Ref. Ares(2014)3233184 - 01/10/2014
Country study
May 2010
Détente Consultants
CALYPSO STUDY ON
SOCIAL TOURISM
FRANCE
CALYPSO STUDY ON SOCIAL TOURISM
FRANCE
Revision
Date
Made by
Checked by
Approved by
Final
2010/03/15
Marion Doublet
Carine Guidali
National Contact Point
Ramboll
Nørregade 7A
DK-1165 Copenhagen K
Denmark
T +45 3397 8200
F +45 3397 8233
www.ramboll-management.com
FRANCE
CONTENTS
1.
2.
3.
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
4.
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
5.
6.
7.
Summary
Focus on experiences on and mechanisms for
international exchanges
Analysis of the four target tourism markets
Structures and players
Segmentation profile
Existing support systems and/or mechanisms
Demand drivers
Analysis of the tourism sector
Market trends
Supply of services
Supply of services from a European point of view
Sustainable tourism aspects
Feasibility of social tourism
Legislative perspectives
Development of products for social tourism
Web portals
Annexes
Annex 8 : Thermal spa in France
List of interviewees
List of STRUCTURES contacted by emails
Good practice descriptions
1
2
4
4
6
9
11
13
13
14
16
16
16
17
17
18
FRANCE
1.
SUMMARY
France is one of the first countries in the world that established annual paid leave and declared
that holiday was a right for all citizens and the lack of holiday a factor of exclusion. Nevertheless
about one third of the French citizens don’t go on holiday every year. Only 15% of the French
citizens represent 50% of the touristic stays. Financial difficulties are the main reason for nonparticipation to holiday but other factors occur like health problems, family or job difficulties. The
barriers for holiday departure are cultural as well; consequently the preparation and
accompaniment to holiday have become main concerns for people excluded from leisure and
holiday.
The ‘holiday for all’, with particular attention to specific targets (families, seniors, youth and
disabled adults), is one of the main objectives of the French Secretary of State for Tourism. In
order to improve the rate of holiday departure, the role of the main public player in social
tourism, the ‘Agence Nationale pour les Chèques Vacances’, will be strengthened. The aim of the
Government is to develop existing support systems for the most important part of the population
(holiday vouchers) and to create supports for specific targets, especially youth. Other players,
from works councils and unions to healthcare plans, play a role in leisure and travels of their
members. French charitable organizations are important as well in the preparation and
accompaniment of people unused to holidays.
On the supply side, the associations of social tourism sector, grouped together under the UNAT
network, have developed all-inclusive products with a social policy intending to answer the needs
of people with difficulties or specificities. The aim today is to build a ‘despecialized’ offer, without
any kind of segregation, and where everyone could have the same kind of holiday.
As the first tourism destination, France is used to welcome people from everywhere in the world
and has developed a good level of services. Moreover, thanks to its situation on the European
continent, France offers different kinds of destinations and attractions (seaside, mountains,
countryside, cities) that could suit to the various European targets at any time of the year. The
existence of labels (for families or disabled people) gives to the French destinations a real
readability for international customers. Nonetheless, France has very little experience in tourism
exchanges of Calypso targets outside the national territory – except ‘Sac Ados Europe’ and
exchanges organized by works councils.
FRANCE
2.
FOCUS ON EXPERIENCES ON AND MECHANISMS FOR
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES
In terms of mechanisms for tourism at national level, the ANCV is considered as the main player
with the ‘chèques vacances’ / holiday vouchers, which help about 7 million French people to go
on holiday every year. Currently this tool is intended for holiday stays in France. French
stakeholders, including ANCV, the supply side, the social organisations, are thinking about a
possible extension to European level, but the conditions for implementation have not really been
studied yet. In theory, two options are possible to extend the mechanism of holiday vouchers at
Calypso level:
•
To promote the development of national holiday vouchers systems in each participating
countries in a first step, and to share among the members in a second step. Each country
can set up its own system according to the national legal context, to the players involved
and to the financing available. So far, three other countries have their own system:
Hungary, Italy, Romania (see Task 1).
•
To develop directly a European system. In this case, the financing opportunities need to
be clarified with the possible co-funding - European Commission, national/local
authorities – and the beneficiaries.
Most of the other existing tools specifically dedicated to seniors, youth, families with difficulties
and disabled adults are intended for holiday stays in France as well:
•
•
•
•
Seniors
‘Seniors en vacances’ programme is twofold: to bring wellness to low income and isolated
seniors over 60s, to create a social link, and to develop tourism economy strengthening
the season. The beneficiaries have access to discounted holidays and, for the lower
incomes, have an extra financial support (and pay only 50% of the stays). This idea of a
product dedicated to senior citizens off-season is in line with Calypso.
Young people
Funding for young people holidays is low and not centralized because of the diversity of
social situations. Projects encouraging young people to go on holiday are under way at
ANCV and UNAT; especially packages for young people (see Task 1). Some works
councils and healthcare plans have developed a policy for helping young workers between
18 and 25 to go on holiday, with a few offers in European countries. Some programmes
are linked to historic long-term relationships between countries and/or organizations,
such as the OFAJ (French-German office for youth) which aims at developing exchanges
between young French and German citizens since the end of the Second World War.
Young people are also often targets of European twining programmes with intercultural
exchanges projects between towns or regions, some projects having a tourism
dimension. These mechanisms are too specific to be transferred at Calypso level. The
programme ‘Sac Ados Europe’ could be more inspiring for Calypso, offering to young
French citizens the opportunity to travel in Europe with vouchers (see Task 1).
Families facing difficulties
The main public support system existing for families facing difficulties is VACAF, which
manages the holiday policy of most of the family credit offices, with a network of 1700
accommodation facilities offering with reduced fare in France. Works councils and unions
in France have developed accommodation structures in order to welcome their members
and families. Thanks to exchanges between European networks of unions and works
councils of some branches, French members can spend holidays abroad. In the countries
where work councils and/or trade unions run their own accommodation facilities, this kind
of exchange could be duplicated through bilateral partnerships.
Disabled adults
There is no specific funding concerning holidays of disabled persons organised at a
national level. French holiday for all policy has concentrated its action on the
development of a national label ‘Tourisme et Handicap’ in order to provide reliable,
descriptive and objective information on accessibility of tourist sites and amenities, and
of leisure activities. Even if not an exchange mechanism in itself, this label is seen by the
stakeholders as an essential tool to welcome the European targets in France.
FRANCE
The market potential for holidays stays in Europe by French targets can be characterised as
follows:
•
Seniors
French seniors go on holiday on-season with family, children and grandchildren, in a
secondary residence or location, and off-season for little excursions or longer trips
without families. As they often play an important role in the holidays of their
grandchildren, they are partly constraint by summer season.
The younger seniors without health problems and with travel habits are interested by
exploration and would be interested by European destinations close to France. Favourite
destinations would be on the seaside.
•
Young people
French young people are more than any other target open to travel abroad, considering
their general expectations, which are user-friendliness, exploration, and break with
everyday life. They are also looking for autonomy, comfort, security and a good value for
money.
Young people, especially students and unemployed, are less constraint by seasons and
are thus able to go on holiday off-season when prices are lower. Nevertheless, 59% of
the stays are made during peak-season.
•
Families facing difficulties
French families are often looking for a seaside destination or at least with a lake or
swimming pool nearby. They are constraint by official holiday periods (see annex with
holiday calendar), with a peak season in July and August.
•
Disabled adults
Basically, French disabled adults don’t want to go on holiday with other disabled persons
but do want to be integrated in a traditional tourism product. They are also willing to go
during traditional holiday periods, especially during summer. The main need of this target
is leisure activities and services with proper accompaniment. The problem of
transportation to far-off destinations can represent a constraint.
FRANCE
3.
ANALYSIS OF THE FOUR TARGET TOURISM MARKETS
3.1
Structures and players
In France various structures play a role in helping people going on holiday. Their fields of
intervention concern support of target groups as well as the organization of stays or the financing
of the creation or renovation of accommodation structures.
French State is historically one of the main stakeholders in the field of social tourism. Various
departments take part in the holidays of French citizens:
•
the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Employment, Department of Tourism, is the body
responsible for tourism development and enforcement of Tourism Code
•
the Ministry of Youth and Sports is focused on holidays of youth and children
•
the Ministry of Social affairs and family is locally represented by family credit offices
(‘Caisses d’allocations familiales’) and their holiday-activity centres. The common service
VACAF was created in 2002 to facilitate the access to holidays to the largest number of
families. It manages holiday budgets of family credit offices and organizes the link
between holiday supplies and family credit offices.
•
the Ministry of National Education is involved in residential classes in the countryside for
urban schoolchildren.
Depending on the Minister of Economy, Industry and Employment and the Secretary of State in
charge of Tourism, the ‘Agence Nationale pour les Chèques Vacances’ (ANCV) /National Holiday
Vouchers Agency set up in 1982 as a ‘public body with industrial and commercial character’ is a
dominant social policy tool for tourism (see annex 3). Its objective is to help the maximum
number of people to go on holiday, especially those on low incomes.
ANCV has developed complementary tools:
•
the ‘Chèque Vacances’ (Holiday Voucher) received by 3.2 million employees and
benefited approximately 7.5 million travellers in 2009. It corresponds to the amount of
1.3 billion euro of vouchers (see Task 1);
•
specific programmes of underprivileged groups of senior citizens, families facing
difficulties, young adults and disabled people, representing 130,000 beneficiaries in
2009:
‘Aides aux projets vacances’ (Support for holiday projects): 105,000 people
concerned
‘Bourse solidarité vacances’ (Solidarity holiday grant): about 10,000 beneficiaries
‘Seniors en vacances’ (Seniors on holiday): 15,000 beneficiaries
Supports are given to social tourism facilities : about 40 in 2009
According to its status, ANCV could possibly develop subsidiaries or branches abroad, but is not
currently willing to do so. However, ANCV is ready to assist the member states in the
implementation of holiday vouchers mechanisms similar to ‘Chèques vacances’, and has already
been in contact with Hungary, Romania, Slovak and Czech Republic. ANCV is also willing to
support French suppliers to open up to European Calypso targets.
In terms of targets, ANCV is particularly motivated to work at Calypso level on the young people
and disabled adults.
At a local level, regional and local authorities support the holidays of different targets, depending
on their social policy and competencies. Even if they are focused on supply, French regions have
implemented partnerships in order to help people to go on holiday. For example four regions
(Poitou-Charentes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Aquitaine and Picardie) have contracted with the
association ‘Vacances Ouvertes’ in order to inform families and help them to prepare their
holidays (see annex). At a local level, exchange programmes are organised within the framework
of twining of French towns. For example, the town of Vienne (South of France) has created a
programme called ‘Viennois acteurs du monde’ in order to encourage, support and develop the
mobility of young citizens from Vienne (18 to 25 years old) alone or in groups and in all fields
(cultural, social, humanitarian, sports and economic).
FRANCE
Private players intervene to develop holiday habits in France:
•
Charitable associations, for which holiday departure is a main or a secondary action for
their specific targets (isolated old people, families with very low income, homeless
people…). The associations ‘Vacances et Familles’ and ‘Vacances Ouvertes’ (see annex 7)
are dedicated to the preparation, financial support and organization of holidays. The main
NGOs are Secours Catholique/Caritas France, Secours Populaire, Les Petits Frères des
Pauvres, Restos du Cœur. The number of beneficiaries of their actions remains low, for
example the Restos du Coeur helped 3160 people to go on holiday in 2009. These
organizations take care of targets with very important social problems and without any
habits of holidays. For these persons, holiday departure is a tool of social rehabilitation
and holidays in France already represent a challenge. According to the French charitable
organizations, these targets could not be concerned by European exchanges within a
Calypso programme.
•
Healthcare plans and pension funds (among them Malakoff-Mederic, Reunica, AG2R,
Mornay), which are more specifically focused on disabled people. The healthcare plan of
public buildings and work sector Pro-BTP, which concerns about 3 million employees and
pensioners, helps 100,000 people (pensioners, employees with children, disabled people
and beginners) to go on holiday every year.
•
Works councils (see annex 5 for definition and examples), which are in charge of
company welfare and cultural facilities, have invested in accommodation facilities for their
employees and offer reduced stays for families of employees facing difficulties and
programmes for youth and children. Most of them have sold part of their facilities but the
most important still own holiday centres for children.
•
The associations UNCOVAC and ANCAV-TT group together some trade unions in order to
support families facing difficulties to go on holiday (see annex 6).
All these structures are intermediates between beneficiaries and commercial partners, which
have sometimes developed specific products for target groups described below. For example,
VVF (family holidays), UCPA (young people), or Vacances bleues (seniors) or APF Evasion
(disabled people).
Social tourism associations are grouped together under UNAT (Union nationale des
associations du tourisme): 54 national and 470 regional members in France. The association
created in 1920 has four main missions:
•
to represent social tourism sector for public authorities and social partners for a social
policy of holiday for all
•
to set up tools for members : quality plans, help for promotion, statistics…
•
to invest in social actions for holidays, reception of disabled persons and partnerships
with unions and works councils
•
to promote and support sustainable tourism
FRANCE
3.2
Segmentation profile
Senior citizens1
User profile (socioeconomic profile, travel
habit demographics)
Organisation
responsible for support
Duration of stay
Main holiday
destinations
Average spending
Holiday participation
statistics
Barriers and reasons
for non-participation
1
2
3
4
France counts 13.2 million people over 60 (21.5% of French
population). Seniors are expected to represent more than one
quarter of the population in 2025. Seniors correspond to a very
heterogeneous group, from young and active pensioners to very old
and dependent persons. 17% of the 65-74 years old declare
themselves in bad or very bad health, the rate goes up to 40% for
people over 85 years old2.
For a majority of seniors, their income decreases when retired. The
amount of the basic old-age pension (concerning 575,000 people
over 65) was 8,125.60 euro for a single and 13,765.70 euro for a
couple per year in 2009.
Globally, the purchasing power of seniors dedicated to tourism
tends to decrease for several reasons: the issue of pensions
(current debate on pensions of public and private sector); the
intergenerational supports given to their children/grandchildren
and/or to old parents; and the increase of their health budget.
Seniors are less constraint by seasons than other categories of
population. Their travel habits depend on their age and level of
education: they tend to keep the travel habits they had when they
were working (type of accommodations, destinations…), but with
longer stays and possibly off-season.
ANCV has a programme dedicated to pensioners or people without
activities over 60 and living in France, called ‘Seniors en vacances’.
This support is based on a partnership between ANCV, private
stakeholders (mainly accommodation facilities) and project leaders
(local authorities, pension funds or healthcare plans) (see Task 1).
Local social centres have implemented specific actions for seniors
living with low incomes, in particular stays for groups of seniors.
Charitable associations, such as Les Petits Frères des Pauvres, are
also focused on holidays of precarious seniors but their impact
remains marginal.
The average length of stay for seniors over 65 is 7.5 days for tourist
stays in France: 1.99 days for short stays and 11.3 days for long
stays3. Their stays are longer than the ones of the other segments
of population.
The majority of senior citizens (over 90%) stay in France for
holidays. People over 65 prefer countryside holidays.
In Europe, Spain is the most popular destination, mainly for its
climate in Spring, Autumn and Winter.
No statistics collected.
