Calypso Country Report France 2010

Country study
May 2010

Dtente Consultants

CALYPSO STUDY ON
SOCIAL TOURISM
FRANCE

CALYPSO STUDY ON SOCIAL TOURISM
FRANCE

Ramboll
Nrregade 7A
DK-1165 Copenhagen K
Denmark
T +45 3397 8200
F +45 3397 8233
www.ramboll-management.com

Revision Final
Date 2010/03/15
Made by Marion Doublet
Checked by Carine Guidali
Approved by National Contact Point

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CONTENTS
1. Summary 1
2. Focus on experiences on and mechanisms for
international exchanges 2
3. Analysis of the four target tourism markets 4
3.1 Structures and players 4
3.2 Segmentation profile 6
3.3 Existing support systems and/or mechanisms 9
3.4 Demand drivers 11
4. Analysis of the tourism sector 13
4.1 Market trends 13
4.2 Supply of services 14
4.3 Supply of services from a European point of view 16
4.4 Sustainable tourism aspects 16
4.5 Feasibility of social tourism 16
5. Legislative perspectives 17
6. Development of products for social tourism 17
7. Web portals 18

Annexes
Annex 8 : Thermal spa in France
List of interviewees
List of STRUCTURES contacted by emails
Good practice descriptions

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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 dont go on holiday every year. Only 15% of the French
citizens represent 50% of the touristic stays. Financial difficulties are the main reason for non-
participation 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 Chques 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.

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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 chques 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.

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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 dont 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.

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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 dallocations 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 Chques 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 Chque 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 solidarit 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 Chques 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).

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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 Frres des
Pauvres, Restos du Cur. 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

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3.2 Segmentation profile

Senior citizens
1

User profile (socio-
economic profile, travel
habit demographics)
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 old
2
.
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.
Organisation
responsible for support
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 Frres des Pauvres, are
also focused on holidays of precarious seniors but their impact
remains marginal.
Duration of stay 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
stays
3
. Their stays are longer than the ones of the other segments
of population.
Main holiday
destinations
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.
Average spending No statistics collected.
Holiday participation
statistics
A survey made for the French Tourism Department
4
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%
Barriers and reasons
for non-participation
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.

1
Source : Carnet de route des seniors, ODIT France, 2009 ; Suivi de la Demande Touristique, 2007
2
Portrait social de la France, rapport INSEE, novembre 2009
3
Suivi de la demande touristique, Direction du tourisme, 2007
4
Enqute CREDOC, Conditions de vie et aspirations des Franais, 2008

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Young people
5

habit demographics)
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...
Organisation
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, CNAJEP
6

gathering youth and community education organisations in France,
INJEP
7
and the network of CIDJ
8
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.
Duration of stay The average length of stay for young people between 18 and 25 is
13.3 days, for an average of 3 stays per year.
Main holiday
destinations
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%).
Average spending
during holidays per
year
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).
statistics
A survey by the French Tourism Department
9
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 circumstances
10

habit demographics)
The definition of families facing difficult circumstances and having
access to holiday support differs from one territory (Regions) to
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
6
Committee for national and international relations of youth and community education organisations
7
National institute of youth and community education
8
Centres of information and documentation for youth
9
Source : Enqute CREDOC, Conditions de vie et aspirations des Franais, 2008
10
Source : Synthse 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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Organisation
The organisation responsible for support of families is the Ministry of
social affairs and the family credit offices department
11
. The
responsibility is delegated to the 123 Caisses dallocations
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.
Duration of stay No statistics collected
Main holiday
destinations
Seaside is the favourite destination for families with children.
Countryside is another popular holiday destination because of lower
costs and family residence.
Average spending No statistics collected
statistics
A survey by the French Tourism Department
12
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

Adult disabled citizens
13

habit demographics)
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 administration
14
. The number of people living
with health or disability problems reaches 5.7 million
15
: 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.
Organisation
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).
Duration of stay Stays often last one or two weeks but 50% of disabled adults going
on holiday take longer breaks of more than 2 weeks.
Main holiday
destinations
2/3 of stays are made in France. Seaside represents the first
destination.
Average spending No statistics collected.
statistics
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.

