yoga in the middle of nature (see below) or the initiations to angling and crayfish which work very well. “We are the only tourist office in the department to have a partnership with the Tarn fishing federation”, confides the director who has established a relationship with Tarn fishermen to develop fishing tourism in the Castres-Mazamet urban community. .

The postcard remains timeless

In terms of tourists, the stay advisers of the Castres office have noted a return of foreigners such as the English and the Spaniards who had obviously deserted the region during the health crisis. Motorhomes and pilgrims are also numerous. But tourists mainly come from the Occitanie region even if “people from the North” are well represented. “People’s demand has shifted towards activities related to the heat wave,” says Sylvain, travel advisor. We are asked for bathing places or hikes in the Black Mountain and in the Sidobre”. The Mazamet footbridge is also one of the places favored by visitors. Finally, in terms of souvenirs, the top 3 of the best-selling items in the shop are the postcards which remain timeless, magnets and local products.