When Patrick Goas bought a campsite in southwestern France in March 2020, he knew his undertaking would be no walk in the park. The venue, on the edge of a lake, offered great promise, but it was also very isolated: far from the coast and the mountains, in an area little known to vacationers. Worse still, tourism was about to experience the worst downturn in its history due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But the years that followed this traumatic era and its travel restrictions led to a strong yearning for vacation, fueled by the money people had set aside during the lockdown. Flying seemed too uncertain, and the countryside and mountains seemed the surest way to avoid crowds and escape contaminated cities.

Goas's campsite catered to this outdoor tourism experience, and he pinned all his hopes on moving upmarket: wooden cabins, yoga classes, a spa and activities for children. "After the pandemic, people wanted space and nature, which propelled us," he explained. Five years later, Whaka Lodge is, according to its founder, "very profitable," thanks to high prices and an occupancy rate 20% higher than the average for campsites in the area. Vacationers – mainly families with young children but also business managers on seminars – come from Bordeaux, Toulouse, Paris and even the Netherlands. "We did it [here], but the concept can be duplicated in lots of places in France," explained Goas.

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