11
Caisse nationale des allocations familiales
12
Source : Enqute CREDOC, Conditions de vie et aspirations des Franais, 2008
13
Source : Adapter loffre touristique aux handicaps Etude de march : la population des personnes en situation de handicap et loffre
touristique franaise, ATOUT France, 2009
14
INSEE, 2007
15
Source : Poletti report, 2004

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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

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 citizens
16

Constraints 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)
Needs and expectations
in terms of destination
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.
Types of
accommodation
Apart from secondary residence, hotels represent the most suitable
accommodation facility in terms of comfort, security and welcome.
Activities Seniors are looking for excursions during their stays. All
intergenerational activities are desirable.
Specific equipment Transportation needs and good health facilities are the main
services required by seniors.
Sensitivity to price Sensitivity to prices is less important with age: the older seniors are
looking for quality first.
Seasonality aspects 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.

Young people
17

Constraints 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.

16
Source : Carnet de route des seniors, ODIT France, 2009
17
Source : Carnet de route des 18-25 ans, ODIT France, 2007

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Young people are more than any other target opened 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.
Types of
accommodation
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).
Activities 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.
Specific equipment 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.
Sensitivity to price 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.
Seasonality aspects 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 peak-
season.

Families facing difficult circumstances
18

Constraints Financial or family constraints are the main problem of the target.
Families are often looking for a seaside destination or at least with a
lake or swimming pool nearby.
Types of
accommodation
Families use in majority family and friends accommodation. Hotels
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 dont 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
Kaufmann, 2004

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19

Constraints Financial constraints
Problem of accessibility to holidays in general : preparation,
organisation, transportation and accommodation facilities
Need of an accompanying person, which represents an extra-
cost
Basically, disabled adults dont 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.
Types of
accommodation
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.
Activities Disabled adults are willing to have access to the same kind of
activities as adults without disabilities, which implies the adaptation
of sports facilities.
Specific equipment Adapted furniture and lighting, ergonomics of bathrooms.
Sensitivity to price Considering the level of income of this target and the need of an
accompanying person most of the time, they are sensitive to prices.
Seasonality aspects 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, Belgium-
Luxembourg, 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-Cte dAzur (13.8%) and Rhne-
Alpes (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, Rhne-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 loffre touristique aux handicaps Etude de march : la population des personnes en situation de handicap et loffre
touristique franaise, 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.
associations of the sector designed a holiday project based on thei
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
particularities in the sector:
territory, disinterested management and voluntary work, skills in leisure activities, capac
answer to the needs of people with difficulties or specificities (sport groups, residential classes).

The historic product offered by the social tourism sector
an accommodation, a catering option (full
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

Since 2003 the Tourism Department gives the national
(social and family tourism) to associations, h
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 f
2):
Villages vacances (Holiday resorts) and maisons familiales (Family houses) were initially
specifically designed for families offering all included services: accommodation for
families, separate catering for parents and children, activities for adults, children and
family together, evening dances
in France, representing
Cap France and the Ligue de lenseignement.
level of services of this kind of accommodation. With the development of group travels,
Catering
option
The specificities of social tourism in France:
Social tourism sector differs from traditional tourism sector due to its social goal or project.
associations of the sector designed a holiday project based on their convictions: for them,
cohabitation with people from different social background, mostly during school
evolved due to social and economic changes, there remain
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, capac
The historic product offered by the social tourism sector is based on a mix of various elements:
an accommodation, a catering option (full-board, half board, room and breakfast or rented
laundry, playroom, TV, bar), all being integrated in an environment
countryside). It offers an all-inclusive product.
the Tourism Department gives the national agreement Tourisme social et familial
(social and family tourism) to associations, healthcare plans and unions of associations or
that manage accommodation structures with a social mission.
has developed specific accommodation facilities for each kind of targets (see definition
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
e and the Ligue de lenseignement. The label Loisirs de France describes the
Social
tourism
product
Accommodation
Services
Activities
Social tourism sector differs from traditional tourism sector due to its social goal or project. The
r convictions: for them,
cohabitation with people from different social background, mostly during school
economic changes, there remain some
pricing policy in favour of families with low revenue, integration in a
territory, disinterested management and voluntary work, skills in leisure activities, capacity to
is based on a mix of various elements:
half board, room and breakfast or rented
laundry, playroom, TV, bar), all being integrated in an environment

Tourisme social et familial
and unions of associations or
that manage accommodation structures with a social mission.
(see definitions in annex
ate catering for parents and children, activities for adults, children and
930 holiday resorts and family houses
suppliers are VVF-Villages,
The label Loisirs de France describes the

FRANCE

this kind of accommodation has become more standardised and opened to all kind of
targets.
Centres de sjours 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 surveys
20
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 Dpts 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 chques-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
Kaufmann, 2004

FRANCE

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 sjour) 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, Herv Novelli, has recently given a new
boost to social tourism in France. The aim is to give the ones who dont 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 single-
parent 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 12
th
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 11
th
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, Herv 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 point
21
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
Ministre de l'Economie, de l'Industrie et de l'Emploi - Sous Direction du Tourisme - DGCIS Service "tourisme, commerce, artisanat et
services"

FRANCE

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?

