“Sorry, but I’m in the juice”. Just before the shot, Bertrand Guillaume ended up agreeing to land for a few moments. “We are obviously very happy to see the festival-goers again” appreciates the boss of “La Brasserie” a few steps from the Maison de la Culture. In the refrigerated display, sandwiches rub shoulders with salads and burgers. “But we prepare two or three times what we usually do because it’s THE peak of activity of the year, we take extras to ensure”. For many Clermont merchants, the virtual edition last year due to the pandemic was a financial blow despite state aid.
– Jean-Pierre Morel
To welcome festival-goers, merchants are authorized to increase the surface area of terraces on public roads. Food trucks have also set up nearby. An essential activity for the city. The presence of film professionals is economically vital according to a study dating from 2019.
Turnover doubled or even tripled
This 44th edition is also marked by a return to basics. Those that lead to the old brewery of the bus station, the historic center of the festival, and now renamed “Les Grandes Tables. “This place will finally come back to full life, it’s an economic issue for us” welcomes chef Frédéric Coursol behind his stoves. The establishment could not reopen its doors last year because of the pandemic. “It’s a major place in our beautiful city, seeing people again, this very special atmosphere, it makes us happy, we also have a thought for the Vacher family who have kept this place alive for a long time”.
– Jean-Pierre Morel
A little further on, on the sidewalk opposite, the Océania hotel is working in partnership with the event. But it doesn’t show full. “We are at 80% fill rate” confirms Germain Durand, the head of reception, “there are foreigners who did not come, and last minute cancellations”.
It’s starting again, but without finding the level of the festivals before the Covid… Germain Durand, head of reception at the Océania hotel
In 2020, the festival recorded 170,000 admissions. A new record. which weighs on the local economy. According to the organizers of the festival, more than 10 million euros in direct and indirect benefits are generated by the event. From the point of view of aid effectiveness, the team calculated that one euro of public subsidies helped to produce €22 in economic benefits.