A survey made for the French Tourism Department4 shows that :
•
32% of the seniors over 70 go on holiday
•
26% of the low income pensioners (under 1,500 euro per
month) go on holiday, compared to a national average of 52%
Apart from financial questions, this particular target is constraint by
accessibility. The need to prove wage level in order to benefit by
specific public supports and the fear to leave home (even for some
days) can also be barriers to seniors.
Source : Carnet de route des seniors, ODIT France, 2009 ; Suivi de la Demande Touristique, 2007
Portrait social de la France, rapport INSEE, novembre 2009
Suivi de la demande touristique, Direction du tourisme, 2007
Enquête CREDOC, Conditions de vie et aspirations des Français, 2008
FRANCE
Young people5
User profile (socioeconomic profile, travel
habit demographics)
Organisation
responsible for support
Duration of stay
Main holiday
destinations
Average spending
during holidays per
year
Holiday participation
statistics
Barriers and reasons
for non-participation
Young people between 18 and 25 years old are 6.5 million in
France, about 10% of the French population. Their weight in the
global population tends to decrease.
They represent a wide range of situations: students, young workers,
unemployed people, with or without revenues, single, couple, with
children...
Development of tourism for youth is one of the main concerns of the
government, with actions like improvement of information and
welcome and the development of specific products (ANCV holiday
package). Various structures are in charge of the support of this
target at a national level: Ministry of youth and sports, CNAJEP6
gathering youth and community education organisations in France,
INJEP7 and the network of CIDJ8 which informs young people about
their holidays.
Young workers and apprentices do not benefit by a specific national
support but can be taken in charge by works councils (for example
La Poste or SNCF) or pension funds.
The average length of stay for young people between 18 and 25 is
13.3 days, for an average of 3 stays per year.
70% of the stays of young French people are domestic. The main
destinations abroad are Spain (16%), United Kingdom (10%), Italy
(7%), Germany (5%) and Belgium (5%).
The average spending for a stay per person is 655 euro: about 30%
for transportation costs, 24% for accommodation, 23% for the
activities onsite and 25% for other expenses (shopping, catering).
A survey by the French Tourism Department9 shows that 47% of
young adults under 30 go on holiday (compared to a national
average of 52%).
The departure rate of young people is decreasing, mainly because of
financial difficulties.
Reasons for non-participation are :
•
Lack of resources – especially for transportation costs
•
Socio-economic characteristics of family background
•
Lack of time and difficulties to anticipate
•
Lack of information on products or products not corresponding
to the needs of the target (like products dedicated to families)
Families facing difficult circumstances10
User profile (socioThe definition of families facing difficult circumstances and having
economic profile, travel access to holiday support differs from one territory (Regions) to
habit demographics)
another.
6.7 million families in France have access to family benefits.
1.7 million families are single-parent (with children under 25 years
old).
About 1 million people benefit from minimum guaranteed income.
About half of the families go on holiday during summer holidays
(July-August).
5
Source : Carnet de route des 18-25 ans, ODIT France, 2007
Committee for national and international relations of youth and community education organisations
National institute of youth and community education
8
Centres of information and documentation for youth
9
Source : Enquête CREDOC, Conditions de vie et aspirations des Français, 2008
10
Source : Synthèse des connaissances sur les vacances et les temps libres des familles, des enfants et des jeunes, F. Potier, J. Sicsic, V.
Kaufmann, 2004
6
7
FRANCE
Organisation
responsible for support
Duration of stay
Main holiday
destinations
Average spending
Holiday participation
statistics
Barriers and reasons
for non-participation
Adult disabled citizens13
User profile (socioeconomic profile, travel
habit demographics)
Organisation
responsible for support
Duration of stay
Main holiday
destinations
Average spending
Holiday participation
statistics
Barriers and reasons
for non-participation
11
The organisation responsible for support of families is the Ministry of
social affairs and the family credit offices department11. The
responsibility is delegated to the 123 ‘Caisses d’allocations
familiales’ at a local level, which determine the allocation conditions.
Some associations are focused on helping families to go on holiday,
for example ‘Vacances et familles’.
No statistics collected
Seaside is the favourite destination for families with children.
Countryside is another popular holiday destination because of lower
costs and family residence.
No statistics collected
A survey by the French Tourism Department12 shows that :
•
50% of large families (at least 5 children)
•
42% of single-parent families go on holidays (compared to a
national average of 52%)
Financial difficulties are often the main problem of this target.
Nonetheless, other reasons can explain their non-participation:
unemployment or no possibility to take vacations, taking care of a
disabled child or old parent…
There is no reliable statistics about people with disabilities in France.
1.8 million people between 15 and 64 years old are considered
disabled by the French administration14. The number of people living
with health or disability problems reaches 5.7 million15: 1.7 million
partially sighted persons, 5 million hard-hearing persons, 850 000
with a physical handicap and 1 million with a mental handicap.
About three quarters of these persons receive specific funds related
to their disability.
The main organisation responsible for support of disabled persons is
the Tourism Department, which has developed a national label
‘Tourisme et handicap’ in order to improve the access of tourist
products and services to disabled people (see annex 4).
Stays often last one or two weeks but 50% of disabled adults going
on holiday take longer breaks of more than 2 weeks.
2/3 of stays are made in France. Seaside represents the first
destination.
No statistics collected.
No statistics collected. Their participation rate is nonetheless lower
than the average, because of financial and mobility problems.
The first reason for non-participation is financial difficulties,
especially considering the extra-cost implied by an accompanying
person. Secondly, the lack of autonomy is often mentioned: most of
disabled people need a help to organise, prepare their stay and to
access their place of holiday.
Lack of accessible structures, non-reliability of information,
transportation, and absence of a complete accessible product-chain
are other barriers to the departure of disabled people.
“Caisse nationale des allocations familiales”
Source : Enquête CREDOC, Conditions de vie et aspirations des Français, 2008
Source : Adapter l’offre touristique aux handicaps – Etude de marché : la population des personnes en situation de handicap et l’offre
touristique française, ATOUT France, 2009
14
INSEE, 2007
15
Source : Poletti report, 2004
12
13
FRANCE
3.3
Existing support systems and/or mechanisms
In France, annual paid leave exists since 1936 and now corresponds to 25 days of holidays for
employees every year. Within the framework of the 1998 law against exclusions, holidays have
been recognized as a national objective. It is considered as a fundamental right, like housing or
health.
Various kinds of supports for these targets groups exist, most of them being implemented at a
local level or are private initiatives with a limited impact. We develop here the most significant
mechanisms existing at a national level.
•
Senior citizens
Since 2007, ANCV took in charge a specific programme ‘Seniors en vacances’ supporting senior
citizens wishing to go on holiday. This programme was initiated by the Department of Tourism
and implemented by UNAT 3 years earlier. It concerns people over 60, retired or without any
professional activity and living in France. The aim of the programme is twofold: to bring wellness
to low income and isolated seniors and create a social link, and to develop tourism economy
strengthening the season. The system allows pensioners to have access to discounted holidays
and for the lower incomes to have an extra financial support (and pay only 50% of the stays).
Husband or wife can also benefit from the programme. 150 all-included discounted stays in
groups (without transportation) are proposed in France all year, except during July-August
period. The services correspond to specific needs of seniors: comfort of facilities, health centre
nearby, leader for activities and excursions (cultural activities, sports, gastronomy…), and low fat
menus.
Through 11 regional delegates across the country, ANCV has implemented partnerships with local
authorities, pensioners clubs, pension funds and social organisations that inform the
beneficiaries, constitute groups and prepare the stays with the help of ANCV.
In 2008, 97 groups of seniors and 3 063 people participated. 85% benefited by the financial help
of ANCV. The aim of the structure is to reach 100,000 beneficiaries en 2010 (see Task 1).
•
Young people
Funding for young people holidays is low and not centralized because of the diversity of social
situations. Projects encouraging young people to go on holiday are under way at ANCV and
UNAT, especially packages for young people (see Task 1). Some works councils and healthcare
plans have developed a policy for helping young workers between 18 and 25 to go on holiday: for
example the works council of SNCF (national railway company) gives a 200 euro grant for youth
stays. Young people are often targets of twinings between towns or regions. Some of the projects
have a touristic dimension. For example, the OFAJ (French-German Youth Office) aims to
promote relations between youth of the two countries and gives financial support to young
people between 16 and 27 years old with a travel plan in the other country (from 2 to 3 weeks).
The supported projects have to be not exclusively touristic. It concerned 320 young Germans and
French in 2009.
•
Families facing difficult social circumstances
The main public support system existing for families with difficulties is VACAF, which manages
the holiday policy of most of the family credit offices. VACAF is composed of about 100 family
credit offices and 1,700 accommodation facilities with reduced fare. Three support mechanisms
have been developed to encourage families holidays :
Support for family holidays (Aide aux Vacances Familiales): 44 000 stays in 2008,
47% are single-parent families. Families pay 50% of the stays (about 400 euro for
one week).
Social stays (Aide aux Vacances Sociales) concerning families with very low income or
important difficulties. It concerns families not used to go on holidays: 2,700 stays in
2007, 67% were single-parent families. 82% of the cost of the stay is taken in charge
by family credits. A family pays an average of 166 euro for one week.
Support for children holidays (Aide aux Vacances Enfants) in specific holiday centres.
Each family credit office at a local level determines the amount of financial support and the
duration of the stays. VACAF pays the amount of support directly to the accommodation facility.
FRANCE
FRANCE
•
Adult disabled citizens
There is no specific funding concerning holidays of disabled persons organised at a national level.
French holiday for all policy (1998 law against exclusions) has concentrated its action on the
development of a national label created in 1997 encouraging tourism professionals to integrate
people with special needs, whatever their disability: hearing, mental, motor or visual. The aim of
the label is to provide reliable, descriptive and objective information on accessibility of tourist
sites and amenities, and of leisure activities. Professional must be volunteers and take
themselves all the necessary steps to answer the needs of disabled people. The association
‘Tourisme et Handicap’ created in 2001 grants the label and more generally makes the tourism
professionals conscious of special needs of disabled citizens. One tourist spot (accommodation,
restaurant, tourist or leisure site) can be classified for one or several disabilities. In 2009 3,617
tourist spots were awarded the label; 16% had it for the four kinds of disabilities.
The French Secretary of State for family and solidarity has recently announced the creation of a
label for destinations implementing specific actions – on accommodation, transportation and
activities - for the accessibility of disabled people (‘Handi-vacances’ is the tentative name).
Apart from these support mechanisms to target groups, specific supports for accommodation
facilities are given by ANCV and local and regional authorities (see annexes).
3.4
Demand drivers
Senior citizens16
Constraints
Needs and expectations
in terms of destination
Types of
accommodation
Activities
Specific equipment
Sensitivity to price
Seasonality aspects
Young people17
Constraints
16
17
•
Financial questions for people living with low income and
reluctance to prove their revenue
•
Accessibility for seniors with disabilities and need for an
accompanying person
•
Fear of the unknown (languages, change of habits, travelling
with other people)
This target is less used to go abroad than the younger generation.
The younger seniors without health problems and with travel habits
are nonetheless interested by exploration and would be interested
by European destinations close to France. Favourite destinations
would be on the seaside.
Apart from secondary residence, hotels represent the most suitable
accommodation facility in terms of comfort, security and welcome.
Seniors are looking for excursions during their stays. All
intergenerational activities are desirable.
Transportation needs and good health facilities are the main
services required by seniors.
Sensitivity to prices is less important with age: the older seniors are
looking for quality first.
Seniors in France go on holiday on season with family, children and
grandchildren (in a secondary residence or location) and off-season
for little excursions or longer trips without families. As they play an
important role in the holidays of their grandchildren, they are partly
constraint by summer season.
The main constraint for non-participation is the financial criteria
(transportation costs in particular represent a major brake),
together with the lack of organised information on existing products
and services.
Source : Carnet de route des seniors, ODIT France, 2009
Source : Carnet de route des 18-25 ans, ODIT France, 2007
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Needs and expectations
in terms of destination
Types of
accommodation
Activities
Specific equipment
Sensitivity to price
Seasonality aspects
Young people are more than any other target opened to travel
abroad, considering their general expectations, which are userfriendliness, exploration, and break with everyday life. They are also
looking for autonomy, comfort, security and a good value for
money.
Youth hostels and camp sites are the main accommodation types for
young people, corresponding to the habits of this target (low-cost
city breaks in groups).
The types of activities depend on the destination and kind of stays.
Most of the activities are made alone or in groups: walks,
restaurants, shopping and clubbing. Sport is also a main component
of stays, especially during winter breaks.
No specific equipment is required for this target. Transportation
facilities and accessibility to destinations are important, as well as
sport facilities in case of sports stays.
Existing statistics and surveys show that young people are not so
sensitive to price but require a good value for money, especially on
accommodation facilities.
Young people, especially students and unemployed, are less
constraint by seasons and are thus able to go on holiday off-season
when prices are lower. 59% of the stays are made during peakseason.
Families facing difficult circumstances18
Constraints
Financial or family constraints are the main problem of the target.
Needs and expectations Families are often looking for a seaside destination or at least with a
in terms of destination
lake or swimming pool nearby.
Types of
Families use in majority family and friends accommodation. Hotels
accommodation
and holiday resorts (‘Villages de vacances’) are other kinds of
accommodation facilities for families. A specific label for ‘Villages de
vacances’ called ‘Loisirs de France’ qualifies the level of services
(leisure and activities for adults and children), the environment and
the comfort of accommodation. For financial reasons, large families
often prefer camp sites.
Activities
The survey made by the French Tourism Department shows that
holidays with children are often dedicated to beach and swimming.
The other activities are cultural (19%), bicycle (5%) and
recreational parks (4%). 20% of the respondents don’t have
particular activities during holiday. The more children families have,
the more they have activities.
Specific equipment
Villages vacances (Holiday resorts) and maisons familiales (Family
houses) were initially specifically designed for families offering all
included services and facilities: accommodation, catering but also
swimming pool and playrooms.
Sensitivity to price
The tendency shows that this target is very sensitive to price. Oil
crisis in particular has limited the use of car and thus had an impact
on departure rate.
Seasonality aspects
The target is constraint by official holiday periods (see annex with
holiday calendar). The peak season is during July and August.
18
Source : Synthèse des connaissances sur les vacances et les temps libres des familles, des enfants et des jeunes, F. Potier, J. Sicsic, V.
Kaufmann, 2004
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Adult disabled citizens19
Constraints
Needs and expectations
in terms of destination
Types of
accommodation
Activities
Specific equipment
Sensitivity to price
Seasonality aspects
•
•
Financial constraints
Problem of accessibility to holidays in general : preparation,
organisation, transportation and accommodation facilities
•
Need of an accompanying person, which represents an extracost
Basically, disabled adults don’t want to go on holiday with other
disabled but want to be integrated in a traditional tourism product.
The main need of this target is to be managed by trained activity
leaders and assistants. The problem of transportation to far-off
destinations may represent a constraint.
The most suitable accommodation facilities should be fitted in order
to facilitate lives of disabled people. Hotels and furnished
accommodation are the most well equipped accommodation
facilities today.
Disabled adults are willing to have access to the same kind of
activities as adults without disabilities, which implies the adaptation
of sports facilities.
Adapted furniture and lighting, ergonomics of bathrooms.