7. 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 Solidarit 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 donn par Herv Novelli, Secrtaire dEtat charg du commerce, de
lartisanat, des petites et moyennes enterprises, du tourisme, des services et de la
consommation

HERVE NOVELLI,
SECRETAIRE DETAT CHARGE DU COMMERCE, DE LARTISANAT, 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 remercier les intervenants qui se sont exprims cet aprs-midi. La
qualit et la densit de vos changes dmontrent quel point les perspectives sont riches pour le
tourisme familial et associatif. Cette sance spcialement consacre ce thme, je vous lavais
promise lors des Assises Nationales du Tourisme en juin 2008, elle sest tenue et je men flicite.

I - Ma vision du tourisme social
Je vous lavoue, ma conviction, cest que cela fait trop longtemps que le tourisme social
na pas t trait sa juste mesure. Il faut nous rendre lvidence, nous avons chang
dpoque. Le concept de tourisme social nest plus celui qui sest forg certaines priodes de
notre histoire, partir de 1936 puis dans limmdiat aprs guerre. Les modes de vie ont volu,
les fractures sociales sont diffrentes et ncessitent des traitements adapts, mme travers le
temps des vacances.
Pour moi, dvelopper une politique de tourisme social aujourdhui, cest permettre
toutes celles et ceux qui sont concerns daccder aux vacances de tous. Ma conviction
est faite, toutes les enqutes le dmontrent, la diffrence entre les besoins dun touriste faible
revenu et un autre, ne rsident prcisment que dans cette simple diffrence de revenus, les
gots sont identiques, les besoins sont les mmes. La vritable politique sociale du tourisme est
de permettre tous ceux qui en sont empchs de pouvoir accder aux vacances de ceux qui
peuvent se les payer. Nous navons pas enfermer les vacanciers dans des catgories qui nont
pas de fondement au regard des dsirs de chacun.
Dvelopper une politique du tourisme social, cest aussi contribuer au dveloppement
conomique des territoires.
Cest enfin mener des politiques volontaristes pour pallier les faiblesses de notre
socit : accueil des personnes handicapes, lutte contre lisolement des personnes ges, aide
spcifique aux jeunes des quartiers ou aux familles monoparentales.
Je me suis rendu durant lt sur plusieurs sites anims par des acteurs du tourisme social. A
Marseille, sur une base nautique o lUCPA apporte une rponse trs concrte aux
problmatiques actuelles, notamment les besoins des jeunes des quartiers qui ne partent pas en
vacances. Ou encore Parent en Auvergne dans un village de Val VVF o jai pu constater la
ralit du secteur dont une problmatique importante lie la ncessaire rhabilitation de
limmobilier. Disons-le clairement, les btiments et leur amnagement correspondent souvent
une conception ancienne, dconnecte des ralits du jour et des attentes des utilisateurs en
termes de confort et dvolution de la composition de la cellule familiale.

II - Le groupe de travail,
La problmatique aide la pierre/aide la personne
Pour prparer notre rencontre de ce jour, javais dcid de lancer une grande
concertation. Jai souhait associer dans le groupe de travail toutes les parties lies au secteur :
les acteurs du tourisme associatif et familial, les administrations et les institutionnels, les
collectivits territoriales, les organisations professionnelles, qui ont travaill sous le pilotage
efficace dAline PEYRONNET.

