Parions que du 12 au 18 octobre, les allées du Mondial de l’Auto seront copieusement garnies de modèles de voitures dernier cri… et de personnalités politiques.
Entre une R5 électrique, nouvelle star de l’industrie automobile française, et l’appel à acheter tricolore, ministres et candidats à la présidentielle auront à cœur de se mettre en scène pour témoigner de leur soutien à l’industrie française.
Fin septembre, un autre salon, en l’occurrence Batimat, était au cœur de l’actualité. De Marine Le Pen à Jean-Luc Mélechon en passant par Gabriel Attal, ils étaient nombreux à afficher leur soudain amour pour le parpaing et la brique.
En février prochain, c’est un autre défi qui les attendra : battre le record de la plus longue visite au Salon de l’agriculture. A deux mois de l’élection présidentielle, il est certain que les agriculteurs n’auront pas assez de batterie de téléphone pour faire un selfie avec toutes les personnalités attendues !
Dans le sillage d’un Jacques Chirac glouton qui adorait « caresser le cul des vaches » entre un verre de rouge et deux rondelles de saucisson, Emmanuel Macron a placé la barre très haut en 2024 : 12 heures de visite ! Qui fera mieux ?
Entre une R5 électrique, nouvelle star de l’industrie automobile française, et l’appel à acheter tricolore, ministres et candidats à la présidentielle auront à cœur de se mettre en scène pour témoigner de leur soutien à l’industrie française.
Fin septembre, un autre salon, en l’occurrence Batimat, était au cœur de l’actualité. De Marine Le Pen à Jean-Luc Mélechon en passant par Gabriel Attal, ils étaient nombreux à afficher leur soudain amour pour le parpaing et la brique.
En février prochain, c’est un autre défi qui les attendra : battre le record de la plus longue visite au Salon de l’agriculture. A deux mois de l’élection présidentielle, il est certain que les agriculteurs n’auront pas assez de batterie de téléphone pour faire un selfie avec toutes les personnalités attendues !
Dans le sillage d’un Jacques Chirac glouton qui adorait « caresser le cul des vaches » entre un verre de rouge et deux rondelles de saucisson, Emmanuel Macron a placé la barre très haut en 2024 : 12 heures de visite ! Qui fera mieux ?
No Political Parade at IFTM
The automotive sector today accounts for 1.1% of France’s GDP and employs 329,000 people. The construction sector does better still, representing 5% of national output.As for French agriculture, with its 673,000 farmers, it now accounts for only 2.1%. Far less than tourism, which supports around two million direct and indirect jobs and brings in about 222 billion euros in revenue, or 8% of GDP.
Yet, there was no surge at the IFTM entrance two weeks ago; no security drill with teeth banged in… Because the annual gathering of tourism professionals did not attract any major political figures.
Read also : The IFTM announces an 8.2% rise in attendance in 2026
Serge Papin, the multitasker…
Ah yes, forgive me! Serge Papin opened the event. A bare minimum courtesy for the tourism minister who, to be fair, has little time on his hands.
Not to be mistaken for mockery! He finds it hard to do better given how he wears multiple hats: tourism, but also small and medium-sized enterprises, commerce, craftsmanship, and purchasing power; a true calling!
As if he single-handedly absorbed everything others were unwilling to take on; a stack of mandates to avoid having too many ministers in the photo, at a time when it’s fashionable to pretend economy is being made.
It’s worth noting, by the way, that the post of tourism minister — when there is one — is somewhat of a stepping-stone, always handed to a secondary political party: Communists or left radicals when the Socialists win, centrists when the right dominates… Like an honorary reward for good and loyal service.
Not to be mistaken for mockery! He finds it hard to do better given how he wears multiple hats: tourism, but also small and medium-sized enterprises, commerce, craftsmanship, and purchasing power; a true calling!
As if he single-handedly absorbed everything others were unwilling to take on; a stack of mandates to avoid having too many ministers in the photo, at a time when it’s fashionable to pretend economy is being made.
It’s worth noting, by the way, that the post of tourism minister — when there is one — is somewhat of a stepping-stone, always handed to a secondary political party: Communists or left radicals when the Socialists win, centrists when the right dominates… Like an honorary reward for good and loyal service.
For Sarkozy and Hollande, tourism pays off!
In 2025, Gabriel Attal dared to stroll the IFTM, weaving between the Air France and MSC Cruises stands, the SNCF and Selectour. An exception!
This year again, the organizers had hoped for the same. But in the end, being too busy, he went elsewhere. As for his rivals, they likely don’t even know there exists a tourism professionals’ show in France.
Nothing new, to be honest. In more than 35 years of the show, first Top Resa in Deauville and then IFTM in Paris, I don’t recall shaking hands with a candidate for the top job, nor handing a microphone to a Prime Minister; even less to a president.
And from Nicolas Sarkozy to François Hollande, our former presidents seem to take an interest in tourism only when they are no longer in office, and are generously paid to put on a show at the Selectour congress.
