Finally the whole is balanced and advances

The balance sheet of the last summer tourism season caused a controversy. What is your conclusion

Turn ignored hazardous forecasts and the hypermédiatisation who claim to analyze the summer from July 15. For us, the figure of our summer activities will be known late September, but the trend is towards a growth of nearly 4, knowing that the summer 2007 was excellent. We do better that resist, despite a catastrophic weather in the North and much of the West of the France, despite also the recession in Britain and the fall of the pound sterling, which have weighed on the attendance of the English.

It speaks much of the decline in purchasing power, this growth masks just the transfer of one trade mark to another

No, we are not reports of clients of a class of homes to the other for the benefit of the rates of entry. On the other hand, we observe the presence of two categories of clients: the wealthy, who spend, and those which have drastically reduced their spending on site. It is therefore not Maeva, our brand entry-mid range, which is growing, but, on the contrary, our two brands of high-end residences MGM and Pierre & Vacances. This does not mean that the mid-range is threatened. I do not all analysis, currently widespread, a segmentation of the market with two carriers niche, on the one hand, the high, and, on the other hand, the "low cost".

What trends watch you at European level

One year on the other, they are different from one country to another. The United Kingdom, which has been, in recent years, the main transmitter of European customers, market no longer is. In contrast, the Germany it is straightened, and the Netherlands. What is reassuring for us year after year, it is only when a country is less well, another takes over. Finally, the whole is balanced and advances. I remember that the France represents 50 of the 1.2 billion euros of our tourism activity.

With the reversal of the situation, the consumption in Bern and oil still expensive, the tourism sector is moving not a new period of turbulence

In this troubled context, cycles of the past are of course useful referents. The previous oil shocks and September 11 showed that the sector, with the exception of specific countries for specific reasons, has a real capacity of resistance. World Tourism grows regularly since a good 40 years.

Why

In fact, more general context is worrying, more aspiration to hedonic cuts is strong. Tourism has become a need of necessities. Prospects, we refer to those of the World Tourism Organization, which maintains its prognosis of doubling the number of international travelers by 2020. The real issue is: what will be the countries and companies that capture the tourism growth What is the expected by a group such as Pierre & Vacances, while the potential of development in France in the most attractive tourist regions are extremely reduced

How do you change the sector in the years to come

There is no doubt that, even if the price of a barrel drops significantly, air travel costs will increase and therefore weigh on the growth of air traffic. It is inevitable. In addition to the budgetary reason, another will accentuate it: awareness of sustainable development will strengthen both among operators and consumers. Also I have a conviction: the future is in local tourism. However, in this context, the concept of leisure residence is that responds best to the evolution of European behaviour. Households are increasingly sensitive to the optimization of their budget, as the holidaymaker tends to fragment his vacation.

Do you see changes in the expectations of the vacationers

In addition to this budgetary aspect, we observe behavioural changes that reinforce, with the emergence of the phenomenon of tribe. Ten-fifteen years ago, the holidays, it were mainly papa, mother and two children. Today, these periods are an opportunity for large gatherings with grandparents, parents, children of first marriage, friends... Thus, we are now building of cottages for 18 persons in Center Parcs! The residence of leisure is the type of accommodation best suited to reconstruct the social link. Our ambition, our mantra today is to be not only the European leader in leisure residences but the number one European local tourism.

Do you think that the France is well armed to deal with these new challenges

In this new situation, it has to

incomparable strengths with two large markets: the international tourism and an extremely dynamic domestic market. Indeed, the France remains the destination of 80 of the French vacation. I have horror of this word, because it tends to numbness, but the Group Pierre & vacation has in our country of an exceptional situation with 170,000 beds between the most beautiful tourist regions in France.

You regularly complain the lack of involvement of the public authorities. Are the guidelines announced in June by the Government in the right direction

I adhere totally to the Destination France 2020 plan, the development of which I attended. The real question is how. Budgetary constraints are that they are likely to be limited to create new capabilities to capture additional market share. We talked about the mountain white gold, we can perhaps speak today Green Gold: the development in France potential today is green tourism, while it is almost exhausted on the coastline and mountain. For us, the lever of development is Center Parcs. It is also a priority issue in land-use planning. As such, must be financed developments, for main lever, tourist real estate. However, attract investors on a real estate market reduction, to put in place incentives. They were so far directed towards individuals, should now extend them to the operators. In addition, we must not ignore the sustainable development and we must anticipate the implementation of future standards.

When could interfere such extension operators

Two texts in preparation are likely to be implemented: the Finance Act 2009 and the law of the Grenelle of the environment. It remains the main site of tourism in France, it is the renovation of the existing fleet. A major challenge mainly for the coast and the mountain. Part of the existing accommodation is most marketed or marketable step, owners wanting to or cannot engage in significant work. The problem arises when the second renewal of leases, i.e. eighteen years after the delivery of the residences. It must therefore be put in place a system of incentives. Today, there is in particular a form of tax credits (40), but it applies to the areas of rural revitalization (ZRR). It would be appropriate to extend it to all of the territory, as proposed by the France 2020 strategic plan.

Concerning real estate, what is your prognosis: transient correction or crisis

For the moment, the slowdown in the main housing estate not yet resulted by a fall in prices. The completed housing stock is much more limited than at the outbreak of the crisis of the early 1990s. Sales: 110,000 units, with half of them corresponding to uncommitted sites. Another more important factor: the case of new projects. Therefore, the situation is not comparable with that of the 1990s or that is seen today in the world, including in Spain, where the crisis is deep and lasting.

Pierre & Vacances group, we run no real estate risk, because we have stopped any acquisition of land for two years. We're not remained inert so, because we have this valued period of agricultural land and forestry through our concept of villages, in particular Center Parcs with key 1 billion euros of real estate sales potential.

With the reversal of the market, do you seize opportunities

Banks and developers are looking for solutions-relay and offer our review a number of operations.

Still the question of your estate, recently relaunched by the departure of your CEO...

The recent reorganization of the group is, in a less favourable economic context, to develop synergies, under the direction of Christophe Jeannest, between the two tourist activities of the Group Pierre & Europe and Center Parcs holiday tourism. Eric Debry, which is oriented to other professional projects, will not be replaced. Its role in external growth will now shared between the two DGA. Pay in the future, members of the Executive Committee me off, with prominent high-potential development. We have never had so many projects that I am dealing with enthusiasm. In addition, the background is interesting, because finally these are times of crisis that lend themselves best to prepare for the future.

You continue to control the majority of the capital. Have you prepared after-Brémond Has the idea of a foundation been raised

Being not unconscious, I took the necessary accident provisions to ensure that the continuity of the company and the future of the 15,000 employees are insured.