FRANCE

Le groupe de travail a bien point les diffrents dfis du tourisme social et a labor
une dizaine de pistes de travail pour y rpondre. On peut les regrouper en trois grands
enjeux :
1. laccroissement de lefficacit et de la visibilit des acteurs ;
2. loptimisation de lutilisation des aides au dpart ;
3. ltablissement dune nouvelle stratgie pour financer la rhabilitation du
patrimoine et la modernisation de la gestion.
Le groupe de travail a aussi rflchi sur une question fondamentale que nous connaissons bien :
le tourisme social est-il ou doit-il dabord tre une aide la personne ou une aide la
pierre ?
A question simple, rponse particulirement complexe.
Nous connaissons tous cette ralit : beaucoup de Franais trop de Franais ! - ne partent pas
en vacances, 36 % pour la population adulte. Est-ce uniquement faute de moyens financiers ? La
rponse est plus mesure quon ne pourrait limaginer.
Ltude ralise pour le compte de lANCV sur les non partants en vacances a mis en vidence
que lobstacle financier ne constitue le principal frein que pour 50 % des cas. Dautres
problmatiques entrent en jeu : la disponibilit de chacun, la capacit lautonomie ou encore la
simple volont de partir.
Ds lors, on voit que rsoudre la problmatique financire ne serait pas suffisante, en supposant
que nous en ayons les moyens. Ma rponse sur ce point, vous laurez bien compris, est
quil ne faut pas opposer aide la personne et aide la pierre. Ces deux axes sont les
supports dune seule et mme politique sociale du Tourisme.
Nous concevons bien tous, je crois, que le secteur doit voluer dans ses rponses. Personne ne
peut se rsoudre penser quil pourrait y avoir aujourdhui un modle de vacances pour les
riches et un autre modle de vacances pour les moins riches. Au contraire, il nous faut
concevoir un dispositif le moins sgrgatif possible, accessible tous en fonction de
ses revenus, et donc avoir des contributions financires dappui si ncessaire. Et cest
pour permettre celles-ci de rester modres que nous devons disposer dun parc
dhbergement associatif rnov certes, mais permettant doffrir des destinations des cots les
plus adapts possibles.
Cest videmment aussi dans ce parc dhbergement quil faudra conserver des lments de
structures adapts aux personnes qui ncessitent un accompagnement sur le lieu de vacances
pour des motifs lis leur situation physique ou leur dsocialisation.
Notre ligne directrice est donc claire : construire une offre dspcialise et mettre en
place des dispositifs daccompagnement des personnes tant sur le plan financier que
dans celui des autres domaines, lensemble sarticulant pour multiplier les possibilits
de dpart. Cest donc bien cette non opposition aide la personne et aide la pierre ou par
la conjugaison des deux axes qui nous permettra de relever le dfi de lamlioration du taux de
dpart en vacances.
Nous avons beaucoup travaill avec les associations. Le consensus existe sur la nature des
mesures prendre. Un certain nombre daction sont directement envisageable, dautres
ncessitent des approfondissements. De ce fait, je souhaite que le groupe de travail qui sest
runi ma demande, perdure dans son format. Il a dmontr son utilit, et il suscite visiblement
une intressante confrontation de toutes les parties impliques dans le mme geste.
Au regard des mesures proposes par le groupe de travail, je crois possible ds lors dencourager
la mise en uvre de trois projets qui me paraissent sinscrire parfaitement dans le champ de ces
nouvelles orientations.

III - Aussi je souhaite aujourdhui vous faire part des grandes orientations qui
permettront de rpondre ces enjeux et qui dessineront les contours dune
nouvelle politique sociale du tourisme.
A/Le premier axe que je souhaite dvelopper est le renforcement de lANCV
dans ses missions sociales.

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Elle est dj la pierre angulaire de la politique sociale du tourisme du gouvernement. LANCV a
dvelopp une gamme dactions en direction de population prioritaires : les jeunes, les
handicaps et les sniors. Je pense au programme Sniors en vacances mais aussi au
programme aide aux projets vacances ou encore la bourse solidarit vacances. Le nombre de
personnes aides est pass de 90 000 en 2008 130 000 en 2009, soit prs de 50%
daugmentation !
Pour augmenter ses ressources, lANCV doit dabord tendre la diffusion des chques
vacances. Elle le fera en sadressant aux 8 millions de salaris des entreprises de
moins de 50 personnes, jusquici quasiment exclus du dispositif. La Loi pour le
dveloppement des services touristiques que jai porte devant le parlement en juillet
dernier a mis fin cette injustice en levant les barrires la diffusion des chques-
vacances dans les entreprises de moins de 50 salaris. Je compte sur lANCV, qui a dj
russi son dcollage dans les entreprises de plus de 50 salaris avec un volume dmission qui
devrait encore augmenter de 6% cette anne malgr la crise conomique.
Cette diffusion massive permettra de financer de nouvelles aides pour des publics-
cibles. Je pense notamment aux personnes en situation de handicap. Je suis avec un
grand intrt les projets qui sont ltude, quil sagisse dtendre lusage des chques vacances
aux employs des tablissements spcialiss daide par le travail, les ESAT, ou bien dobtenir une
bonification de la valeur des chques vacances pour les salaris handicaps dans les entreprises,
ou encore de prendre en compte les aidants ou la famille dans les aides au dpart.
Ces projets sinscrivent dans le cadre dune action globale en faveur des personnes en situation
de handicaps. Depuis de nombreuses annes il y a autour du label tourisme et handicaps un
travail remarquable. Plus de 3 500 structures sont labellises ce jour. Demain, dans le cadre
dune coopration que nous allons lancer avec le Secrtariat dEtat la Famille et la Solidarit,
le label Tourisme et Handicaps apportera tout son savoir-faire dans le domaine touristique la
construction dune approche totalement globalise des territoires qui seront adapts et
accessibles de manire systmatique et qui donc permettront aux personnes handicapes de
profiter pleinement de leurs vacances dans toutes leurs dimensions.

