The chalets have disappeared, the big Christmas tree won’t be long in Place Kléber and the illuminations will slowly be taken down… The 2022 edition of the Strasbourg Christmas market is well and truly over.
It should nevertheless leave some memories, perhaps even to the history books. The town hall of the city, organizer of the event, even speaks of a “historic edition” in the report it drew up on Thursday. Why such a qualifier? Because attendance was estimated as “record”. According to estimates, 2.8 million visitors flocked to the Alsatian capital for one month (from November 26 to December 26). “Or 30% more than in 2021 and 10% more than in 2019, the reference year before Covid-19”, estimates the ecological municipality, citing other figures.
Many Spanish tourists
Like the one about the Batorama dayboat cruises. They “experienced their second month of December, the strongest historically after 2013, this year, with 71,361 visitors, i.e., respectively, an increase of 41% and more than 14% compared to 2021 and 2019. Or that of hoteliers . “Some even already report an occupancy rate higher than 2019 [90 % contre 83 % en moyenne en 2019] “, Indicates the town hall, linking this increase in particular to the return of the groups.
But by the way, where do the visitors come from? Thanks to surveys, it has been established that the majority of these people are “French and from countries bordering the Rhine basin”. “The Spanish clientele was also strongly represented, as well as the number of Italian visitors, which increased compared to other years. Finally, this 2022 edition was marked by American tourists at the rendezvous and a gradual return of visitors from Asia and Latin America”, further notes the Strasbourg town hall, which is already considering “expected future developments”. . Especially in the areas of sobriety and ecology. This year, a collection of bio-waste had thus been launched with exhibitors in two places. A quarter of them participated “constantly”. Maybe a number to improve…