Considering the level of income of this target and the need of an
accompanying person most of the time, they are sensitive to prices.
Disabled adults express the will to go on holiday during traditional
holiday periods, especially during summer.
4.
ANALYSIS OF THE TOURISM SECTOR
4.1
Market trends
Since 1990 France is considered as the first tourism destination in the world, with 80 million
foreign tourists every year (including passengers in transit). It is thus a main economic sector for
the country representing 2 million jobs and 6.5% of GDP. Tourism in France has recently slightly
decreased because of current international context.
91% of foreign tourists in France are European: main countries are Germany, BelgiumLuxembourg, Switzerland and Italy. The average duration stay is 6 nights. The main regions are
Paris-Ile-de-France (29.7% of night persons), Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (13.8%) and RhôneAlpes (8.4%).
About 2/3 of French people go on holiday each year; 90% of the stays are made in France and
60% in the non-market sector (i.e. secondary homes or accommodation by families and friends).
The average duration of domestic stays is 5 nights. There is a high concentration of holidays
during summer seasons (50% of stays in July and August), thus in seaside destinations,
especially in the South of France (PACA, Rhône-Alpes and Languedoc-Roussillon). 73% of the
stays abroad are made in Europe with Spain and Italy as main destinations.
The main trends of evolution are linked with new consumer habits: use of internet for information
and booking instead of traditional travel agencies, development of low-cost products especially in
transportation, pursuit of authenticity and interest in sustainable and eco-tourism development,
acceleration of life and thus shorter but more frequent stays, sensitivity to security and health
problems.
19
Source : Adapter l’offre touristique aux handicaps – Etude de marché : la population des personnes en situation de handicap et l’offre
touristique française, ATOUT France, 2009
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4.2
Supply of services
The specificities of social tourism in France:
Social tourism sector differs from traditional tourism sector due to its social goal or project. The
associations of the sector designed a “holiday project” based on their
their convictions: for them,
holidays is conceived as a time of learning and gain of independence, discovery of a territory and
its inhabitants, cohabitation with people from different social background, mostly during school
holidays.
Even if this model has evolved due to social and economic changes, there remain some
particularities in the sector: pricing policy in favour of families with low revenue, integration in a
territory, disinterested management and voluntary work, skills in leisure activities, capacity
capac
to
answer to the needs of people with difficulties or specificities (sport groups, residential classes).
The historic product offered by the social tourism sector is based on a mix of various elements:
an accommodation, a catering option (full-board,
(full
half board, room and breakfast or rented
accommodation), a set of services and activities (sport and cultural activities, activities for
children, services such as laundry, playroom, TV, bar…), all being integrated in an environment
(city, sea, mountain, countryside). It offers an “all-inclusive”
“all
product.
Accommodation
Catering
option
Social
tourism
product
Services
Activities
Since 2003 the Tourism Department gives the national agreement ‘Tourisme
Tourisme social et familial’
familial
(social and family tourism) to associations, healthcare
h
plans and unions of associations or
healthcare plans that manage accommodation structures with a social mission.
Accommodation
Aiming to develop holidays for people excluded and primarily families, social tourism in France
has developed specific accommodation facilities
f
for each kind of targets (see definitions
definition in annex
2):
•
Villages vacances (Holiday resorts) and maisons familiales (Family houses) were initially
specifically designed for families offering all included services: accommodation for
families, separate
ate catering for parents and children, activities for adults, children and
family together, evening dances… There are about 930 holiday resorts and family houses
in France, representing 230,700 beds. The most important suppliers are VVF-Villages,
Cap France
e and the Ligue de l’enseignement. The label “Loisirs de France” describes the
level of services of this kind of accommodation. With the development of group travels,
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•
•
•
this kind of accommodation has become more standardised and opened to all kind of
targets.
Centres de séjours de jeunes (Youth holiday centres) and Auberges de jeunesse (Youth
hostelling) target young citizens with modest accommodation services and dormitories.
Often situated in urban environment, these facilities also have restaurants self-services,
living rooms, playrooms. There are about 250 youth centres in France, which represent
25,460 beds. Youth hostels are most of the time integrated in a national or international
network (FUAJ, LFAJ, UCJG, Ethic Etapes), which is accessible with a member card.
Camp sites, offering conviviality and low cost, are often chosen by families and young
citizens. In France, camp sites represent 2.7 million beds.
With the creation of the label ‘Tourisme et Handicap’, the number of sites and structures
meeting the requirements of disabled citizens, including seniors with health problems, is
increasing: 3,658 facilities have obtained the label.
Recent surveys20 show that social tourism offer has three main handicaps: their “social” image
which stigmatizes the targets, the obsolescence of the structures in terms of comfort (swimming
pools) and layout of the premises and the location of the accommodation facilities (most of the
time in countryside regions whereas targets want to go on the seaside). The renovation costs of
these structures are estimated to 500 million euro over 10 years. A new strategy, with the
involvement of ANCV and Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, will be implemented in order to
facilitate the investment of social tourism structures.
Moreover accommodation structures of all kinds (including the 1,2 million hotel beds on the
territory) have developed a yield management policy, which gives targets with financial
difficulties flexible rates depending on the season.
Tourism spots
Most of tourism and leisure sites in France offer also discounted prices for targets facing financial
difficulties: students or young people under 25 or 30, unemployed people, large families or
disabled people. In national museums and monuments for example, unemployed people,
beneficiaries of social support or basic old-age pension, disabled people are free of charge. Since
2009 free access to museums concerns also young people (under 26) from all European
community. People with large family pass or paying with ‘chèques-vacances’ have a reduced fare.
Transportation
The national railway company SNCF offers discount cards for youth (12 to 25 years old), seniors
(over 60) and families (with children under 12), giving discounts depending on the periods. The
French large family card (‘carte famille nombreuse’) for families with at least 3 children under 18
offers reduced fare with SNCF as well (the largest families have up to 75% discount). Since 2009
the card was extended to families with low revenue and single parent families with one or two
children under 18 (‘carte enfant famille’). It concerns families with less than 22,321 euro of
income (one child) or 27,472 euro per month (2 children). The card costs 15 euro and offers
discounts from 25 to 50% on train transportation.
Concerning air transport, Air France for instance offers discounts for young people (15 to 24),
students (25-26) and seniors (over 60).
Destinations corresponding to the needs of target groups
Because of their location and supply, some destinations in France particularly suit one or more
targets and have developed specific services and approaches for them.
The label Famille Plus for example aims at promoting territories that have implemented a global
approach for the welcome of families: welcome and information, activities, exploration and the
awareness of environment and heritage, accommodation, catering, shops and services,
transportation and security and rates adapted to families and children. 78 holiday resorts have
been awarded this label in France.
Destinations with thermal spa facilities have sometimes developed specific services and facilities
for seniors, who are their main targets. These destinations that offer treatments and recreational
20
Source : Synthèse des connaissances sur les vacances et les temps libres des familles, des enfants et des jeunes, F. Potier, J. Sicsic, V.
Kaufmann, 2004
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activities are one of the most interesting solutions for seniors suffering from rheumatism. In
France there are 108 thermal spas and 87 of them are empowered to treat rheumatisms (see
annex 8).
4.3
Supply of services from a European point of view
As the first tourism destination, France is used to welcome people from everywhere in the world
and has developed a good level of services. All the products and services discussed above would
be suitable and available for European population from each target group.
The main constraint today is language. Indeed most of the time traditional structures of social
tourism sector do not have staff trained to foreign languages. The exception is International
youth holiday centres (Centres internationaux de séjour) which welcome about 35% of young
foreign people.
4.4
Sustainable tourism aspects
Most of the stakeholders of the tourism sector have developed at least speeches concerning their
involvement in sustainable development, which often concerns only the environmental
dimension. Two particular experiences in social tourism sector are often mentioned as exemplary.
The French association Ethic Etapes, which federates about 40 international youth holiday centres
hosting 390,000 people every year, promotes responsible behaviour of young adults. The aims of
the association are to promote tourism for all, to fight against exclusions and to be involved in
the development of territories. Their commitment to sustainable tourism is visible through
various actions in the centres:
•
The opening of the centres all year, guaranteeing stable and long-term jobs
•
Educational stays on international citizenship and introduction to environment problems
•
The integration of ‘Tourism and handicap’ label
•
Consciousness-raising programmes on saving energies
•
Exhibitions and meetings on biodiversity, fair trade, professional mobility of young people
•
Sports, artistic and cultural activities for hosts and local population…
3 youth holiday centres have obtained to European eco-label.
Another social tourism association, CAP France, has created a specific label concerning
sustainable tourism in accommodation facilities, called ‘Chouette Nature’. Since 2004, 48 holiday
villages have been awarded the label and propose accommodation facilities in a natural
environment, walks in countryside, educational activities on ecology, meals with local products
and meetings with local producers.
4.5
Feasibility of social tourism
The French Secretary of State in charge of Tourism, Hervé Novelli, has recently given a new
boost to social tourism in France. The aim is to give the ones who don’t go on holiday the same
chances as the others, to promote the economic development of territories and to set up policies
for the weakest of French society: disabled, seniors, young people from suburbs, and singleparent families.
A working group, gathering social tourism players, national authorities and bodies, local
authorities and professional organisations, has identified three main stakes for social tourism in
the next years: the improvement of effectiveness and visibility of the concerned players, the
optimization of existing holiday funding and the definition and implementation of a new strategy
to support rehabilitation of the structures and modernization of management. In his speech given
on the 12th of October 2009 (see annex 1), the Secretary of State outlined the lines of his policy:
the reinforcement of ANCV in its social missions, the creation of a holiday package for young
adults between 18 and 25, the implementation of innovative solutions for renovation of
accommodation facilities for specific targets, and the creation of an information centre on social
tourism.
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5.
LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVES
In France, 1998 law against exclusions established holidays as a national goal and as a
consequence holiday for all has become a priority of the Tourism Department of State. Recent
French legislation concerns disabled people and access to holiday structures. The law 2005-102
of the 11th of February 2005, which affirms the equality of rights and chances, participation and
citizenship of disabled people, and set the principle of accessibility to all public buildings for
people with physical, visual, hearing or mental disabilities. As structures welcoming public,
tourism structures are concerned and should proceed to adaptation works before 2015. If this
legislation will extend access of all tourism structures to the target of disabled people, it also
represents major costs for the managers of the structures, which are often associations in the
case of social tourism.
European legislation (European regulation 1998/2006 of 15 December 2007, applicable in France
since January 2007, established that the global amount of public support for one company should
not exceed 20% for medium companies and 30% for small ones to a maximum of 200,000 euro
for three fiscal periods. This legislation concerns social tourism structures as well, when doing
renovation or extension works (most of them cost around one or 2 million euro) and represents a
problem for associative structures which need public support. Discussion is under progress. A
solution for social tourism structures could be to be considered as social services of general
interest, as they welcome targets with social difficulties.
6.
DEVELOPMENT OF PRODUCTS FOR SOCIAL TOURISM
Historically the development of social tourism has been concentrated on the creation of
accommodation facilities to welcome the targets that could not go on holiday, especially families.
Works councils, trade unions, but also healthcare plans and pension funds invested in properties,
which became family holiday resorts offering services and activities dedicated to adults with
children. These kinds of structures are nowadays open to all types of targets but remain products
with a good value for money.
In his recent speech (see annex 1), the Secretary of State for tourism, Hervé Novelli, announced
that he wants 2010 to be the first year of the reflation policy of social tourism in France. This
policy should be based on the principle that everyone should have access to holiday. As surveys
have showed, all tourists, whatever their level of revenue, have the same needs. Therefore social
tourism policy should consist on giving to people who cannot go on holiday the same kind of
holiday as the ones who can pay. The aim is to build a ‘despecialized’ offer, without any kind of
segregation.
Consequently the development of specific products for social tourism should not consist of
specializing tourism structures and accommodation but much more in helping and accompanying
people not used to travel: preparation, help for travel, welcome on site…
The policy for the development of social tourism implies that stakeholders should be identified
and organised. One action is the creation of an information centre dedicated to social policy of
tourism, made for the stakeholders of the sector but also for decision-makers at a national or
regional level.
The main expectation for Calypso study expressed by the French national contact point21 is to
have a European consensus on ‘social tourism’ or ‘Calypso tourism’:
•
What is social tourism for the other European countries? What targets and target
segments do they support? What are the support mechanisms and the stakeholders
involved? And from that, what can be the definition of the European ‘social’ or ‘Calypso’
tourism?
21
Ministère de l'Economie, de l'Industrie et de l'Emploi - Sous Direction du Tourisme - DGCIS – Service "tourisme, commerce, artisanat et
services"
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•
7.
From a European point of view, can the actions aiming at promoting and facilitating the
holidays for specific targets be considered as matters for the general public interest? And
consequently, under what conditions could the member states appoint private
stakeholders to implement Calypso tourism actions on their behalf? And under what
conditions the member states could finance these private stakeholders acting on their
behalf, over the limits of the classic European ceiling on public subsidies?
WEB PORTALS
Nowadays, the majority of social tourism
stakeholders have their own website, introducing the
products and services to their potential customers.
The websites are nevertheless often only written in
French and only a few are real interactive platforms
of exchanges between tourism products and targets
for example UCPA, Cap France, Vacanciel.
Franceguide is the official website for tourism in
France, managed by Atout France. It has pages
dedicated to disabled people and offers specifically
dedicated to this target. It is the only site where the
3,600 facilities with the label ‘Tourisme et Handicap’
are registered. Because of the lack of commercial
offers, the website is going to evolve but the pages
dedicated to disabled people will remain.
The ANCV has created a web portal within the “Bourse Solidarité Vacances” programme. This
portal informs about the offers and availability of stays for families facing difficulties through
intermediary associations (see Task 1).
In the framework of Calypso, the ANCV and UNAT have also currently worked on a proposal for
the creation of a web portal for young adults.
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ANNEXES
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Annex 1 : Discours donné par Hervé Novelli, Secrétaire d’Etat chargé du commerce, de
l’artisanat, des petites et moyennes enterprises, du tourisme, des services et de la
consommation
HERVE NOVELLI,
SECRETAIRE D’ETAT CHARGE DU COMMERCE, DE L’ARTISANAT, DES PETITES ET MOYENNES ENTREPRISES, DU
TOURISME, DES SERVICES ET DE LA CONSOMMATION
***
INTERVENTION DE CLOTURE DES PREMIERES RENCONTRES NATIONALES DU TOURISME
SUR LA NOUVELLE POLITIQUE DU TOURISME SOCIAL
PARIS – PALAIS DES CONGRES – LUNDI 12 OCTOBRE 2009
Mesdames, Messieurs,
Je tiens en premier lieu à remercier les intervenants qui se sont exprimés cet après-midi. La
qualité et la densité de vos échanges démontrent à quel point les perspectives sont riches pour le
tourisme familial et associatif. Cette séance spécialement consacrée à ce thème, je vous l’avais
promise lors des Assises Nationales du Tourisme en juin 2008, elle s’est tenue et je m’en félicite.
I - Ma vision du tourisme social
Je vous l’avoue, ma conviction, c’est que cela fait trop longtemps que le tourisme social
n’a pas été traité à sa juste mesure. Il faut nous rendre à l’évidence, nous avons changé
d’époque. Le concept de tourisme social n’est plus celui qui s’est forgé à certaines périodes de
notre histoire, à partir de 1936 puis dans l’immédiat après guerre. Les modes de vie ont évolué,
les fractures sociales sont différentes et nécessitent des traitements adaptés, même à travers le
temps des vacances.
