Case-study: sustainable tourism in France

1. Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010 Case-study: sustainable tourism in France Sabine Nascinguerra France

2. Rendez-vous en France • Tourism in Europe and especially in France is a very important activity : • for the French who choose to spend their holidays « at home », • for foreigners who come to visit and stay • Thus, since the 1990s, France became the first tourist destination in the world and it still was in 2009 : Source : UNWTO World Tourism Barometer Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010

3. Tourism in France • With • 17 300 hotels, offering 612 500 rooms, • 7 500 campsites, representing 707 300 places France has a very good accomodation capacity • But also a huge impact on the environment : These impacts are aggravated by their • seasonal occurrence (summer and school holidays) • spatial concentration (coast, mountain, some cities, a few large sites). Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010

4. Luckily, attitudes are changing ! • Tourists start looking for more sustainable vacations, especially North-Europeans • Hotel and camping owners start feeling concerned about environmental issues • Special tourist-guides dedicated to sustainable tourism in France have been published since 2008 : Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010

5. French and international Eco-labels • The interest in sustainable tourism is steadily growing. • That’s the reason why more and more « Eco-labels » have been appearing in France : Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010

6. But too many labels bring confusion … • Most of the tourists don’t know the meanings of local labels • According to each label, the environmental criteria are more or less strict, and not always verified by an independent organization • That’s why a single European Ecolabel helps to make environmental certification : • more credible • more comprehensible • “The flower”-label concerns several products and 2 services : it is more and more present in the European consumers life • easy to remember ! Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010

7. EU-ecolabel for tourist-accomodation : a slow beginning, but growing fast! • 2003 : European Ecolabel for tourist accommodation service • 2005 : European Ecolabel for campsite service • From 2003 to 2005 : 0 certification in France • 2006 : 1st certification of a little hotel “Les Orangeries” • 2008 : first french certification for a big campsite : “Le Col Vert” at the Atlantic-coast • In 2010 : • 392 European tourist accommodations and 68 campsites are certified with “the Flower”, • including 80 sites in France (2nd place after Italy with 200 certified sites) • and 30 sites in Switzerland : non-EU country using “The Flower” Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010

8. Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010 Specific economic, social and environmental benefits :some examples

9. Consumptions and waste production in hotels with and without ecolabel : Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010

10. Hotel Bastide de CalalouProvence : description • 42-room hotel, owned by a belgian couple • Special environment : located on the territory of the Natural Regional Park of the Verdon, in a protected area • Certified “Hôtel au naturel” since 2006 • Certified « The flower » since July 2009 Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010

11. Hotel Bastide de Calalou : economic, social and environmental benefits • Economic benefits : • Reduced their water-consumption by 50 % by installing low-flow shower heads and aerators on taps • Costs : 100 € • Benefits : 1500 € during the first 6 month • Environmental benefits : • Improved his energy-efficiency by • replacing all standard light-bulbs by compact fluorescent lamps or LEDs • increasing the poor insulation under the roof of the old building • Reduces waste by removing all disposal toiletries (not refillable soap…) and all single dose packages for food services • Social advantage : • Strengthen team spirit of the whole staff Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010

12. Camping « La Rivière »La Vézère-Valley, south-ouest France • 120 place camp site with a little hotel, managed by the Dalbavie family (parents and 2 daughters) • Special environment : located in the prehistoric site of the Vézère valley : UNESCO World Heritage since 1979 • Newly certified EU-ecolabel in june 2010 Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010

13. Camping « La Rivière »economic, social and environmental benefits • Environmental benefits : • Rainwater-recycling and solar water heating system were already in place, as well as an electric car • Reduction of disinfectants as much as possible • Sugar single dose at the café and for breakfast were banned and replaced by a distributor • Economic benefits : • The owners did not specially look for economic benefits, but they hope that “being the first Ecolabel camp site of the department” will increase their notoriety • Social advantage : • Strengthen the role of the daugthers (they implemented most of the ecolabel criteria) in the family business • « La Rivière » is now at the origine of a new collectif operation : 10 other local camp sites decided to go together for « the Flower » in 2010/2011 ! Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010

14. The « welcom kit » for mobil home rentals :before and after eco-labelling Toilet paper + garbage bag Recyclable Waste separation bag Matches Sponge Little soap Shampoo Coffee filter Disinfectant Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010

15. Hôtel « Ville d’hiver »Atlantic coast, bay of Arcachon • Newly constructed 12-room hotel with upscale restaurant, massage, beauty salon, piscine, owned by the chef and his wife • Special environment : old quarter of the town of Arcachon with villas of the 19th century , • Certified in january 2010 Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010

16. Hôtel Ville d’Hiver: environmental and other benefits • Environmental benefits : • All ecolabel criteria were taken into account during construction in 2008/09 : • Rainwater is collected in a 10 m3 reserve and recycled for watering the plants • Carpets and indoor paintings are eco-friendly and come from ISO14001 certified suppliers • Bicycles are offered to guests for non-motorized visits • An automatic system turns off the air conditioning and heating of rooms when windows are open • About 10 organic grown wines are on the wine list • Economic benefits : • Eco-conditionality : the local government awarded a grant after verifying that environmental criteria were met during the construction of the building • From the beginning, water and energy costs will be about 50 % lower than in “common” hotels • Social advantage : • Team improvement : the young staff gets more involved and is enthousiastic about working in a company that cares about environmental issues • The waiter told me that she was more serious about separating recyclable waste… at home ! Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010

17. Ecolabel can also bring some unexpected marketing opportunities with new partners Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010