When public opinion is aroused by floods, water shortages, the wreck of the Prestige or the various pollution risks, the tourist trade needs to show an interest in the concerns of its fellow citizens.
These concerns have become a priority in some European countries, such as Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands, that send a large number of clients to France and Languedoc-Roussillon.

The renewable energies debate held as part of Sett gave a lot of time to solar energy. Quite normal for a Mediterranean region. But solar energy techniques have in fact evolved considerably in recent years and members of the tourist trade are not sufficiently aware of this. They need to understand that solar energy is more than just an image, explained Richard Loyen, general representative of Enerplan. But over and above the energy issue, tourist establishments need to consider their global environmental management, explained research representatives from the Narbonne regional nature reserve.

This argument was taken up by Laurent Pradalié, director of the Mediterranean Environment Agency. Obviously, if, in future, the environment and the Mediterranean are associated in the minds of holidaymakers, the region will have a great deal to gain.