Pour moi, développer une politique de tourisme social aujourd’hui, c’est permettre à
toutes celles et ceux qui sont concernés d’accéder aux vacances de tous. Ma conviction
est faite, toutes les enquêtes le démontrent, la différence entre les besoins d’un touriste à faible
revenu et un autre, ne résident précisément que dans cette simple différence de revenus, les
goûts sont identiques, les besoins sont les mêmes. La véritable politique sociale du tourisme est
de permettre à tous ceux qui en sont empêchés de pouvoir accéder aux vacances de ceux qui
peuvent se les payer. Nous n’avons pas à enfermer les vacanciers dans des catégories qui n’ont
pas de fondement au regard des désirs de chacun.
Développer une politique du tourisme social, c’est aussi contribuer au développement
économique des territoires.
C’est enfin mener des politiques volontaristes pour pallier les faiblesses de notre
société : accueil des personnes handicapées, lutte contre l’isolement des personnes âgées, aide
spécifique aux jeunes des quartiers ou aux familles monoparentales.
Je me suis rendu durant l’été sur plusieurs sites animés par des acteurs du tourisme social. A
Marseille, sur une base nautique où l’UCPA apporte une réponse très concrète aux
problématiques actuelles, notamment les besoins des jeunes des quartiers qui ne partent pas en
vacances. Ou encore à Parent en Auvergne dans un village de Val VVF où j’ai pu constater la
réalité du secteur dont une problématique importante liée à la nécessaire réhabilitation de
l’immobilier. Disons-le clairement, les bâtiments et leur aménagement correspondent souvent à
une conception ancienne, déconnectée des réalités du jour et des attentes des utilisateurs en
termes de confort et d’évolution de la composition de la cellule familiale.
II - Le groupe de travail,
La problématique aide à la pierre/aide à la personne
Pour préparer notre rencontre de ce jour, j’avais décidé de lancer une grande
concertation. J’ai souhaité associer dans le groupe de travail toutes les parties liées au secteur :
les acteurs du tourisme associatif et familial, les administrations et les institutionnels, les
collectivités territoriales, les organisations professionnelles, qui ont travaillé sous le pilotage
efficace d’Aline PEYRONNET.
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Le groupe de travail a bien pointé les différents défis du tourisme social et a élaboré
une dizaine de pistes de travail pour y répondre. On peut les regrouper en trois grands
enjeux :
1. l’accroissement de l’efficacité et de la visibilité des acteurs ;
2. l’optimisation de l’utilisation des aides au départ ;
3. l’établissement d’une nouvelle stratégie pour financer la réhabilitation du
patrimoine et la modernisation de la gestion.
Le groupe de travail a aussi réfléchi sur une question fondamentale que nous connaissons bien :
le tourisme social est-il ou doit-il d’abord être une aide à la personne ou une aide à la
pierre ?
A question simple, réponse particulièrement complexe.
Nous connaissons tous cette réalité : beaucoup de Français – trop de Français ! - ne partent pas
en vacances, 36 % pour la population adulte. Est-ce uniquement faute de moyens financiers ? La
réponse est plus mesurée qu’on ne pourrait l’imaginer.
L’étude réalisée pour le compte de l’ANCV sur les non partants en vacances a mis en évidence
que l’obstacle financier ne constitue le principal frein que pour 50 % des cas. D’autres
problématiques entrent en jeu : la disponibilité de chacun, la capacité à l’autonomie ou encore la
simple volonté de partir.
Dès lors, on voit que résoudre la problématique financière ne serait pas suffisante, en supposant
que nous en ayons les moyens. Ma réponse sur ce point, vous l’aurez bien compris, est
qu’il ne faut pas opposer aide à la personne et aide à la pierre. Ces deux axes sont les
supports d’une seule et même politique sociale du Tourisme.
Nous concevons bien tous, je crois, que le secteur doit évoluer dans ses réponses. Personne ne
peut se résoudre à penser qu’il pourrait y avoir aujourd’hui un modèle de vacances pour les
riches et un autre modèle de vacances pour les moins riches. Au contraire, il nous faut
concevoir un dispositif le moins ségrégatif possible, accessible à tous en fonction de
ses revenus, et donc avoir des contributions financières d’appui si nécessaire. Et c’est
pour permettre à celles-ci de rester modérées que nous devons disposer d’un parc
d’hébergement associatif rénové certes, mais permettant d’offrir des destinations à des coûts les
plus adaptés possibles.
C’est évidemment aussi dans ce parc d’hébergement qu’il faudra conserver des éléments de
structures adaptés aux personnes qui nécessitent un accompagnement sur le lieu de vacances
pour des motifs liés à leur situation physique ou à leur désocialisation.
Notre ligne directrice est donc claire : construire une offre déspécialisée et mettre en
place des dispositifs d’accompagnement des personnes tant sur le plan financier que
dans celui des autres domaines, l’ensemble s’articulant pour multiplier les possibilités
de départ. C’est donc bien cette non opposition « aide à la personne et aide à la pierre » ou par
la conjugaison des deux axes qui nous permettra de relever le défi de l’amélioration du taux de
départ en vacances.
Nous avons beaucoup travaillé avec les associations. Le consensus existe sur la nature des
mesures à prendre. Un certain nombre d’action sont directement envisageable, d’autres
nécessitent des approfondissements. De ce fait, je souhaite que le groupe de travail qui s’est
réuni à ma demande, perdure dans son format. Il a démontré son utilité, et il suscite visiblement
une intéressante confrontation de toutes les parties impliquées dans le même geste.
Au regard des mesures proposées par le groupe de travail, je crois possible dès lors d’encourager
la mise en œuvre de trois projets qui me paraissent s’inscrire parfaitement dans le champ de ces
nouvelles orientations.
III - Aussi je souhaite aujourd’hui vous faire part des grandes orientations qui
permettront de répondre à ces enjeux et qui dessineront les contours d’une
nouvelle politique sociale du tourisme.
A/Le premier axe que je souhaite développer est le renforcement de l’ANCV
dans ses missions sociales.
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Elle est déjà la pierre angulaire de la politique sociale du tourisme du gouvernement. L’ANCV a
développé une gamme d’actions en direction de population prioritaires : les jeunes, les
handicapés et les séniors. Je pense au programme Séniors en vacances mais aussi au
programme aide aux projets vacances ou encore à la bourse solidarité vacances. Le nombre de
personnes aidées est passé de 90 000 en 2008 à 130 000 en 2009, soit près de 50%
d’augmentation !
Pour augmenter ses ressources, l’ANCV doit d’abord étendre la diffusion des chèques
vacances. Elle le fera en s’adressant aux 8 millions de salariés des entreprises de
moins de 50 personnes, jusqu’ici quasiment exclus du dispositif. La Loi pour le
développement des services touristiques que j’ai portée devant le parlement en juillet
dernier a mis fin à cette injustice en levant les barrières à la diffusion des chèquesvacances dans les entreprises de moins de 50 salariés. Je compte sur l’ANCV, qui a déjà
réussi son décollage dans les entreprises de plus de 50 salariés avec un volume d’émission qui
devrait encore augmenter de 6% cette année malgré la crise économique.
Cette diffusion massive permettra de financer de nouvelles aides pour des publicscibles. Je pense notamment aux personnes en situation de handicap. Je suis avec un
grand intérêt les projets qui sont à l’étude, qu’il s’agisse d’étendre l’usage des chèques vacances
aux employés des établissements spécialisés d’aide par le travail, les ESAT, ou bien d’obtenir une
bonification de la valeur des chèques vacances pour les salariés handicapés dans les entreprises,
ou encore de prendre en compte les aidants ou la famille dans les aides au départ.
Ces projets s’inscrivent dans le cadre d’une action globale en faveur des personnes en situation
de handicaps. Depuis de nombreuses années il y a autour du label tourisme et handicaps un
travail remarquable. Plus de 3 500 structures sont labellisées à ce jour. Demain, dans le cadre
d’une coopération que nous allons lancer avec le Secrétariat d’Etat à la Famille et à la Solidarité,
le label Tourisme et Handicaps apportera tout son savoir-faire dans le domaine touristique à la
construction d’une approche totalement globalisée des territoires qui seront adaptés et
accessibles de manière systématique et qui donc permettront aux personnes handicapées de
profiter pleinement de leurs vacances dans toutes leurs dimensions.
B / Un autre public doit attirer toute notre attention : les jeunes adultes de 1825 ans, qui ont un taux de départ en vacances inférieur à la moyenne
C’est pourquoi je vous annonce la création innovante, un « coffret séjour jeunes » qui
proposera une formule « tout compris », incluant par exemple le transport, deux nuits
avec demi-pension et une activité récréative.
Il ne s’agit donc pas à proprement parler de vacances, mais d’un dispositif à vocation
de pédagogie au départ. En effet dans les motifs de non départ, les problèmes
d’organisation sont cités par 15% des personnes interrogées. On peut donc penser que
cette première expérience pourra avoir un effet déclencheur.
La sélection du public recherché se ferait, outre par le packaging, par le contenu du coffret et la
nature de l’hébergement.
Le produit - dans un format identique - s’adressera à deux types de public : le public général via
les circuits classiques de distribution, et un public social cible (jeunes adultes à faibles revenus
mais non désocialisés). Il ne s’agit pas d’installer une distinction entre les jeunes dès lors qu’on
vise l’intégration de cette population par la pratique d’activités communes.
La distribution vers le public social sera conduite par les acteurs sociaux de terrain et le dispositif
subventionné selon des modalités à déterminer pour ramener la participation du bénéficiaire à un
montant proportionnel à ses capacités.
Je vois dans ce projet une forme de modernité dans la façon dont s’exerce l’action sociale.
D’abord parce qu’il s’appuie sur des produits, les coffrets cadeau, qui connaissent un
engouement certain et qui contribuent très nettement à mettre en avant l’offre diffuse
française, ce que rien n’y personne n’est encore parvenu à faire à un tel niveau.
Ensuite parce qu’il permet d’associer l’action sociale au marché pour ce qu’il sait faire :
sélectionner et formaliser une offre touristique adaptée, la distribuer auprès du plus
grand nombre.
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Je crois à cette complémentarité des acteurs, chacun dans sa valeur ajoutée, au bénéfice d’un
geste commun bien compris. C’est une expérience. Elle nécessitera bien sûr des ajustements
techniques. Je pense notamment à la pris en compte de l’offre de transport, particulièrement la
SNCF. Après avoir rencontré récemment son Président, je peux vous dire que cette contrainte
technique sera levée. Mais je fonde beaucoup d’espoir dans cette formule de partenariat
public-privé, le public fonctionnant avec le privé pour optimiser ses moyens dans
l’exercice de sa mission. Ce partenariat devra être étendu sous cette forme ou une
autre, vers les deux autres publics cibles que sont les séniors et les handicapés,
préoccupations déjà intégrées dans les missions de l’ANCV.
C / Je souhaite aussi proposer des solutions nouvelles pour régler le dossier
central de la rénovation de l’offre d’hébergement social.
Vous le savez, les aides à la pierre de l’Agence nationale des chèques vacances ont du être
interrompues pour des questions de conformité de procédure. Je vous rappelle que la situation
était bloquée depuis 2005. Ce problème est maintenant résolu après la mise en place d’une
indemnité transactionnelle. Les dossiers sont en cours de régularisation. Elles seront toutes
réglées avant la fin de l’année. Mais nous devons tirer les enseignements de cette expérience et
nous orienter à l’évidence vers un dispositif rénové.
Le maintien de structures spécialisées disposant d’un parc immobilier adapté est indispensable
pour qu’une politique d’aide à la personne puisse atteindre toutes ses cibles. Les deux volets de
la politique sociale du tourisme sont indissociables.
L’enjeu est de taille ; on peut estimer à 500 M € le coût des investissements nécessaires sur 10
ans pour rénover les structures. A une époque de rareté de l’argent public, il est alors important
de rechercher de nouvelles solutions, et se pencher, pourquoi pas, sur les méthodes développées
par le marché.
L’externalisation du patrimoine dans des outils fonciers ad hoc est une orientation
retenue pour trouver des solutions à l’impasse actuelle. Cette solution, adoptée par la
grande majorité des opérateurs de marché, mais encore exceptionnelle dans le tourisme social,
fera entrer la gestion des patrimoines immobiliers dans un cycle vertueux sur les plans
économiques et techniques. Elle permettra une intervention des financeurs, en dette comme en
fonds propres.
Pour accompagner cet effort de clarification et d’optimisation de la gestion des actifs immobiliers,
il faut faciliter l’accès à des financements en fonds propres de long terme, qui sauraient s’adapter
aux contraintes de l’économie spécifique du secteur.
La discussion sur ce sujet est allée très loin avec la Caisse des Dépôts, qui intervient déjà
ponctuellement, comme nous l’a rappelé tout à l’heure Philippe Braidy, son Directeur du
Développement Territorial et du Réseau. Mais vu l’ampleur du sujet, il est nécessaire de passer
d’une action par trop parcellaire à une démarche de plus grande ampleur et plus organisée sur
toute la ligne.
Je vous annonce qu’avec l’accord de la Caisse des Dépôts et la mobilisation d’une
partie des ressources financières de l’ANCV nous allons créer un fonds
d’investissement dédié au financement des actifs du Tourisme social Il sera dénommé
Tourisme Social Investissement – TSI. Ce fonds interviendra en fonds propres dans des
sociétés immobilières à créer ou à reprendre, afin de mener des travaux de remise à
niveau dans des équipements du tourisme associatif et familial, concourant au départ
de tous.
Ces fonds propres clairement affichés à destination du secteur du Tourisme associatif et familial,
faciliteront la souscription d’emprunts par les structures cibles, d’autant plus facilement que les
fonds propres en question n’ayant pas l’exigence d’une forte rentabilité, seront investis
massivement afin de limiter la part de l’emprunt et le cout du financement à la charge de
l’exploitant du tourisme associatif et familial.
La Caisse des Dépôts, dans son métier d’investisseur d’intérêt général de long terme, n’a pas
vocation à intervenir seule. Le fonds dédié n’existera que si d’autres acteurs au-delà de l’ANCV
acceptent d’y souscrire. On voit bien la formule qui se dessine : un véhicule financier agrégeant
les moyens de différentes instances pour organiser spécifiquement la mise à niveau des actifs
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immobiliers du secteur. Un mouvement organisé, clairement affiché à destination des acteurs du
tourisme social.
Cette idée est moderne et contribue par le passage de la subvention, à fonds perdus, à
l’investissement en fonds propres, plus raisonné, à modifier l’approche de la gestion
immobilière.
L’ANCV, pivot de la politique sociale du tourisme du gouvernement, sera ainsi pleinement
associée à cette démarche qui fera date, et dont la mise en place s’impose de manière urgente.
L’ANCV contribuera ainsi à ce fonds dédié à la rénovation de l’immobilier du tourisme social, par
un apport d’emblée significatif, et s’engagera pour les années suivantes.
L’ANCV révisera ses modalités d’intervention dans l’aide à la pierre. Ca n’est certes pas un
changement de mission, mais une nouvelle étape qui s’engage avec l’adoption de modalités en
phase avec celles du marché au profit des acteurs du Tourisme social.