B / Un autre public doit attirer toute notre attention : les jeunes adultes de 18-
25 ans, qui ont un taux de dpart en vacances infrieur la moyenne
Cest pourquoi je vous annonce la cration innovante, un coffret sjour jeunes qui
proposera une formule tout compris , incluant par exemple le transport, deux nuits
avec demi-pension et une activit rcrative.
Il ne sagit donc pas proprement parler de vacances, mais dun dispositif vocation
de pdagogie au dpart. En effet dans les motifs de non dpart, les problmes
dorganisation sont cits par 15% des personnes interroges. On peut donc penser que
cette premire exprience pourra avoir un effet dclencheur.
La slection du public recherch se ferait, outre par le packaging, par le contenu du coffret et la
nature de lhbergement.
Le produit - dans un format identique - sadressera deux types de public : le public gnral via
les circuits classiques de distribution, et un public social cible (jeunes adultes faibles revenus
mais non dsocialiss). Il ne sagit pas dinstaller une distinction entre les jeunes ds lors quon
vise lintgration de cette population par la pratique dactivits communes.
La distribution vers le public social sera conduite par les acteurs sociaux de terrain et le dispositif
subventionn selon des modalits dterminer pour ramener la participation du bnficiaire un
montant proportionnel ses capacits.
Je vois dans ce projet une forme de modernit dans la faon dont sexerce laction sociale.
Dabord parce quil sappuie sur des produits, les coffrets cadeau, qui connaissent un
engouement certain et qui contribuent trs nettement mettre en avant loffre diffuse
franaise, ce que rien ny personne nest encore parvenu faire un tel niveau.
Ensuite parce quil permet dassocier laction sociale au march pour ce quil sait faire :
slectionner et formaliser une offre touristique adapte, la distribuer auprs du plus
grand nombre.

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Je crois cette complmentarit des acteurs, chacun dans sa valeur ajoute, au bnfice dun
geste commun bien compris. Cest une exprience. Elle ncessitera bien sr des ajustements
techniques. Je pense notamment la pris en compte de loffre de transport, particulirement la
SNCF. Aprs avoir rencontr rcemment son Prsident, je peux vous dire que cette contrainte
technique sera leve. Mais je fonde beaucoup despoir dans cette formule de partenariat
public-priv, le public fonctionnant avec le priv pour optimiser ses moyens dans
lexercice de sa mission. Ce partenariat devra tre tendu sous cette forme ou une
autre, vers les deux autres publics cibles que sont les sniors et les handicaps,
proccupations dj intgres dans les missions de lANCV.

