Var Provence on pole position!
Var Provence Cruise Club (VPCC) focuses on promoting a beautiful and preserved area that offers a wide variety of experiential excursions and incredible sites to discover when calling in its 12 ports network from east to west: Saint-Raphaël, Fréjus, Saint-Tropez, Cavalaire, Le Lavandou, Porquerolles, Hyères, the Ports of Toulon Bay (Toulon and La Seyne-sur-Mer), Six-Fours/Les Embiez, Sanary, Bandol, Saint-Cyr.
Var Provence: THE destination for Excursion Buffs Entirely dedicated to sample new excursions options to marvel the cruise guests experience as a true differentiating factor with other destinations, the Var Provence team displays ingenuity and creates fabulous innovative ideas catered to surprise every passenger profile.
A private tour of the Toulon Opera House, a private dinner and concert on the Tour Royale Remparts of Toulon, new sustainable development excursions to visit outstanding natural areas by soft modes of transport (cycling in salt marshes to watch pink flamingos, river kayaking alonside cliffs), a « sweet tooth « excursion in Roquebrune (nearby St-Raphaël and Fréjus ports) for chocolate freaks…
Moreover, the cities of Hyères and Toulon have launched the promotion of their art district with a signposted path downtown indicating shops where cruise guests can meet and discuss with local artists and craftsmen: tapestry, art gallery, jewellery, designers etc…
Passengers love it and Var Provence is perfectly in tune with today’s experiential trend of meeting, feeling, sharing with the locals!
Another popular tour is the Paul Ricard racing circuit of Le Castellet back in the F1 calendar to host after a 10 year absence the Formula 1 French Grand Prix on June 24 2018. A major event in France that will attract 66 000 fans, 30% from abroad.
Success of the Cruise Friendly Label
Finalist at the last Seatrade Cruise Awards 2017 for the best marketing initiative of the year, the « Cruise Friendly » Quality Label has gained distinction on an international level!
A commitment of shopkeepers and leisure providers to deliver the best welcome experience to cruise guests by adapting their opening hours with scheduled calls, speak English, offer a gift or discount and of course smile and be friendly!
After Toulon in 2013, Sanary, Bandol, Saint-Raphaël and Hyères have introduced the label for a total of 331 shopkeepers. Other popular touristic sites are soon planning to join the network (Saint-Tropez, Le Lavandou and Bormes-les-Mimosas, Le Castellet).
Forecast:
After an intensive cruise season in Var Provence for the past two years, 2018’ forecast announces 230 calls (+2.7% / 2017) reaching a total of 219 322 pax.
Contact
Anne-Marie BLUM
Var Provence Cruise Club
Cruise Promotion and Marketing Manager
Phone : +33 (0) 494 228 060
anne-marie.blum@var.cci.fr (External link)
http://www.varprovence-cruise.com/ (External link)