Cette action méritera d’être complétée par l’entrée dans ce fonds de mutuelles ou d’autres
acteurs financiers du secteur associatif et familial.
Je ne méconnais certes pas la complexité de l’exercice. C’est pour cela qu’au-delà des
financements mobilisés il importe de prévoir également un accompagnement des
acteurs pour leur permettre d’adapter leur structure afin d’accueillir le fonds
d’investissement dédié – TSI.
La solution consistant à distinguer la propriété et l’exploitation implique en effet un changement
très important dans les mentalités et les pratiques des opérateurs gestionnaires ainsi que des
propriétaires. Elle implique également la constitution d’entités juridiques de type foncières,
destinées exclusivement à la gestion des biens immobiliers et à la mise en place de leurs
investissements de modernisation. Comme chez les autres opérateurs de tourisme, hôteliers,
résidences de tourisme etc., la réorganisation envisagée s’appuie sur la séparation maîtrisée des
structures de gestion des services (commercialisation, accueil etc.) et des entités juridiques de
portage immobilier, les premiers payant aux secondes un loyer permettant un véritable entretien
du patrimoine et de ce fait, un renouvellement d’attractivité de l’offre proposée.
Les changements à introduire pour constituer ces outils fonciers susceptibles de bénéficier des
avantages de TSI, nécessitent une technicité précise, qu’il s’agisse d’évaluations d’actifs, de
prévisions d’activité et de résultat, de constitution d’outils juridiques nouveaux, de montages de
business plans, de négociation avec des investisseurs, des prêteurs ou des collectivités
territoriales.
Afin de faciliter pour les opérateurs de tourisme social la mise en œuvre des démarches et
prestations qu’impliquent les transformations nécessaires, j’ai décidé la création d’un dispositif
d’assistance technique à partir d’Atout France, travaillant en étroit partenariat avec l’UNAT, la
DGCIS et la Caisse des Dépôts.
Les objectifs sont de :
-
faciliter la mise à disposition des décideurs d’entreprises du tourisme social d’experts
immobiliers, juridiques, financiers pour les aider à avancer rapidement et à situer leurs
démarches au niveau de technicité nécessaire ;
-
aider à la constitution des dossiers susceptibles d’être présentés rapidement au TSI.
Je demande au Directeur général d’Atout France de mobiliser une équipe dédiée à ce programme.
Celle-ci apportera son concours à chaque opérateur de tourisme social intéressé par la démarche
pour l’aider à préciser sa problématique et son projet de restructuration patrimoniale.
Cet appui sera complété par la mobilisation des expertises externes complémentaires (audits
immobiliers, analyses juridiques, fiscales ou financières,…).
Ce dispositif pilote d’ingénierie technique sera financé par mon ministère, la Caisse des Dépôts et
Atout France ainsi que les acteurs du Tourisme social, pour disposer en 2010 d’une enveloppe de
crédit d’ingénierie d’1 M € pour impulser cette démarche.
Je veux faire de l’année 2010 l’an 1 de la relance du tourisme social dans notre pays.
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D / Créer un centre de ressources
Le troisième projet part du constat que la politique sociale du tourisme - dont personne
ne nie l’utilité - doit reconstruire une image plus en phase avec notre époque et les
attentes des publics concernés.
Cela implique en particulier que ses composantes et ses acteurs soient mieux identifiés
et que ceux-ci puissent mettre en œuvre une capacité d’organisation mutualisée.
J’annonce aujourd’hui la création d’un centre de ressources dédié à la politique sociale du
tourisme, au service des acteurs du secteur mais aussi des décideurs de niveau national et
territorial.
Ce centre de ressources concernera bien sûr l’ensemble du champ du tourisme social que ce
soient les publics, les acteurs associatifs et du secteur social, les pouvoirs publics, les comités
d’entreprise, sans oublier le secteur marchand.
Ce centre de ressources aura pour mission prioritaire d’accroitre la connaissance des
composantes et des acteurs de la politique sociale du tourisme. Une base de données
dématérialisée et un portail Internet accessibles à tous seront des outils pertinents en la matière.
Une des premières missions de ce centre sera de conduire une analyse d’ensemble sur le
patrimoine du tourisme social, préalable indispensable à la déclinaison d’une politique.
Le centre de ressources permettra aussi de valoriser l’importance de la politique sociale du
tourisme.
La valorisation est en effet déterminante pour assurer la pérennité d’une politique sociale du
tourisme, et surtout élargir son assise.
Le centre de ressources aura également pour mission la formation et la diffusion des savoir-faire
dans un secteur marqué par la dispersion des acteurs.
Je souhaite que l’ANCV assure le démarrage de ce projet largement participatif.
Vous le voyez, Madame et Messieurs, mon ambition, notre ambition commune est grande. Les
trois orientations que je viens d’indiquer ne sauraient a elles seules se résumer la politique
sociale du tourisme que nous voulons pour notre pays. D’autres pistes restent à approfondir. Et
je veux que le Comité de Pilotage mis en place à l’occasion de la concertation avec l’ensemble
des acteurs continue de se réunir régulièrement.
Cette grande ambition pour le Tourisme social en France rejoint ainsi, comme il était naturel de le
faire, la grande ambition que nous portons collectivement pour le développement des activités
touristiques en France. Je vous remercie.
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Annex 2: Definitions of social tourism accommodation facilities
Village de vacances (Holiday resort): Holidays resorts in France are tourism
accommodation facilities opened to all kinds of targets without any specific conditions,
offering packages consisting of accommodation, meals and sport and cultural activities.
Holiday resorts can offer one to three options: renting (full-equipped separate flat with
access to the services of the resort), half-board (accommodation with two meals), fullboard (accommodation with three meals). Holidays resorts consist of individual or group
accommodation facilities, management and services premises, shared sport and play
activity facilities and activities for adults (discovery, sports and cultural activities) and
children on a unique place.
Centre d’hébergement de jeunes (Youth Accommodation Centre): Youth
Accommodation Centres are dedicated to accommodate independent young adults (16 to
30 years old, individual or groups, French or foreigners, schoolchildren, sportsmen,
trainees…). Accommodation structures are often managed by associations offering
standard accommodation with an educational approach. There are two main networks :
Youth hostels offer accommodation in common rooms or dormitories, simple
catering service or individual kitchen, programs and activities.
International stay centres (CIS) are dedicated both to accommodation and
catering and cultural exchanges. These kinds of structures thus have important
common spaces for exchanges: little rooms, playrooms, welcome room, night
clubs… Educational action is in the heart of the project: education to international
citizenship, social mix of targets of all origins…
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Annex 3: Presentation of ANCV (National Holiday Vouchers Agency)
The ‘Agence Nationale pour les Chèques-Vacances’ (ANCV) was set up in
1982 as a ‘public body with industrial and commercial character’ to issue
and control the holiday vouchers. It has now become a major social
tourism policy tool with the mission to encourage holiday and leisure for all. The Secretary of
State for Tourism announced the development of the social missions of ANCV, its involvement in
a fund dedicated to the renovation of social tourism structures and in an information centre on
social tourism measures and stakeholders (see annex 1).
Depending on the Minister of Economy, Industry and Employment and the Secretary of State in
charge of Tourism, the ANCV is administered by a council of 23 members representing social
partners, local authorities, State, and experts.
The ANCV has two complementary tools of action:
The ‘chèque-vacances’ (holiday voucher) dedicated to employees is a specific payment tool
given under social conditions and accepted in 160,000 spots in the fields of accommodation,
catering, travels, culture, sport and leisure activities. In 2008 3.06 million people had access
to holiday vouchers, which represents 1.2 billion euro. The 19,000 customers of the ANCV are
works councils and social committees of local authorities.
The social programs dedicated to targets facing difficulties.
ANCV social programs are dedicated to families, young adults, disabled people and seniors facing
difficulties to go on holiday. This action is financed by surplus of holiday vouchers after taxes.
‘Aides aux projets vacances’ (Support for holiday projects) are financial supports given in
holiday vouchers form to about forty social partners. Specific supports for sport activities for
disabled and young people with difficulties also exist. In 2008 43,000 people were given
financial supports, equivalent to 6.5 million euro.
‘Bourse solidarité vacances’ (Solidarity holiday grant) concerns independent families with
financial difficulties. The ANCV contracts partnerships with tourist professionals and works
councils in order to offer low-fare stays to a network of local authorities and associations.
‘Seniors en vacances’ program (Seniors in holiday) aims at breaking the isolation of senior
citizens giving them the opportunity to go on holiday. The ANCV collects offers of stay
packages (excluding transportation) of 8 days/7 nights at a price of 360 euro excluding July
and August periods. These stays are offered to project leaders (local authorities, social
centres) who constitute groups of seniors or to individuals who register directly to the ANCV.
For non-taxable people, the ANCV takes in charge half of the cost of the stay. Moreover this
program gives the opportunity to the person accompanying someone disabled or in a
situation of dependency to benefit from the support of the ANCV, and to the groups to assist
thematic trainings on health, nutrition,… In 2008 3063 people participated to this program
and among them 85% benefited from a financial support.
The support to tourism amenities is given to social tourism associations, hotels and camp
sites with a social tourism policy. This funding is used for modernization, accessibility for
disabled people, adaptation to sustainable development or extension of the accommodation
facilities.
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Annex 4: “Tourisme et Handicap” label
The free access to holidays, sports, and to any other leisure, is
a major factor of social integration and of personal wellbeing
for people with a handicap of any kind.
These people and their families wish to lead an autonomous
life. For them, to have access to all the tourist activities and
amenities is together a social and economic factor.
At the moment, the number of people suffering from any deficiency (motor,
Sensory or mental) is nearly 40% from the French population, which means 22 million people
(elderly, people temporarily unable to move, people with cardiac, kidneys or respiratory
deficiencies). In providing the guarantee of adapted services, the association ‘Tourisme et
Handicap’, as well as its label, is an answer to the handicapped people’s request who want to be
able to choose their holidays and have access to cultural events, entertainments, on their own,
with their families or their friends like everybody and with everybody.
Tourisme & Handicap is a national label developed since 2001 by the Delegated Ministry of
Tourism. The purpose of this label is to bring reliable, consistent and objective information
regarding the accessibility of the tourist places and facilities for people with any kind of deficiency
(motor, sight, hearing, mental). By favouring an adapted tourist offer, the Label will allow the
emergence of tourist products and services available to everyone, ensuring a maximum
autonomy to each one. The Label enhances the efforts of the people working in the tourist
industry as regards the accessibility and the welcome of specific customers. It appeals to all
those who wish to open their places to a larger kind of clientele.
Accommodation : hotels, holiday villages, family accommodation, guest rooms, centres for
young people, youth hostel, tourist residences, board and lodging, camping sites….;
Catering: restaurants, bars, cafeterias, country inn….;
Tourist sites: monuments, art galleries, museum, castles, panoramas, parks, gardens…
Leisure sites: parks, gardens, theatres, sports equipment, swimming pools and sea side
facilities, gymnasium….
It is a voluntary process from those working in the tourist industry wishing to ensure,
permanently, that the handicapped people should have a reception of quality.
They must address their request to the regional Authority for the attribution of the Logo ‘Tourism
& Handicap’ installed by the regional delegate to the tourism.
First, each professional interested, will receive a questionnaire to fill, giving an estimation of the
quality of access of its equipment for the different kinds of handicaps (motor, sight, hearing,
mental). If this self-estimation is positive, the professional can commit himself either in a process
of adapting his facilities, with, eventually, the support of competent services or specialised
associations, or going directly into the process of obtaining the Label. The obtaining of the label
will require testing the equipment by experts coming from the tourist industry and associations of
handicapped people. They do their assessment following a scale of ‘Tourisme et Handicap’
evaluation set up according to national references. After viewing the conclusion, the regional
commission will give a favourable opinion for one or more handicaps and will propose it for the
Label ‘Tourisme et Handicap’.
The objective of the criteria retained is to identify the structures where tourists could make use of
all the services at their disposal, as much in autonomy as possible for each case of handicap.
Once the diagnosis is established, the regional Authority will examine the report from the experts
taking into account not only the regulations but also the human side and common sense.
The association ‘Tourisme et Handicaps’ gives the label and presents a “charter” of commitments,
contract of obligations, which will guarantee permanently the access of the site and its
preservation. The label can be given for one, two, three or four handicaps (motor, sight, hearing,
mental), for which is associated a specific pictogram.
It is given for 5 years maximum, which can be renewed after checking that the criteria of access
and reception are maintained. The association ‘Tourisme et Handicaps’ ensures the national unity
of the system. It is several years now that the people working in the tourist industry have been
made aware of the necessity of proper access to disabled people, on the holiday and tourist sites.
This label is first of all, an answer to the request from handicapped people who would
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like to be able to choose their holidays, to have access to cultural events, tourist
attractions, on their own, with their families or their friends, as they wish, like
everybody and with everybody. It gives them the guarantee of an efficient and adapted
reception.
It is also an answer to people working in tourist industry who wish to make known their
services to the handicapped customers. The professional who commits himself in the
process of obtaining the label does it to ensure the quality of its equipment and its
accessibility. But his commitment is also an economic process for a market still largely
unexploited. The label is for him a European competitive advantage.
Thanks to the association ‘Tourisme et Handicaps’, the label was presented in conferences and
abroad, in particular in Quebec and Rio de Janeiro, where the label is experimented. The
association is a member of the BITS ‘Tourism and Handicap’ working group and takes part in the
findings.
Statistics based on the 3,658 structures which have received a favourable opinion from
the national commission for the awarding of the Label Tourism et Handicap, at the date of
December 2009. 17% of these touristic sites have obtained the label for the 4 types of
handicaps. All sites having been awarded the label are mentioned on the website
www.franceguide.com (official web portal of French tourism). More information is available on the
website of the association: www.tourisme-handicaps.org.
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Annex 5: French works councils
Definition:
Institution of employee representation, compulsory since 1945 in enterprises with more than 50
employees. Possessing legal personality, the works council in France is a collegiate body
composed not only of employee members elected by the workforce but also of the head of the
enterprise (who chairs the council and takes part in certain votes) and of representatives
appointed by the trade unions (who act in a purely consultative capacity). Its position in the
enterprise is singular: it has charge of company welfare and cultural facilities; the law invests it
with only consultative powers in regard to employer initiatives concerning the organization and
management of the enterprise; and other than in the case of profit-sharing agreements, it
possesses no formal bargaining power. In practice, the dividing line between consultation, which
is the prerogative of the works council, and collective bargaining, which is the prerogative of the
representative trade unions, is a very fine one. Numerous agreements, formal or otherwise, are
concluded between the head of an enterprise and the works council, and the courts accord these
a certain legal force, at the least as unilateral undertakings on the part of the employer.
The institution is a complex one. It is a counterweight to managerial prerogatives, yet also
enables their exercise to be rationalized. It is a complement to union power, yet is also virtually
its competitor.
Works councils and social tourism:
Works councils play an important part in social tourism. They built, bought or invested in
association projects with a counterpart in reserved beds for their employees. They have also
contracted with private tourism stakeholders of all kinds. They are very involved in children and
teenagers holidays: specific educational programmes, training of youth leaders, selection of
hosting structures… Each works council has its own policy in terms of holidays for employees.
