The island of Bréhat sets up quotas

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Since Monday, July 28, has been returning to the regulation of tourists on the island of Bréhat. So a couple from Nord-Pas-de-Calais preferred to take their precautions. “This is also why I reserved the ticket upstream, telling myself that we might not have a problem if we reserved very early,” said the woman. “I find that it is important that they put quotas on an island like that to preserve it. To take advantage of the island thoroughly, as much as there are fewer people and that they regulate the entrances a little,” said her husband.

A well -welcomed measure because before the establishment of the quota, the island could see more than 6,000 people parading in the summer peak, now limited to 4,700 between 8:30 am and 2:30 pm. So, at the landingll, each arrival is counted. Tourists are taken care of, and some rejoice. “It’s great. I also put myself in the place of people, and it is true that we do not really take advantage of the visit if we have to stop to let people pass. The hubbub that it brings …”, said a tourist. “It is true that when we see people landing, we see a huge crowd. We say that it worries the inhabitants of the island. I think it’s a good thing,” added a visitor.

But for traders, the island is still too calm during this time of year. Is the establishment of the quota liable for a drop in attendance? A manager, for example, accuses a drop in turnover of more than 10 % each year since the implementation of the regulation. “In 2022, we thought it was the weather. In 2024, we thought it was the Olympic Games. This year, we understand that there may be a problem of purchasing power. But at the same time, we think that the message which was conveyed by the implementation of regulation by the municipality was not well understood by visitors to the day,” he detailed.

However, according to the town hall, there is no drop in attendance, but better anticipated trips. “We say to them: ‘You reserve your crossing and, in return, we guarantee you that you will have a quality day on the island of Bréhat’ and that works pretty well. There are no more days when there are absolutely record crowds. Now, it’s much more distributed,” said Olivier Carré, the mayor of Bréhat. The regulation is in force until August 28.