Read also : François Hollande invited to the next Selectour congress
This year again, the organizers had hoped for the same. But in the end, being too busy, he went elsewhere. As for his rivals, they likely don’t even know there exists a tourism professionals’ show in France.
Nothing new, to be honest. In more than 35 years of the show, first Top Resa in Deauville and then IFTM in Paris, I don’t recall shaking hands with a candidate for the top job, nor handing a microphone to a Prime Minister; even less to a president.
And from Nicolas Sarkozy to François Hollande, our former presidents seem to take an interest in tourism only when they are no longer in office, and are generously paid to put on a show at the Selectour congress.
Read also : François Hollande invited to the next Selectour congress
France, soon to be dethroned from the podium?
A sector that does not whine!
Optimists will say this demonstrates a dynamic sector that runs on its own, capable of organizing itself without whining and begging for help! And that is a good sign indeed…
The proof came last spring with the Iran conflict, when it was necessary to repatriate French citizens stranded across the globe. Everyone rolled up their sleeves, from travel agencies to tour operators.
And everyone still waits for the State to compensate them financially as it knows how to do when drought scorches the wheat or a storm devastates the vineyards.
Others will denounce the lack of a long-term vision from our leaders, even if Emmanuel Macron has officially set the goal of making France the champion of sustainable tourism by 2030.
The proof came last spring with the Iran conflict, when it was necessary to repatriate French citizens stranded across the globe. Everyone rolled up their sleeves, from travel agencies to tour operators.
And everyone still waits for the State to compensate them financially as it knows how to do when drought scorches the wheat or a storm devastates the vineyards.
Others will denounce the lack of a long-term vision from our leaders, even if Emmanuel Macron has officially set the goal of making France the champion of sustainable tourism by 2030.
In tourism, you don’t work, you have fun…
In practice, professionals hardly have avenues to make their voices heard: no manure to dump in front of prefectures, no pallets to burn at the roundabout of an industrial zone.
A strike by travel agencies would have only a modest impact! And it’s hard to imagine restaurateurs refusing to serve a fancy coffee to their customers to defend their trade… And anyway, it’s well known: in tourism, you don’t work, you have fun!
There remains a lobbying activity to push messages through. Thus, a few months before the presidential election, Alliance France Tourisme (which brings together the sector’s largest companies) unveiled a twenty-year roadmap.
Read also : Alliance France Tourisme reveals its five priorities
A strike by travel agencies would have only a modest impact! And it’s hard to imagine restaurateurs refusing to serve a fancy coffee to their customers to defend their trade… And anyway, it’s well known: in tourism, you don’t work, you have fun!
There remains a lobbying activity to push messages through. Thus, a few months before the presidential election, Alliance France Tourisme (which brings together the sector’s largest companies) unveiled a twenty-year roadmap.
Read also : Alliance France Tourisme reveals its five priorities
“No money, but a direction”
With a basic premise: rely on reliable economic indicators. The recent muddle over the summer tourism balance shows how much work remains to be done! And with a demand: “no money, but a direction, political steering, and a stable framework” that resists political turnover.
“It isn’t forbidden to dream that some candidates take an interest in tourism,” commented Dominique Marcel, president of the body, at a press conference held last week.
The election of a new president of the Union of Trades and Industries of the Hospitality Industry (UMIH) on October 13 should also push the employers’ union to speak out more forcefully in the weeks ahead.
Read also : Does INSEE contradict the Ministers’ summer balance?
“It isn’t forbidden to dream that some candidates take an interest in tourism,” commented Dominique Marcel, president of the body, at a press conference held last week.
The election of a new president of the Union of Trades and Industries of the Hospitality Industry (UMIH) on October 13 should also push the employers’ union to speak out more forcefully in the weeks ahead.
Read also : Does INSEE contradict the Ministers’ summer balance?
A tourism debate on December 1
Meanwhile, the Confederation of Tourism Actors (CAT), ADN Tourisme, the National Association of Officials of Tourist Areas (ANETT), and the National Tourism Institutes (INNTO France) announce a “grand oral du tourisme – presidential 2027” on the upcoming December 1.
“Despite its economic, social, and territorial weight and its inherently transversal nature, tourism remains still underrepresented in major national debates and in the strategic choices that will shape the country’s future,” the coalition laments.
Candidates will be invited to present their vision and commitments for the future of tourism, from taxation to vacations for all, from ecological transition to innovation…
By mid-September, Gabriel Attal, David Lisnard, Édouard Philippe, and Bruno Retailleau had confirmed their participation. But we know this: their promises will bind only themselves…
“Despite its economic, social, and territorial weight and its inherently transversal nature, tourism remains still underrepresented in major national debates and in the strategic choices that will shape the country’s future,” the coalition laments.
Candidates will be invited to present their vision and commitments for the future of tourism, from taxation to vacations for all, from ecological transition to innovation…
By mid-September, Gabriel Attal, David Lisnard, Édouard Philippe, and Bruno Retailleau had confirmed their participation. But we know this: their promises will bind only themselves…
Publié par Thierry Beaurepère Journaliste Voir tous les articles de Thierry Beaurepère
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