The example of the SNCF works council (National railway company):
The holiday policy of the SNCF works council is to allow the maximum number of rail workers to
go on holiday, by means of financial support depending on tax code, grants and specific supports.
The offer is dedicated to families and young people between 18 and 25 and children between 4
and 17 years old. It concerns travels and stays abroad, stays in France (in priority in the 12
houses and holiday resorts managed by the SNCF works council) and a selection of organizations
giving advantages to all rail workers. For children and youth, specific thematic activities are
proposed.
The workers pay their parts with holiday vouchers; some centres accept family credit offices
vouchers. Young workers benefit from an extra grant of 200 euro once a year.
What is the family quotient?
Most of the financial supports given by public and private authorities – family credit offices and
works councils for example - are based on the family quotient. It corresponds to:
(1/12 of annual taxable income + family benefits received per month)/number of parts (=unit
depending on the number of children under 20).
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Annex 6: French trade unions
Excerpts from the report “Consultation on Tourism and Holiday Activities for Workers”, International Bureau
of Social Tourism, Brussels, May 2005
Trade unions also have longstanding traditions in the field of social tourism. The most important
are CFDT and CGT.
French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT)
The broad guiding lines of the CFDT action in the field of holidays and tourism are:
•
•
•
•
right to holidays for all and in particular for underprivileged families;
making holidays a means of mixing socially and opening up towards the others ;
encouraging a tourism that is a source of local development and regional planning,
especially in the rural areas and in medium mountains;
fully respect the dignity and rights of employees in the field of tourism, especially
seasonal workers, notably through an informed choice of tour operator.
The CFDT chose not to invest in holiday infrastructure. The only exception is a training centre in
Île-de-France (Essonne). During school time, this centre accommodates at week-ends employees
on group trips to Paris or Eurodisneyland with their employees’ committee.
The CFDT is very involved in the political management of the UNCOVAC association (of which it is
a founding member), whose mission is to organize holiday trips for employees’ committees.
Uncovac manages the contributions from works committees that guarantee their members a
priority access to numerous holiday villages. Uncovac, whose goal is to help employees to go on
holidays, has about 500 employees’ and related committees. Uncovac, the main partner of the
CFDT in the field of holidays and tourism, enables its members to offer a varied range of holidays
to the employees of the companies: 230 holiday destinations or trips in France or abroad with
prices adapted to the wages of the employees.
The CFDT confederation has greatly contributed to the creation of three other services offered by
Uncovac to employees’ committees:
•
•
•
the “TANDEM” solidarity operation that, through contributions from employees’
committees and from numerous social tourism associations, allows hundreds of
marginalized families to go on holidays each year.
“Autrement” trips: half a dozen of foreign destinations are offered to employees’
committees via Uncovac.
short domestic stays: through this new service from Uncovac (Pass Escapade) the
CFDT met the increasing demand from employees benefiting from the reduction of
working time (especially since the 35 hours-week law).
Beyond these three services, Uncovac wishes to develop “European stays”. In this context it is
therefore looking for possible partners among EU trade union confederations and associations
managing holiday infrastructure.
General Confederation of Labour (CGT)
The General Confederation of Labour (CGT) assembles 700,000 union members in 22,000
regional sections or trade unions, who find with these structures the necessary mutual aid and
cooperation for their activities.
In September 1985 the CGT and its federations have created the association ANCAV-TT. It is a
social tourism association, which carries out activities with affiliate members (employees’
committees, related associations and joint owners of holiday villages) in order to give everybody
access to quality holidays. Together with its members and Touristra, a partner in the service of
social tourism, they constitute a social tourism unit. About 2500 employees’ committees and
1-5
organizations take part in the activities offered by Touristra and the 30 social tourism
associations of the Ancav network. There is a broad range of activities on offer:
More than 300 employees’ committees, equivalent organizations and bodies are joint owner of 14
holiday villages. The property is made up of 7 mountain and 7 seaside villages, which total 7,400
beds, including 3,800 full board pensions and 3,600 in gîtes. 76,000 people benefit from 700,000
days of vacation.
The joint ownerships of employees’ committees offer stays (clubs 300), trips abroad, short-term
and nearby activities, cultural and thematic ventures.
Touristra is a limited company, exclusively at the service of social tourism. It develops its
activity in the framework of a partnership with the social tourism unit. Its mission is to promote
holiday villages, jointly owned by the employees’ committees. It manages holiday infrastructure
on behalf of the organizations. Touristra organizes holidays and trips abroad for the employees’
committees and associations: a total of 1,300,00 days of vacation in France and 140,000 people
who went abroad.
1-6
Annex 7: Vacances Ouvertes, an organisation supporting the holidays of youth and
families
Vacances Ouvertes est une association Loi 1901, agréée par le
ministère de la Jeunesse et des Sports et membre de l'Union
nationale des associations de tourisme (UNAT).
Sa vocation : favoriser l'accès aux vacances des personnes qui en
sont exclues.
Vacances Ouvertes intervient sur l'accompagnement des acteurs du secteur social et n'aide donc
pas directement le grand public. Ayant pour objectif de rétablir des passerelles entre l'action
sociale et le tourisme associatif, Vacances Ouvertes propose :
•
un financement : attribution de bourses sous forme de Chèques-Vacances pour les
projets de départs,
•
un pilotage : cadrage et suivi des structures associatives, mise à disposition de
ressources méthodologiques et matérielles,
•
une expertise : offre de formation, conseil en ingénierie de dispositifs, études
thématiques.
Vacances Ouvertes dispose de trois types d’aides en faveur de différentes cibles de clientèles :
•
L’aide au départ en vacances familiales
Un appel à projets annuel, l'Appel à Projets Familles, pour aider les familles, adultes
isolés... qui souhaitent partir. Ce sont environ 280 projets qui sont suivis, co-financés et
évalués chaque année, permettant à près de 10 000 personnes de partir en vacances.
Chaque année, Vacances Ouvertes soutient des projets de vacances portés par des structures
associatives et municipales en direction de familles et/ou adultes seuls qui ne partiraient pas
sans une aide. Les structures répondant à l'Appel à Projets "Partir en Vacances en Famille"
doivent adhérer à Vacances Ouvertes. Cet appel à projets est soutenu par l'Agence Nationale
pour les Chèques-Vacances (ANCV)
Le soutien de Vacances Ouvertes est d'ordre :
-
financier : cette aide, versée sous forme de Chèques-Vacances de l'ANCV, est
apportée en complément de celle d'autres financeurs que vous devrez solliciter
(et qui devront figurer sur votre budget prévisionnel).
-
méthodologique : des ateliers d'échange de pratiques et d'aide au montage de
projets vacances sont organisés pour les animateurs, travailleurs sociaux salariés
ou bénévoles représentant les structures.
Si la structure est en Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Aquitaine, Picardie ou Poitou-Charentes, cette aide
est attribuée dans le cadre d'un partenariat entre Vacances Ouvertes et le Conseil régional.
Dans le cadre de partenariats avec deux associations jumelles en Belgique (Toerisme
Vlaanderen) et en Grande-Bretagne (Family Holiday), Vacances Ouvertes a initié une
opération de départ en vacances à l’étranger de familles. En 2006, 5 familles françaises de
Nord-Pas-de-Calais sont venues passer une semaine sur la côte anglaise, tandis que 5
familles anglaises sont venues en séjour au FIAP de Paris. Ces séjours ont été organisés
hors-saison. Cette initiative a été renouvelée, elle concerne un nombre très faible de familles.
1-7
•
L’aide au départ autonome des jeunes
Que ce soit par le biais du dispositif Sac Ados, mis en place avec les collectivités, ou par
l’organisation d’un système de bourses vacances avec les missions locales et quelques foyers
jeunes travailleurs qui aident au départ des jeunes dans l’opération Parcours Vacances, il
s’agit toujours d’aider des jeunes à réaliser leurs premières vacances en autonomie.
L'opération Sac Ados vise le départ des jeunes généralement exclus des vacances, et qui ne
partiraient pas sans un accompagnement technique (des animateurs et travailleurs sociaux)
et une aide financière. Le dispositif propose à ses partenaires un ensemble d’outils « clé en
main » sous forme de pack comprenant :
-
pour les jeunes, d’une bourse d’aide au départ sous forme d’un Sac Ados
individuel comprenant des valeurs à hauteur de 130 euros
-
pour les référents, de supports méthodologiques d’aide à la conception et au
montage de projet.
L’originalité de ce dispositif se situe dans le partenariat qu’il suscite
entre les différents acteurs locaux. Les collectivités ou CAF qui initient
le projet utilisent le dispositif au service de leur politique jeunesse. Les
acteurs de terrain, partenaires et relais du dispositif auprès du public,
interviennent sur l’accompagnement et la sélection des jeunes.
Vacances Ouvertes assure des formations et des ateliers d’échange de
pratiques auprès de tous ces acteurs.
Mis en place dans 26 départements auprès de 450 structures, ce
dispositif a permis en 2009 de faire partir plus de 4 200 jeunes.
Ce dispositif a également été expérimenté pour des voyages de jeunes en Europe dans le
cadre d’un partenariat avec le Conseil Général de l’Essonne (cf. case study).
Le dispositif Parcours Vacances a pour objectif de :
-
Permettre aux jeunes engagés dans un parcours
d’insertion d’élaborer et de concrétiser un projet de
vacances autonomes
-
Inscrire les jeunes dans une démarche de projet
-
Favoriser l’acquisition de savoir-faire et compétences transposables dans la vie
quotidienne et dans la recherche d’emploi : organisation, anticipation,
construction et gestion d’un budget...
Les jeunes sélectionnés par les structures relais reçoivent une aide individuelle d’un montant
de 180 euros en Chèques-Vacances utilisable auprès de 135 000 prestataires du secteur
touristique (hébergement, transport, restauration, activités culturelles ou sportives…). Cette
aide financière est apportée par l’Agence Nationale pour les Chèques-Vacances.
Depuis 2002, grâce à cette initiative relayée par 120 Missions Locales et 60 FJT, plus de 10
000 jeunes ont pu préparer et vivre un séjour en autonomie.
•
L'aide au départ en vacances des aidants familiaux
Une réflexion a été menée à partir de 2006 sur la Région Poitou-Charentes autour de la
question de l'accès aux vacances des aidants familiaux. Elle a été suivie d'une
expérimentation du dispositif dès 2008. En 2010, grâce à l'aide de la Fondation de France,
Vacances Ouvertes développe ce dispositif à l'échelon national.
1-8
Vacances Ouvertes propose à toute structure :
-
une aide financière, versée en chèques vacances grâce à son partenariat avec
l’Agence Nationale pour les Chèques-Vacances, sous conditions.
-
une aide méthodologique au montage de projets
En 2010, peuvent être soutenus les projets de vacances individuels ou collectifs, accompagnés
par des professionnels / bénévoles, ou non :
-
avec des aidants, et/ou les personnes aidées, et/ou les autres membres de leur
famille
-
prévoyant des départs d’au moins 4 nuits en France à toute période de l’année
-
ayant un coût maximum de 68 euros par jour et par personne (transport,
alimentation, hébergement, loisirs et assurances)
1-9
Annex 8 : Thermal spa in France
Le thermalisme s’est développé en France sur le modèle médical avec remboursement de la
Sécurité Sociale. Le thermalisme peut se définir comme l’ensemble des moyens médicaux,
sociaux, sanitaires, administratifs et d’accueil, mis en œuvre pour l’utilisation, à des fins
thérapeutiques, des eaux minérales et thermales, des gaz thermaux et des boues. Le mot
«thermalisme» implique que soit utilisée une eau dont les vertus curatives sont reconnues (effets
chimiques, thermiques et mécaniques) par le corps médical.
12 orientations thérapeutiques sont retenues pour une prise en charge. Mais, parmi celles-ci, la
rhumatologie et les troubles respiratoires représentent la grande majorité des cures thermales
(84% des prises en charge).
En France, pour être prise en charge par l’assurance maladie, la cure thermale doit
obligatoirement être prescrite par un médecin ou un chirurgien-dentiste. Toute cure commence
donc par une consultation du médecin, celui-ci préconise le traitement, les eaux à utiliser, et
donc la station où effectuer sa cure.
La durée de prise en charge d’une cure thermale est fixée à 18 jours de traitement. Le montant
de la prise en charge est de 70% des forfaits de surveillance médicale et des pratiques médicales
complémentaires et de 65% du forfait thermal. Ces forfaits sont fixés sur la base de tarifs
conventionnels. Selon les ressources de l’assuré, les frais de déplacement et d’hébergement
peuvent être pris en charge.
Modalités de prise en charge des cures thermales en France, en 2009 :
La part de l’activité des établissements thermaux prise en charge est importante. Selon le Conseil
national des exploitants thermaux (CNETh), les cures thermales remboursées par l’Assurance
maladie représentent 74% du chiffre d’affaires total de ces établissements.
La France compte 108 stations thermales, et 112 établissements habilités par le Ministère de la
Santé à dispenser des cures thermales. Une dizaine de ces stations ne sont pas en activité.
Ces stations sont réparties dans une quarantaine de départements, avec une concentration
particulière au sud-est d’une ligne Metz-Bordeaux, c’est à dire dans les massifs montagneux et
leurs bordures. Les deux-tiers d’entre-elles sont situées dans 5 régions Aquitaine, LanguedocRoussillon, Rhône-Alpes, Midi-Pyrénées et Auvergne.
Les deux indications thérapeutiques principales, rhumatologie et troubles respiratoires, sont
traitées respectivement dans 87 et 38 stations. Chaque station traite en moyenne deux
indications thérapeutiques.
1-10
En 2008, le nombre de curistes accueillis s’est élevé à 492 331 représentant 8 805 571 journées
de cures. Il faudrait ajouter à ces chiffres les consommateurs de cure thermale libre et de séjours
de santé au nombre de 65 772, ce qui correspond à 324 000 journées, ainsi que la clientèle des
accompagnants évaluée à 250 000 personnes.
La fréquentation est orientée à la baisse depuis plusieurs années : entre 2000 et 2006, le nombre
de curistes a baissé de 9,56%, soit une perte de 52 150 curistes, de 1 043 000 de journées de
cure représentant un chiffre d’affaires de 73 M€. Entre 2006 et 2008, la chute s’est ralentie, avec
une baisse de 1,46%. La demande de cures thermales émane essentiellement des départements
où sont implantées les stations, et des départements limitrophes. La demande de soins
spécifiques est induite par l’existence même d’une offre de soins de proximité.
En outre, la part de la clientèle étrangère est infime, elle représente 1 % de la clientèle totale en
2008.
En termes de typologie du public des cures thermales, selon une étude de la Sécurité Sociale
datant de 2008 : 58% sont des femmes, un tiers des curistes, probablement de jeunes retraités,
sont âgés de 60 à 69 ans. Si l’on ajoute la tranche d’âge des 70 à 79 ans, cette proportion passe
à 60%. Les curistes de plus de 60 ans génèrent 68% des dépenses des cures alors qu’ils
représentent moins de 21% de la population et 47,2% des dépenses remboursées. En outre, ils
bénéficient de 64% des cures en raison principalement de troubles rhumatismaux, de troubles
affectant les voies respiratoires ou relevant de la phlébologie.