C / Je souhaite aussi proposer des solutions nouvelles pour rgler le dossier
central de la rnovation de loffre dhbergement social.
Vous le savez, les aides la pierre de lAgence nationale des chques vacances ont du tre
interrompues pour des questions de conformit de procdure. Je vous rappelle que la situation
tait bloque depuis 2005. Ce problme est maintenant rsolu aprs la mise en place dune
indemnit transactionnelle. Les dossiers sont en cours de rgularisation. Elles seront toutes
rgles avant la fin de lanne. Mais nous devons tirer les enseignements de cette exprience et
nous orienter lvidence vers un dispositif rnov.
Le maintien de structures spcialises disposant dun parc immobilier adapt est indispensable
pour quune politique daide la personne puisse atteindre toutes ses cibles. Les deux volets de
la politique sociale du tourisme sont indissociables.
Lenjeu est de taille ; on peut estimer 500 M le cot des investissements ncessaires sur 10
ans pour rnover les structures. A une poque de raret de largent public, il est alors important
de rechercher de nouvelles solutions, et se pencher, pourquoi pas, sur les mthodes dveloppes
par le march.
Lexternalisation du patrimoine dans des outils fonciers ad hoc est une orientation
retenue pour trouver des solutions limpasse actuelle. Cette solution, adopte par la
grande majorit des oprateurs de march, mais encore exceptionnelle dans le tourisme social,
fera entrer la gestion des patrimoines immobiliers dans un cycle vertueux sur les plans
conomiques et techniques. Elle permettra une intervention des financeurs, en dette comme en
fonds propres.
Pour accompagner cet effort de clarification et doptimisation de la gestion des actifs immobiliers,
il faut faciliter laccs des financements en fonds propres de long terme, qui sauraient sadapter
aux contraintes de lconomie spcifique du secteur.
La discussion sur ce sujet est alle trs loin avec la Caisse des Dpts, qui intervient dj
ponctuellement, comme nous la rappel tout lheure Philippe Braidy, son Directeur du
Dveloppement Territorial et du Rseau. Mais vu lampleur du sujet, il est ncessaire de passer
dune action par trop parcellaire une dmarche de plus grande ampleur et plus organise sur
toute la ligne.
Je vous annonce quavec laccord de la Caisse des Dpts et la mobilisation dune
partie des ressources financires de lANCV nous allons crer un fonds
dinvestissement ddi au financement des actifs du Tourisme social Il sera dnomm
Tourisme Social Investissement TSI. Ce fonds interviendra en fonds propres dans des
socits immobilires crer ou reprendre, afin de mener des travaux de remise
niveau dans des quipements du tourisme associatif et familial, concourant au dpart
de tous.
Ces fonds propres clairement affichs destination du secteur du Tourisme associatif et familial,
faciliteront la souscription demprunts par les structures cibles, dautant plus facilement que les
fonds propres en question nayant pas lexigence dune forte rentabilit, seront investis
massivement afin de limiter la part de lemprunt et le cout du financement la charge de
lexploitant du tourisme associatif et familial.
La Caisse des Dpts, dans son mtier dinvestisseur dintrt gnral de long terme, na pas
vocation intervenir seule. Le fonds ddi nexistera que si dautres acteurs au-del de lANCV
acceptent dy souscrire. On voit bien la formule qui se dessine : un vhicule financier agrgeant
les moyens de diffrentes instances pour organiser spcifiquement la mise niveau des actifs

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immobiliers du secteur. Un mouvement organis, clairement affich destination des acteurs du
tourisme social.
Cette ide est moderne et contribue par le passage de la subvention, fonds perdus,
linvestissement en fonds propres, plus raisonn, modifier lapproche de la gestion
immobilire.
LANCV, pivot de la politique sociale du tourisme du gouvernement, sera ainsi pleinement
associe cette dmarche qui fera date, et dont la mise en place simpose de manire urgente.
LANCV contribuera ainsi ce fonds ddi la rnovation de limmobilier du tourisme social, par
un apport demble significatif, et sengagera pour les annes suivantes.
LANCV rvisera ses modalits dintervention dans laide la pierre. Ca nest certes pas un
changement de mission, mais une nouvelle tape qui sengage avec ladoption de modalits en
phase avec celles du march au profit des acteurs du Tourisme social.
Cette action mritera dtre complte par lentre dans ce fonds de mutuelles ou dautres
acteurs financiers du secteur associatif et familial.
Je ne mconnais certes pas la complexit de lexercice. Cest pour cela quau-del des
financements mobiliss il importe de prvoir galement un accompagnement des
acteurs pour leur permettre dadapter leur structure afin daccueillir le fonds
dinvestissement ddi TSI.
La solution consistant distinguer la proprit et lexploitation implique en effet un changement
trs important dans les mentalits et les pratiques des oprateurs gestionnaires ainsi que des
propritaires. Elle implique galement la constitution dentits juridiques de type foncires,
destines exclusivement la gestion des biens immobiliers et la mise en place de leurs
investissements de modernisation. Comme chez les autres oprateurs de tourisme, hteliers,
rsidences de tourisme etc., la rorganisation envisage sappuie sur la sparation matrise des
structures de gestion des services (commercialisation, accueil etc.) et des entits juridiques de
portage immobilier, les premiers payant aux secondes un loyer permettant un vritable entretien
du patrimoine et de ce fait, un renouvellement dattractivit de loffre propose.
Les changements introduire pour constituer ces outils fonciers susceptibles de bnficier des
avantages de TSI, ncessitent une technicit prcise, quil sagisse dvaluations dactifs, de
prvisions dactivit et de rsultat, de constitution doutils juridiques nouveaux, de montages de
business plans, de ngociation avec des investisseurs, des prteurs ou des collectivits
territoriales.
Afin de faciliter pour les oprateurs de tourisme social la mise en uvre des dmarches et
prestations quimpliquent les transformations ncessaires, jai dcid la cration dun dispositif
dassistance technique partir dAtout France, travaillant en troit partenariat avec lUNAT, la
DGCIS et la Caisse des Dpts.
Les objectifs sont de :
- faciliter la mise disposition des dcideurs dentreprises du tourisme social dexperts
immobiliers, juridiques, financiers pour les aider avancer rapidement et situer leurs
dmarches au niveau de technicit ncessaire ;
- aider la constitution des dossiers susceptibles dtre prsents rapidement au TSI.
Je demande au Directeur gnral dAtout France de mobiliser une quipe ddie ce programme.
Celle-ci apportera son concours chaque oprateur de tourisme social intress par la dmarche
pour laider prciser sa problmatique et son projet de restructuration patrimoniale.
Cet appui sera complt par la mobilisation des expertises externes complmentaires (audits
immobiliers, analyses juridiques, fiscales ou financires,).
Ce dispositif pilote dingnierie technique sera financ par mon ministre, la Caisse des Dpts et
Atout France ainsi que les acteurs du Tourisme social, pour disposer en 2010 dune enveloppe de
crdit dingnierie d1 M pour impulser cette dmarche.
Je veux faire de lanne 2010 lan 1 de la relance du tourisme social dans notre pays.

