A few months ago, the CCQRGA and its tourist office submitted an application to the Avenir Montagne Ingénierie programme for the design and implementation of a Schéma d'Orientations Touristiques Locales. The Avenir Montagne Ingénierie programme, supported by the Agence Nationale de la Cohésion des Territoires (National Agency for Territorial Cohesion) and a number of partners, is designed to help regions make the necessary changes. Launched by former Prime Minister Jean Castex on 27 May 2021, the Avenir Montagne plan aims to transform the mountain tourism model; this plan mobilises €650M of State-Region funding based on 14 flagship measures divided into 3 areas: Promoting the diversification of the offer, Accelerating the ecological transition of mountain tourism activities and Boosting leisure accommodation with a view to curbing the formation of "cold beds".
Reminder of the objectives of the Avenir Montagne Ingénierie plan :
- Diversification de l’offre
- Emergence d’un tourisme plus responsable
- Réhabilitation des hébergements touristiques vieillissants et peu commercialisés (lits froids)
- Valorisation des potentiels touristiques des territoires à moindre notoriété
- Transition vers un tourisme bas carbone
- Conception de nouveaux modèles de développement intégrant touristes et habitants
The plan is based on supporting mountain regions in their efforts to develop tourism in line with the challenges of ecological transition and tourism diversification, and rests on 3 pillars: a dedicated project manager recruited or seconded for this purpose, an experience-sharing platform and network, and engineering support through access to thematic offers.
In this context, a number of initiatives are due to be launched this year: a survey of shopkeepers, tourism service providers, accommodation providers and elected representatives, as well as a survey of tourists during the season... and a series of interviews with local associations, producers and craftspeople with a view to identifying the key issues for local tourism in the future. The surveys will also be available online on the OTI website.