Les enfants et les jeunes de moins de 20 ans sont, quant à eux, concernés par 7% des cures et
sont soignés pour d’autres types d’affections : celles des voies respiratoires ou dans une moindre
mesure, des affections relevant de la dermatologie. Ils génèrent près de 2% des dépenses de
cures thermales alors qu’ils représentent 25% de la population.
La stratégie du secteur thermal français est au recentrage sur les métiers de base du
thermalisme, ou en tout cas à la diversification à l’intérieur du thermalisme autour de 4 axes :
•
adopter une approche innovante en matière de besoins/services, prenant en compte les
mutations des marchés, le nouvel environnement économique et social, du secteur, et
s’appuyant sur une vision prospective des modes de mise en marché, avec le rôle
prééminent d’Internet, et du e-thermalisme ;
•
profiter d’un atout unique des stations thermales, avec la concentration du personnel
médical et paramédical, et le savoir-faire reconnu dans l’accueil des seniors (la clientèle
thermale est en majorité âgée de plus de 65 ans) ;
•
réactualiser et réaffirmer le rôle préventif et d’éducation sanitaire des stations thermales,
et développer des services innovants à distance, et tout au long de l’année ;
•
enfin, privilégier un nouveau modèle de développement en phase avec les évolutions
démographiques, et notamment le vieillissement de la population, et concevoir de
nouvelles
offres
d’immobilier
et
d’hébergement
en
phase
avec
les
attentes/handicaps/contraintes des seniors : accessibilité, ergonomie, services,
et
intégrant les nouveaux services d’aide à la personne âgée.
1-11
Annex 9 : Exemples d’aides au départ en vacances accordées par les régions françaises
Source : Etude sur le tourisme social et associatif menée par Détente Consultants pour le compte de la
Direction du tourisme et de l’ANCV
1-12
1-13
Annex 10: Calendrier des vacances scolaires 2009-2010
1-14
LIST OF INTERVIEWEES
Name of the
interviewee
Position
Type of
organisa
tion
Interview
date
Public
authority
15/03/2010
Public
authority
Public
authority
15/03/2010
NGO
NGO
NGO
NGO
17/02/2010
Déléguée générale
UNAT
Caritas France
Secours Populaire
Vacances ouvertes
08/02/2010
10/02/2010
Délégué général
Ethic Etapes
Private
05/02/2010
Présidente
Responsable du
réseau culture et
loisirs
Tourisme et Handicaps
Restos du coeur
NGO
NGO
17/02/2010
11/03/2010
Laurence
Dermenonville
Chef du bureau des
clientèles touristiques
Philippe Kaspi
Directeur général
Rémy Charousset
Conseiller pour le
développement de la
politique sociale du
tourisme
Déléguée générale
Président national
Christine Bouyet
François Soulage
Marc Castille
Marie-Magdeleine
Hilaire
Jean-François
Simon
Annette Masson
Soraya Saït
Organisation
Ministère de
l’économie, de
l’Industrie et de
l’Emploi – Sousdirection du tourisme
ANCV
ANCV
LIST OF STRUCTURES CONTACTED BY EMAILS
Private stakeholders:
Organisation
Name
Surname
Position
Fédération unie des auberges de jeunesse
(FUAJ)
Alliance nationale des UCJG - YMCA France
Agnès
Lahouel
Marc
Lehning
Jeunesse au plein air (JPA)
Jacques
Henrard
Secrétaire général
La ligue de l'enseignement
Jacques
Chauvin
Ligue française des auberges de jeunesse
Monique
Bonnenfant
Chargé de mission
vacances
Secrétaire générale
CNAJEP (éducation populaire)
Magali
Verdier
Chargée de projets
OFAJ
Heike
Hartmann
Union nationale des centres sportifs de
plein air (UCPA)
Damien
Jacquart
Association nationale Vacances mutualistes
(ANVM)
Cap France
Jean-Claude
Nérisson
Responsable des
jumelages
Chargé de mission
relations
institutionnelles
Président
Jean-Michel
Coeffe
Directeur
Secrétaire général
Président
Fédération nationale Léo Lagrange (FNLL)
Yves
Blein
Loisirs Vacances Tourisme (LVT)
Alain
Le Fur
Président
Vacances et familles
Stanley
Jacquet
Délégué général
VVF Villages
Patrick
Brault
Délégué général
Fédération nationale des aînés ruraux
Maguy
Bouhin
Déléguée générale
Les Petits Frères des Pauvres
Armelle
Guilhermet
Vacances bleues
Alain
Digeon
Responsable des
partenariats
Restos du cœur
Soraya
Sait
Villages Club du Soleil
Alex
Nicola
Directeur général
Association des paralysés de France
Noëlle
Pirony
UFCV
Luc
Cazenave
Responsable conseil et
aides aux vacances
Directeur général
1-15
Regional authorities and associations:
Region
Nord Pas de Calais
Lorraine
Rhône Alpes
Midi-Pyrénées
PACA
Languedoc-Roussillon
Alsace
Institution
Name
Surname
Conseil régional / tourisme
Matthieu
Herman
DRT
Nathalie
Thieuleux
UNAT
Pascal
Sarpeaux
Conseil régional/Europe
Vincent
Van der Poorten
Conseil régional
Emilie
Masson
UNAT
Pierre
Charles
DRT
Jean-Marie
François
Conseil régional
Caroline
Barnay
UNAT
Frédéric
Prelle
DRT
Jean
Mathis
Conseil régional
Stéphane
Beyrand
UNAT
Georges
Glandières
DRT
Francis
Giora
Conseil régional/programmes européens
Conseil régional
Laurent
Greffeuille
UNAT
Yannick
Gallien
DRT
Dominique
Salomon
Conseil régional
Magali
Ferrand
UNAT
Gérard
Calas
DRT
Alain
Dudicourt
Conseil régional
Jean-Claude
Petit
DRT
Georges
Klaerr-Blanchard
UNAT
Philippe
Engel
Conseil régional Europe
Champagne Ardenne
Picardie
Aquitaine
Auvergne
Basse-Normandie
Bourgogne
Bretagne
Franche-Comté
Haute-Normandie
Ile de France
DRT
Hélène
Berthaut
UNAT
Safi
Kada
Service aménagement du territoire
Didier
Breton
Service tourisme
Fabien
Roche
UNAT
Jacques
Estienne
DRT
M-Françoise
Salon
DRT
Marielle
Mallet
UNAT
Yves
Audion
Service tourisme - unité Europe
Florence
Bouteau
DRT
François
Martin
UNAT
Jean-Michel
Barreyre
DRT
Marcel
Stephan
UNAT
Yvon
Bonnet
DRT
Henri
Iniesta
UNAT
Thierry
Soreau
DRT
Laurent
Goedfroy
UNAT
Alain
Le Fur
UNAT
Pierre-Charles
Harry
DRT
Patrice
Du Boulet
UNAT
Véronique
Lorenzelli
DRT
Brigitte
Rince
DRT
Mladen
Duspara
UNAT
François
Henrion
1-16
Limousin
Pays de la Loire
Poitou Charentes
DRT
Jean-Claude
Devos
UNAT
Bernard
Pouméroulie
DRT
Jean
Berthier
UNAT
Louis
Basdevant
DRT
Jean-Marie
Mocquet
UNAT
Philippe
Moretti
1-17
List of documents
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Etude sur les structures du tourisme social et associatif – Rapport réalisé pour l’ANCV et
la Direction du tourisme, 2008
ANCV – Rapport annuel 2008
Jean Pierre Marcon, Le tourisme associatif en milieu rural, source de développement local
et de cohésion sociale, Conseil économique et social, 2006
Claude Blaho-Poncet, Michelle Cabanis, Luc Greffier, Tourisme, économie sociale et
solidaire : du tourisme social originel vers de nouvelles valeurs et pratiques, CNT
(octobre 2004)
Marie-Magdeleine Hilaire, Coordonner et optimiser les aides au départ en vacances des
familles, CNT (2004)
Rapport sur l’avenir des équipements du tourisme social et associatif, Unat, 2005
Un tourisme associatif ambitieux, Unat, 2006
Le tourisme associatif, une réalité économique et sociale, Unat, 2006
Gilles Caire, Les associations françaises de tourisme social face aux politiques
européennes, 2006
Temps des familles, temps des enfants : des espaces de loisirs, Conférence de la famille,
2007
Françoise Potier, Josette Sicsic, Synthèse des connaissances sur les vacances et les
temps libres des familles, des enfants et des jeunes, 2004
Jacques Chauvin, Le tourisme social et associatif en France, acteur majeur de l’économie
sociale, éditions l’Harmattan, 2002
1-18
GOOD PRACTICE DESCRIPTIONS
French “Chèques-vacances” (Holiday vouchers)
Name of the expert
Marion Doublet
conducting research
Country
France
Respondents/informants
Agence nationale pour les Chèques Vacances (National Holiday
Vouchers Agency)
Target group involved:
Description of
mechanism:
The main target group of the “chèque-vacances” are employees
from firms with affiliated social partners (recently open to firms with
less than 50 employees) or public bodies. Everyone is concerned
whatever the level of income. In 2008 19,795 works councils and
social action committees of public authorities were customers of the
ANCV.
Within the framework of ANCV social action, the tool was extended
to people facing financial difficulties selected by a network of
charitable associations (“Aides aux projets vacances”). The
concerned targets are :
•
Children in residential classes
•
Families with difficulties
•
Young people from 18 to 25 years old and isolated adults
•
Disabled people or suffering from serious illness and
accompanying persons in some cases
•
Seniors
This support system is dedicated to people with low revenue and/or
in a fragile social or medical situation.
The “chèque-vacances” is a national mechanism created in 1982 and
managed by the ANCV. The ANCV is « public body with industrial
and commercial character » created to issue and control the holiday
vouchers. It has now become a major social tourism policy tool with
the mission to encourage holiday and leisure for all.
The “cheque-vacances” is a personal support to holiday and leisure.
The social partners (works councils and social action committees )
who have contracted with the ANCV give their targets holiday
vouchers corresponding to the amount of 10 or 20 euro. A voucher
is available 2 years and can be used in a network of 160,000
tourism stakeholders in France:
•
Accommodation facilities of all kinds including main national
chains (Accor, Club Med, VVF…) – 45.7%
•
Catering of all kinds – 26%
•
Travel and transportation: tolls, travel agencies, renting of
tourism cars, airplane, sea and train transportation – 4%
•
Cultural activities: monuments, museums, theatre, cinema,
concerts…-4.3%
•
Leisure activities: attraction parks, sports activities,…-18.3%
•
Other: 1.7%
The website www.ancv.fr gives a list of the 160,000 spots where the
“chèques-vacances” are accepted. A “discount” heading also
proposes special last-minute offers of stays. The tourist spots are
concentrated in the most attractive tourist region of France.
1-19
In 2008 it concerned 3.06 millions of holiday vouchers holders
(about 7 million people) corresponding to a global volume of 1.2
billion euro.
The average amount of holiday vouchers per home is 400 euro,
mainly used for accommodation, travels and catering. Average
holiday stays for holiday vouchers holders is 13 days.
Through the “Aides aux projets vacances”, ANCV supports the stays
(more than 4 consecutive nights) of people with difficulties. Support
is given in holiday vouchers to 36 charitable associations, for
example Secours Populaire, Restos du Coeur, Vacances Ouvertes…
The holiday plans of the beneficiaries can be individual stays or in
groups, with or without an accompanying person and for a minimum
of 4 consecutive nights. The cost of the stay cannot be higher than
85 euro per night and person.
In 2008 43,000 people were given financial supports, equivalent to
6.5 million euro.
1-20
Handling of target group
needs:
Holiday vouchers can be used in various tourism and leisure spots:
accommodation, catering, sport leisure, cultural activities,
transportation in France, including spots or activities for disabled
people (with “Tourisme et Handicap” label) and families (social
tourism accommodation facilities like Villages de vacances).
Description of support
mechanisms
ANCV is responsible for emission of holiday vouchers given to its
customers (social partners). The social partners give the vouchers to
the employees and determine themselves the level of participation
and the attribution conditions. The employees use the vouchers in
the 160,000 tourism and leisure spots which have contracted with
the ANCV.
The surplus of “chèques vacances” (unused) is used by the ANCV for
its social action and specifically for the “Aides aux projets vacances”
support mechanism. Unused holiday vouchers are given to about 40
charitable associations who offer them to their targets. Moreover the
ANCV gives financial subsidies to the associations in order to support
the management and coordination of local partners.
Description of funding
mechanisms:
For the traditional “chèque-vacances” mechanism, the financing of
holiday vouchers is made either with :
•
employees’ saving scheme : the employees constitute a
budget for holidays in a period of maximum 12 months
(53% of the emission volume of vouchers)
•
a contribution from the employees: part of the budget is
financed by works councils (26%)
•
donation without any contribution of the employees (23%)
1-21
Lessons learned
For the firms, the holiday vouchers are deductible from taxable
benefits under certain conditions. For firms with less than 50
employees, the « chèque-vacances » is deductible from taxable
benefit, free of social security contribution, in a limit of 400 euro per
employee and year, fax-free for the employee.
For firms with more than 50 employees:
•
When holiday vouchers are purchased by employers, the
contribution of the employers and works councils are
considered as a complement of salary, which is legally liable
for social welfare contributions
•
When holiday vouchers are purchased by works councils
(without participation of the employer), this contribution is
entirely exempted from social contributions.
The “Aides aux projets vacances” given in holiday vouchers are
complementary to other financial supports (associations or local
authorities) and the participation of the beneficiaries (no free stays
are accepted in the programme).
The impact of the holiday vouchers is limited to the category of
employees. Nonetheless the system has been recently extended to
employees of firms with less than 50 employees and benefits people
with difficulties through social action.
“Chèques vacances” contribute to the development of tourism
activity in France: a holiday voucher holder spends 4 times more
than the amount of the voucher.
The “cheque vacances” is mainly used on the French territory, but
could be used abroad. However, very few suppliers in Europe have
contracted with ANCV because of language problems and bank
transfers constraints.
Holiday vouchers can be used in travel agencies for trips outside
France and for transportation.
To extend the mechanism of holiday vouchers at Calypso level, two
options are possible in theory:
•
To promote the development of national holiday vouchers
systems in each participating countries in a first step, and to
share among the members in a second step. Each country
can set up its own system according to the national legal
context, to the players involved and to the financing
available.
•
To develop directly a European system. In this case, the
financing opportunities need to be clarified.
1-22
“Bourse Solidarité Vacances” (BSV)
Name of the expert
Carine Guidali
conducting research
Marion Doublet
Country
France
Respondents/informants Agence Nationale pour les Chèques Vacances
Target group involved:
Description:
Beneficiaries of the « Bourse Solidarité Vacances » programme are
individuals or families excluded from holidays and leisure activities,
mainly because of economic or social difficulties :
•
Families with low income
•
Unemployed people
•
People with minimum welfare payment
•
Young people in precarious situation
•
Disabled people with low income
•
Seniors with low income and isolated.
To be eligible, beneficiaries must also be independent enough to
build their own holiday plan and integrate themselves without
difficulties on the holiday sites proposed by the partners. The most
fragile persons, who need a social or methodological help to
prepare their holidays, are oriented to the programme called
“Aides aux Projets Vacances”, which is managed by the ANCV as
well.