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D / Crer un centre de ressources
Le troisime projet part du constat que la politique sociale du tourisme - dont personne
ne nie lutilit - doit reconstruire une image plus en phase avec notre poque et les
attentes des publics concerns.
Cela implique en particulier que ses composantes et ses acteurs soient mieux identifis
et que ceux-ci puissent mettre en uvre une capacit dorganisation mutualise.
Jannonce aujourdhui la cration dun centre de ressources ddi la politique sociale du
tourisme, au service des acteurs du secteur mais aussi des dcideurs de niveau national et
territorial.
Ce centre de ressources concernera bien sr lensemble du champ du tourisme social que ce
soient les publics, les acteurs associatifs et du secteur social, les pouvoirs publics, les comits
dentreprise, sans oublier le secteur marchand.
Ce centre de ressources aura pour mission prioritaire daccroitre la connaissance des
composantes et des acteurs de la politique sociale du tourisme. Une base de donnes
dmatrialise et un portail Internet accessibles tous seront des outils pertinents en la matire.
Une des premires missions de ce centre sera de conduire une analyse densemble sur le
patrimoine du tourisme social, pralable indispensable la dclinaison dune politique.
Le centre de ressources permettra aussi de valoriser limportance de la politique sociale du
tourisme.
La valorisation est en effet dterminante pour assurer la prennit dune politique sociale du
tourisme, et surtout largir son assise.
Le centre de ressources aura galement pour mission la formation et la diffusion des savoir-faire
dans un secteur marqu par la dispersion des acteurs.
Je souhaite que lANCV assure le dmarrage de ce projet largement participatif.
Vous le voyez, Madame et Messieurs, mon ambition, notre ambition commune est grande. Les
trois orientations que je viens dindiquer ne sauraient a elles seules se rsumer la politique
sociale du tourisme que nous voulons pour notre pays. Dautres pistes restent approfondir. Et
je veux que le Comit de Pilotage mis en place loccasion de la concertation avec lensemble
des acteurs continue de se runir rgulirement.
Cette grande ambition pour le Tourisme social en France rejoint ainsi, comme il tait naturel de le
faire, la grande ambition que nous portons collectivement pour le dveloppement des activits
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), full-
board (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 dhbergement 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 Chques-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 chque-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 solidarit 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 peoples 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
le-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 gtes. 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.

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Annex 7: Vacances Ouvertes, an organisation supporting the holidays of youth and
families

Vacances Ouvertes est une association Loi 1901, agre par le
ministre de la Jeunesse et des Sports et membre de l'Union
nationale des associations de tourisme (UNAT).
Sa vocation : favoriser l'accs 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 rtablir des passerelles entre l'action
sociale et le tourisme associatif, Vacances Ouvertes propose :
un financement : attribution de bourses sous forme de Chques-Vacances pour les
projets de dparts,
un pilotage : cadrage et suivi des structures associatives, mise disposition de
ressources mthodologiques et matrielles,
une expertise : offre de formation, conseil en ingnierie de dispositifs, tudes
thmatiques.

