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IN BRIEF
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Five years after the closure of the famous Kakuetta gorges, the tourist landscape of Soule has profoundly transformed. This exceptional site, once a showcase of Haute-Soule, attracted up to 100,000 visitors per year and boosted the local economy. Since then, professionals in the sector, merchants, and elected officials have shown adaptability to maintain the territory’s attractiveness, betting on a diversification of offerings and a transition to a greener and more authentic tourism. This article explores the consequences of this closure, the initiatives taken by local actors, and the prospects that are opening for tourism in Soule.
An upheaved economic landscape
The announcement of the closure of the Kakuetta gorges was felt as a shock throughout Soule, marking a brutal turning point in the region’s tourist attendance. Bars, restaurants, and businesses in the sector, which heavily benefited from the influx of visitors during the summer, quickly noticed a concerning drop in activity. As a bar manager pointed out, “before, a continuous flow of people would go up to Kakuetta and stop in our businesses. Now, that’s over.” Despite this loss of traffic, many have chosen to adapt to this new reality.
Remarkable resilience and adaptation
Rather than being defeated, tourism professionals and local merchants have organized to diversify their offerings. Thus, the town of Tardets is gradually seeing a return of tourist clientele, notably thanks to the revitalized dynamism around local events and the promotion of new visiting sites. As a souvenir shop owner states, Soule has other assets, such as the Holzarte suspension bridge or the famous La Verna cave, which now attract many visitors. These alternatives help maintain a certain level of attendance and enhance the image of a territory rich in discoveries.
Changes in tourism and new clientele
The closure of the Kakuetta gorges also triggered a change in the types of visitors. While international clientele, particularly from Spain, has become rarer, new tourists, lovers of mountains and nature, are flocking in. Professionals note a transition to green tourism, as illustrated by the owner of Camping Ibarra: the closure of Kakuetta has accelerated the shift towards an offer focused on outdoor activities and ecotourism. Accommodations, such as stage gîtes adapted for GR10 hikers or families skiing at Pierre-Saint-Martin, are experiencing growing success without even resorting to massive advertising.
The return of locals: a new breath of fresh air
The decline of mass tourism has allowed several establishments to regain the loyalty of local clientele. In inns and restaurants, locals are returning to celebrate family meals or baptisms. This evolution, although generating less attendance, offers a more serene atmosphere and a less intense work rhythm for professionals, who appreciate this new dynamic. The loyalty of local customers partly compensates for the drop in the number of visitors and allows establishments to rethink their economic model.
An attractiveness that endures
Even in the absence of the “showcase” Kakuetta, Soule continues to make efforts to remain attractive. The development of new tourism proposals, in collaboration with the departmental council and the Pays Basque agglomeration, as well as the transportation offer through the Txik Txak bus line, complement the range of activities to encourage discovery tourism. The surrounding natural sites, such as Holzarte or La Verna, are now experiencing increased attendance, proving that Haute-Soule is “managing well,” according to the words of the town’s mayor.
A prospect of diversification and renewal
Despite the difficulties and uncertainty surrounding a possible reopening of Kakuetta, the general outlook is optimistic. Local actors emphasize the importance of continuing down the path of diversification of tourism offerings and promoting the natural and cultural heritage of the territory. The transformation of the tourism model in Soule fits into a broader trend observed in other French regions, where the focus is placed on sustainability, as highlighted by various examples of adaptation to explore in the impact of economic changes on tourism, the management of difficult seasons, or even the development of little-visited villages.
Toward green and sustainable tourism
The closure of Kakuetta has ultimately served as a catalyst to accelerate the shift towards greener tourism, focusing more on authenticity, nature, and respect for local balances. Stays are now organized around multiple experiences and varied discoveries, forcing sector actors to be more innovative and collaborative. Thus, as reported by professionals in Sainte-Engrâce, it is Soule’s capacity to reinvent itself and attract new profiles of visitors that will ensure the continuation of a vibrant and respectful tourism activity of its unique identity.
While awaiting solutions or alternatives to the reopening of the gorges, the actors in Soule remain mobilized, optimistic, and confident about the future. For further exploration of the reinvention of tourist destinations and the management of such transitions, articles such as the impact of transformations on territories or themed weeks to revitalize tourism activity perfectly illustrate the possibilities now available to Haute-Soule.
