Every February and now for 49 editions, riders from practically all corners of the world gather at the Enduropale du Touquet. A peculiar test, because there are hundreds of pilots who go out to shoot at the same time, and because it happens on the beaches of Le Touquet and Pas de Calais, in France.
In addition to the pilots, thousands of fans come to the area to enjoy the event, which could now be affected by the upcoming municipal elections that will take place next spring. And the opposition party, Le Touquet Autrement, has proposed the option of making the event payable for spectators.
It would, according to the political group, serve to “save the event“Always talking about the economic part of it. As we have seen on other occasions, we talk about the costs of the event that each year are around 1.9 million euros. And although then registrations, television rights, product sales, exploitation of the public domain (parking) and sponsorships recover around 1.45 million, there are around 400,000 euros left that the local council has to take care of.
To these expenses we must add others that are more difficult to evaluate, such as all the work carried out by the municipal staff who are already paid and who work on those days so that everything goes well during the five days of the Enduropale du Touquet. And it is estimated that between 600,000 and 700,000 people come during that week.
In an event like the Enduropale du Touquet it is very difficult to measure the figures accurately
But the account is much more complex because precisely that public that crowds the city and its surroundings has a very important economic impact on the area. We are talking about an activity that directly affects hotels, restaurants, shops, gas stations… and all types of businesses in the area.
To top it off, we must keep in mind that the idea of charging for tickets complicates the situation, it would increase costs while increasing income to a certain extent. But it adds an extra challenge, and it is like the Enduropale du Touquet that is not held on a typical circuit: it is carried out in very large areas that range from the city to the beach.
Of course, the 50th edition to be held next February is assured and the changes would come, if the opposition party were to join the government and take its initiative forward, by 2027.
