After being voted the second favorite village in France on Stéphane Bern’s France 3 program in 2021, Fresnay-sur-Sarthe experienced a significant increase in visitors. To assess the impact of this recognition and ensure accurate visitor tracking at the Château Park, the municipality installed a Kiomda counting device.
This system allows the city to:
✔ Monitor annual visitor numbers, which have stabilized around 75,000 to 80,000 people.
✔ Analyze seasonal attendance trends and the impact of local events.
✔ Obtain reliable data to support grant applications.
"It helps us determine how many visitors we receive annually and track seasonal trends. We decided to install the counter following our 2021 recognition."
The primary goal is not to further increase tourism but to maintain visitor numbers at a stable level.
"We are not looking to overdevelop the site’s attractiveness. Our objective is to maintain this level of attendance."
The counter is installed at the entrance of the Château Park, a historic site perched on a promontory overlooking the town.
The collected data is used by the municipality for activity reports and to inform its partners. It helps assess the impact of specific events and improvements:
"We organize events like flea markets, and the counter helps us measure whether these activities increase foot traffic at the château."
The visitor data is also integrated into broader management decisions, such as installing lounge chairs in the park and removing public trash bins, which has helped optimize waste management and reduce costs.
"We removed trash bins because they attract waste. This decision allowed us to save on hiring a seasonal part-time employee."
The collected data plays a crucial role in supporting grant applications and justifying site enhancement projects.
"Whenever we can apply for funding, we rely on this data."
These figures help the municipality demonstrate the site’s significance and appeal, making it easier to secure financial support for future projects.
The Kiomda counting device has met expectations by providing an autonomous and precise tracking system with real-time data access.
"It’s great because it’s autonomous and provides live data. I would easily rate it 9/10."
However, an adjustment was needed after installation, as some visitors mistook the counter for an ashtray. To prevent confusion, the municipality added a sign explaining its purpose.
"At first, some people thought it was an ashtray. The city added a sign to clarify its function, and now there’s no more issue."
With Kiomda’s counting solution, the municipality of Fresnay-sur-Sarthe benefits from a precise and autonomous system to monitor visitor flow at the château park, evaluate event impacts, and support funding applications.
Comprendre les enjeux techniques et les leviers d'optimisation pour vos propres flux
.jpg)
