Nicolas Restout, Director of the Tourist Office of Val d'AllosIn an interview with us, he looks back on the summer season and looks ahead to the coming winter season and current projects.
How would you sum up the summer of 2024?
July was more complicated, with a slower start nationally. Fortunately, we recovered well in August. Some of the clientele carried over to September, with the July holidays shifted to that month. This summer, the Val d'Allos-Le Seignus bike park performed well, thanks to a major investment policy.
Numerous improvements have been made, with the creation of new trails, and this has been a great success, with an increase in ridership of 20 % over the summer season. We have also seen strong growth in the use of electrically-assisted bicycles (EABs), with a number of new developments on dedicated circuits.
Do you have any news about the reopening of the Col d'Allos?
The Col d'Allos was closed due to bad weather in November, resulting in landslides that weakened the road in several places. Work is underway to restore the road, and we hope to reopen it next summer.
How do you explain the success of the mountains in summer?
There's a friendly atmosphere in the mountains, and people come here looking for a bit of oxygen, an escape, in a setting that's less crowded than other resorts. We have also welcomed a Belgian clientele, but this destination attracts mainly second-home owners and locals who rent out their accommodation.
Many properties are for sale in La Foux d'Allos and Le Seignus. How do you explain this?
Since the COVID pandemic, there has been a significant turnover in flats. Some owners no longer wish to invest in renovations or comply with new standards. In La Foux, many people invested during the COVID period, which has led to a shift in the housing stock.
"The resort is concentrating on developing ski touring, with a restructuring of the mid-altitude areas.
Several projects are currently being studied, but nothing concrete at the moment. With the arrival of the Olympic Games, even if Val d'Allos doesn't host any events, this could enable us to attract a clientele that shuns resorts hosting the Olympics. In 1992, Val Thorens made major investments without hosting any events, and that worked out well.
What's new this winter in the Val d'Allos?
Numerous events are planned, including a concert to open the season with Kendji Girac. There will also be a number of new features, including the separation of the management of the Val d'Allos-Le Seignus ski area from the municipality. A number of developments are underway, including the Chauvets toboggan run, a fun zone, partnerships with the ESF and snowtubing.
The resort is also focusing on developing ski touring, with a restructuring of the mid-altitude areas. Alpine skiing will of course continue, but we are developing complementary activities to attract different skier profiles. In this way, Le Seignus could become a complementary resort to Val d'Allos-La Foux.
What's happening with the link between Val d'Allos and Pra Loup?
The project to link the two stations is still on the drawing board, with an ecological study underway. The route has been defined, and work could start in the summer of 2025 at the earliest, or in 2026 at the latest. Delivery of the gondola lift, which will link the valley with an intermediate station, is scheduled for winter 2027. This project could really boost the appeal of the resort.
What are the assets of the Val d'Allos?
The resort has enormous potential, especially in winter. It's a real hidden treasure. There's still a lot to be done, particularly in terms of developing the ski area, signage and activities around skiing. We are also planning to create wellness centres, a bowling alley and other indoor activities, which are lacking during periods when bad weather restricts access to the slopes. The gondola alone won't be enough: we'll need to develop a range of complementary activities. The link between the two resorts will provide pedestrian access in both winter and summer, and will not just be for skiers.