In 2008 8,256 people benefited from this programme for tourism
and leisure activities, among which 6,894 people went on holiday.
The most important part is families with children and low-income:
76% of families have less than 1,500 euro per month.
This programme is an online service of supplies for booking of
transportation, stays and leisure activities : www.ancv.com
The products are offered by accommodation suppliers of all kinds
(holiday centres, campsites, mobile homes and hotels) and SNCF
(national railway company), at greatly reduced prices (up to 80%
discount).
BSV was established by the French Ministry for Tourism in 1998
and is managed by Association Nationale des Chèques-Vacances
(ANCV) since November 2006.
Handling of target group
needs:
Indicative cost for a stay of one week (mentioned in the BSV users’
guide):
•
between 70€ and 130€ for rented accommodation,
•
between 80€ and 130€ per adult on half or full board,
•
between 0€ and 80€ per child on half or full board.
SNCF offers discounted train tickets (for BSV stays only): 30€ per
person for a round-trip ticket whatever kind of trip.
45.3 % of the beneficiaries of the programme are single-parent
families with low-income or basic income support.
The most often requested type of holidays are stays on the seaside
for 35% and stays in the mountains for 30%.
The BSV programme is confronted to a concentration of the
requests on full-board stays on the seaside. There is a rule of
alternation: the families who have already been to the sea are
invited to discover “mountain” or “countryside”.
The offers during school holidays are reserved to families with
children attending school in priority.
In 2007 more than 25,000 places for holiday accommodation were
provided by 43 suppliers and 7,000 round trips were offered by
SNCF.
1-23
Description of support
mechanisms
In 2008 21,509 holiday stays were collected in France and all year
round. With more than 1,500 leisure sites (cultural and sport
activities, events), the most underprivileged families enjoyed a free
day of discovery and wellness.
Partnership ANCV / intermediary organisations
ANCV has implemented partnerships with a network of 275
national or local structures dedicated to social or cultural activities:
local/regional administrations, charitable organisations,
organisations for the unemployed, social centres… which especially
support holiday departure to implement their social or associative
project.
These organisations act as intermediaries between BSV and the
targets: they make a selection of the possible beneficiaries,
propose them BSV products, and are responsible for the
preparation of the stays.
The intermediary organisation sends the application to the ANCV,
which makes sure of the relevance of the social project
implemented towards beneficiaries and of the legal capacity of the
organisations. An annual convention is signed between the ANCV
and the organisation. The ANCV gives stakeholders an access code
allowing them to consult the offers on the BSV website.
Partnership ANCV / tourism suppliers
The ANCV signs annual conventions with tourism suppliers. Stays
sheets are written by the ANCV with the information given by the
suppliers and are the basis of the presentation of supplies in the
website www.ancv.com.
Booking and payment conditions are detailed in the offer, as well
as retrocession period (after that the supplier have the right to
take back the unused beds). The supplier can give as many offers
as he wants during the period of the convention.
Every proposition of the tourism supplier gives a description of:
•
the location of stay and name of the equipment,
•
the dates of stay
•
the type of accommodation and capacity
•
the type of stay (full-board, half-board, rented
accommodation)
•
the retrocession period of the offer
•
the fare of the offer (for information public rates)
•
the number of offered stays
The ANCV gives the tourism supplier an annual report of BSV
programme with a specific chapter concerning its offer.
Among suppliers : Accor, Comités d’action et entraide sociale, Cap
France, comités d’entreprises, Center Parcs, Ethic Etapes,
Eurodisney, Fédération des œuvres laïques, Odalys, LVT,
Relaisoleil, UCPA, ULVF, Vacanciel, VVF…
Reservation process :
The research of a stay is made on line through a set of criteria:
type of stay, period, location,…
1-24
The result of the research gives general and detailed information
on the stay and the availability of the offer, as well as the time
limit for booking (that is to say the period of validity of the offer).
The project holder books on line and then sends the documents
proving the income of the beneficiaries of the stay. The ANCV
checks the eligibility of the beneficiaries, activates booking and
informs the project holder by mail.
The ANCV is the only person speaking for the suppliers. Booking of
transportation, stays and leisure activities on line are directly made
by the ANCV. Afterwards, the project holder receives directly from
the supplier final documents on booking, which are given to the
beneficiaries.
Description of funding
mechanisms:
Recent evolution
The ANCV has recently tried to give the programme a better
understanding and efficiency with:
•
The strengthening of the obligations of the partners: most
of the time, it concerns clear and durable formalization of
existing procedures
•
The input of eligibility economic thresholds for each
beneficiary: the aim is to guarantee the best allocation of
the offer possible
•
The complementarity of the BSV programme with the other
program of the ANCV supporting holiday departure, the
“Aides aux Projets Vacances”. Distinction between both is
made economically with the input of an higher eligibility
criteria in the case of BSV and socially with the highlight of
the notion of independence, which is much more necessary
for the BSV than for the APV projects.
The billing of supplies is directly sent by the supplier/project holder
who has made the booking. No billing comes through the ANCV.
The BSV stays cannot be paid with holiday vouchers given by
means of the ANCV program “Aides aux Projets Vacances”.
The stakeholders have to be sure that the beneficiaries prepare a
viable budget and will be able to pay.
1-25
Lessons learned
BSV is an efficient mechanism that could be transferred to Calypso
level.
To achieve that, a particular attention should be paid to the
selection of the partners – intermediary organisations and tourism
suppliers – and to the negotiation of the partnerships, especially
concerning the prices or discounts offered.
“Seniors en vacances”
Providing all-included holidays for low-income and isolated seniors
Name of the expert
Marion Doublet
conducting research
Country
France
Respondents/informants Agence nationale pour les Chèques Vacances (National Holiday
Vouchers Agency)
Target group involved:
•
Senior citizens over 60, retired or without professional
activity, living in France
Individuals and groups (already formed)
Husbands or wives of the beneficiaries (whatever age or
situation) are also concerned
•
Disabled people (with disability card) over 55s, with an
accompanying person, can benefit the program
•
Non-taxable people can have an extra financial support
“Seniors en vacances” is a national programme initiated by UNAT
(Union nationale des associations du tourisme) in 2004 and
developed by ANCV in 2007. The programme aims at proposing allinclusive stays for senior citizens in France off-season (July and
August excluded).
There were 3,063 participants in 2008. 85% benefited from a
financial support. The aim of the programme is to attain 100,000
participants in 2010.
The services correspond to specific needs of seniors:
•
comfort of facilities (min. 2 stars, adapted to people with
difficulties of mobility),
•
health centre nearby (less than 15 km),
•
leader for activities and excursions (cultural activities,
sports, gastronomy…),
•
programs on themes concerning seniors : “le bien vieillir”,
“la nutrition”, “l’accompagnement”
•
low fat menus.
Locally the associations in partnership help the beneficiaries to
prepare their holidays.
ANCV is responsible for the programme and negotiates offers with
stakeholders in order to put together holiday packages (allinclusive stays of 5 days/4 nights or 8 days/7 nights).
Accommodation types are holiday villages, hotels and vacation
resorts.
Stays are organised in groups of 10 to 30 participants. Some
stakeholders propose stays where seniors can go on holiday with
their grandchildren.
At a local level, local authorities, pensioners clubs, pension funds
clubs of seniors and social organisations are partners of the
programme and inform the beneficiaries, constitute groups and
prepare the stays with the help of ANCV.
Individual seniors can make reservation directly to the ANCV.
•
•
Description of exchange:
Handling of target group
needs:
Description of support
mechanisms
1-26
Description of funding
mechanisms:
Lessons learned
Holiday gift box for young
Encouraging young adults
Name of the expert
conducting research
Country
Respondents/informants
Target group involved:
Description of exchange:
Handling of target group
needs:
Description of support
mechanisms
Public funding (50%
of the stay) for nontaxable seniors
participating
150 (4 nights) to 180
euro (7 nights)
50% of the stay
for non-taxable
seniors
150 (4 nights) to
180 euro (7
nights)
The main lesson of the programme is the need to have local
representation in order to inform about the programme and create
partnerships with structures in contact with the target.
Private stakeholders are very pleased about the mechanism,
mainly because they can fill their spots off-season.
Seniors en Vacances could be duplicated to a European level if
European offers are integrated.
people (project)
holidays
Marion Doublet
France
Ministry of Economy, Industry and Employment – Tourism
Department
Laurence Dermenonville
Young people between 18 and 25 years old with financial problems
but independent for their holidays
A national study showed that the non-departure rate of this target
is the second highest after the elderly group
Before 18, they usually go on holiday with their family and have a
correct average departure rate. And after 25, the departure rate
increases again
Under project – planned for Summer 2010.
Initiated by the Secretary of State for Tourism (speech of October
2009) and managed by the ANCV on demand of the Secretary of
State.
The aim is to maintain the accessibility to holidays of the target,
inform and initiate dynamics.
The package takes the form of a gift box, with half-board stays of
3 days/2 nights with a specific activity, without transportation at
present stage.
The product doesn’t concern specifically off-season holidays.
Specific activities, such as sports, would be part of the package.
Transports were excluded because a national study showed that
young people mainly use their car (or their parent’s car) for their
holiday, and only 25% use the train.
ANCV is implementing the programme on behalf of the Ministry of
Youth and Sports, and in partnership with local authorities and
national public companies.
Two distribution channels would be developed:
•
One social channel with financial support from ANCV with
co-financing of works councils or social care centres (social
tourism)
•
One mainstream channel with general public open access
The objective is to distribute 30,000 boxes in 3 years through the
social channel and about 10,000 ‘mainstream’ boxes per year
(considering that in France the figure of 20,000 sales is a good
objective for a gift box of this type).
1-27
Description of funding
mechanisms:
Lessons learned
About 50% of the
‘social’ package
financed by ANCV
25% to 30% in
About 25% financed
charge of the
by partners to be
target, which
found.
means 30 to 50
euro without
transport.
This is a very new mechanism since it should only be implemented
in the coming months.
However the idea of the gift box could be interesting at Calypso
level.
Besides, UNAT (which is one of the main partners of ANCV) has
proposed to extend the offer, at a later stage, to week-ends in
European capitals cities, including transports.
Exchanges of young rail workers
Name of the expert
Marion Doublet
conducting research
Country
France
Respondents/informants CCE SNCF (works council of French national railway company)
Target group involved:
Description of exchange:
Handling of target group
needs:
Description of support
mechanisms
All SNCF employees (all financial situations) are concerned but
young workers from 18 to 25 have an extra grant for these kinds
of travels.
The SNCF works council has organised reciprocal international
tourism exchanges with railway unions of other countries since
1986.
There is currently a partnership with Hungary and Czech Republic.
Stays are focused on intercultural exchanges on the theme of
railway: visit of rail museums, all trips are made by train.
The stays last one to two weeks and are organised on and offseason. Each exchange corresponds to a group of 20 people.
The stays are taking place in accommodation facilities managed by
the unions and works councils responsible for the exchange. The
rail workers spend their holiday with workers from the other
countries.
The structure hosting the workers is responsible for the set-up of
the stays and transportation inside the hosting country.
Exchange France-Hungary :
•
The French are travelling to Budapest and then going to
the seaside (Balatonföldvar). The stay is taking place
during two weeks in August.
•
The Hungarians are staying two weeks during summer on
the seaside
Exchange France – Czech Republic :
•
The French are staying one week in Prague during New
year’s eve and one week during springtime.
•
The Czechs can come in France one week in January for
skiing and one week in June on the seaside.
1-28
Description of funding
mechanisms:
Lessons learned
No public funding
but employees
can pay the stays
with holiday
vouchers.
Contribution from
French young
participants depends on
workers have an
their revenue (family
extra grant of 200
quotient): discount from
euro per stay.
10 to 65% on the price
of stays. Transportation
to the visited countries is
paid by the participants.
In the past, the SNCF works council has contracted with other
European countries, for example Bulgaria and Poland, but the
destinations did not interest much the French workers.
The works council has difficulties to find destinations with enough
activities for two weeks stays.
In the countries where work councils and/or trade unions run their
own accommodation structures, this type of exchange could be
duplicated through bilateral partnerships.
Pack “Sac Ados”
Helping young people with difficulties to go on holiday by themselves
Name of the expert
Marion Doublet
conducting research
Country
France
Respondents/informants Vacances Ouvertes (NGO)
Marie-Madeleine Hilaire, general manager
Target group involved:
Description of exchange:
Young people between 16 and 25 years old who want to live a first
experience of independent holidays and would not go without a
technical and financial support.
They need to have an independent holiday plan for a minimum
length of 4 days/3 nights in France or Europe.
The package was created in 1994 by the association Vacances
Ouvertes. It is a set of tools proposed local authorities in order to
promote holidays for young people.
The objectives are :
•
To allow access to holiday to 16 to 25 years old
•
To promote learning of independence in terms of holiday
and leisure
•
To reinforce, mobilize and qualify a network of partner
structures on the right to holiday for all.
Handling of target group
needs:
In 2009 26 local stakeholders and 450 social structures were
partners of the programme. More than 4 200 young people
participated in 2009. The average age is 19,5 years old, size of the
groups is 5 people and duration of stays 9,6 days. The average
spending (including support) is 421,50 euro and they use mostly
camp sites for accommodation (survey 2008).
The package includes for young people:
•
100 euro in holiday vouchers
•
30 euro in service vouchers (food and catering)
•
1 card for repatriation assistance
•
1 card for comprehensive insurance
•
1 phone ticket
•
1 health information kit (condom, documents on AIDS and
emergency aid, first-aid kit…)
1-29
•
•
1 document on citizenship and road safety
1 notice for the package and one “Sac Ados” guide with
good ideas
•
A map of France
In parallel, local partners have access to methodological and
communication medium, and the help of Vacances ouvertes. They
select the participants of the programme.
The package was recently extended to European trips and includes
a member card of FUAJ (member of hostelling international), an
insurance for European destinations, conversation guides (English
and Spanish), a map of Europe, documents on rules for travels in
Europe, in addition to the traditional pack. This package was tested
with the Conseil general of Essonne (south of Paris): 500 young
people went on holiday with the European “Sac Ados” in 2008,
most of them went to Spain.
Description of support
mechanisms
Description of funding
mechanisms:
Lessons learned
The content of the package leaves the young free to choose the
kind of holidays he wishes to have. Young people who are not used
to go on holiday have the keys and support to prepare their own
plan for holiday. For European packages the inclusion of a youth
hostel card corresponds to the needs of young people travelling in
groups.
The association Vacances Ouvertes sells the packages to local
authorities wishing to set up this programme (regions, districts,
départements, family credit offices) for the amount of 236 euro per
package. At a local level, social and youth structures can be in
charge of the information and promotion of the action.
No public subsidies.
Participants pay
Local authorities pay
Holiday vouchers are
the rest of their
the package
bought to ANCV
stays
Nearly 90% of the young people who participated in 2008 would
not have gone on holiday without this support. For more than
50%, it was their first independent holidays. This practice is an
incentive to mobility of young people.
The association is currently working on two possibilities of
transferability of the mechanism at the European level:
•
The Belgium partner association Toerisme Vlaanderen
would like to set up the same mechanism in Flanders
•
The mechanism “Sac Ados Européen” could be extended
with the development of a system of payment usable
everywhere in Europe.