Vacances Ouvertes dispose de trois types daides en faveur de diffrentes cibles de clientles :

Laide au dpart en vacances familiales
Un appel projets annuel, l'Appel Projets Familles, pour aider les familles, adultes
isols... qui souhaitent partir. Ce sont environ 280 projets qui sont suivis, co-financs et
valus chaque anne, permettant prs de 10 000 personnes de partir en vacances.

Chaque anne, Vacances Ouvertes soutient des projets de vacances ports par des structures
associatives et municipales en direction de familles et/ou adultes seuls qui ne partiraient pas
sans une aide. Les structures rpondant l'Appel Projets "Partir en Vacances en Famille"
doivent adhrer Vacances Ouvertes. Cet appel projets est soutenu par l'Agence Nationale
pour les Chques-Vacances (ANCV)

Le soutien de Vacances Ouvertes est d'ordre :
- financier : cette aide, verse sous forme de Chques-Vacances de l'ANCV, est
apporte en complment de celle d'autres financeurs que vous devrez solliciter
(et qui devront figurer sur votre budget prvisionnel).
- mthodologique : des ateliers d'change de pratiques et d'aide au montage de
projets vacances sont organiss pour les animateurs, travailleurs sociaux salaris
ou bnvoles reprsentant les structures.

Si la structure est en Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Aquitaine, Picardie ou Poitou-Charentes, cette aide
est attribue dans le cadre d'un partenariat entre Vacances Ouvertes et le Conseil rgional.

Dans le cadre de partenariats avec deux associations jumelles en Belgique (Toerisme
Vlaanderen) et en Grande-Bretagne (Family Holiday), Vacances Ouvertes a initi une
opration de dpart en vacances ltranger de familles. En 2006, 5 familles franaises de
Nord-Pas-de-Calais sont venues passer une semaine sur la cte anglaise, tandis que 5
familles anglaises sont venues en sjour au FIAP de Paris. Ces sjours ont t organiss
hors-saison. Cette initiative a t renouvele, elle concerne un nombre trs faible de familles.

1-7
Laide au dpart autonome des jeunes
Que ce soit par le biais du dispositif Sac Ados, mis en place avec les collectivits, ou par
lorganisation dun systme de bourses vacances avec les missions locales et quelques foyers
jeunes travailleurs qui aident au dpart des jeunes dans lopration Parcours Vacances, il
sagit toujours daider des jeunes raliser leurs premires vacances en autonomie.

L'opration Sac Ados vise le dpart des jeunes gnralement exclus des vacances, et qui ne
partiraient pas sans un accompagnement technique (des animateurs et travailleurs sociaux)
et une aide financire. Le dispositif propose ses partenaires un ensemble doutils cl en
main sous forme de pack comprenant :
- pour les jeunes, dune bourse daide au dpart sous forme dun Sac Ados
individuel comprenant des valeurs hauteur de 130 euros
- pour les rfrents, de supports mthodologiques daide la conception et au
montage de projet.

Loriginalit de ce dispositif se situe dans le partenariat quil suscite
entre les diffrents acteurs locaux. Les collectivits ou CAF qui initient
le projet utilisent le dispositif au service de leur politique jeunesse. Les
acteurs de terrain, partenaires et relais du dispositif auprs du public,
interviennent sur laccompagnement et la slection des jeunes.
Vacances Ouvertes assure des formations et des ateliers dchange de
pratiques auprs de tous ces acteurs.

Mis en place dans 26 dpartements auprs de 450 structures, ce
dispositif a permis en 2009 de faire partir plus de 4 200 jeunes.

Ce dispositif a galement t expriment pour des voyages de jeunes en Europe dans le
cadre dun partenariat avec le Conseil Gnral de lEssonne (cf. case study).

Le dispositif Parcours Vacances a pour objectif de :
- Permettre aux jeunes engags dans un parcours
dinsertion dlaborer et de concrtiser un projet de
vacances autonomes
- Inscrire les jeunes dans une dmarche de projet
- Favoriser lacquisition de savoir-faire et comptences transposables dans la vie
quotidienne et dans la recherche demploi : organisation, anticipation,
construction et gestion dun budget...

Les jeunes slectionns par les structures relais reoivent une aide individuelle dun montant
de 180 euros en Chques-Vacances utilisable auprs de 135 000 prestataires du secteur
touristique (hbergement, transport, restauration, activits culturelles ou sportives). Cette
aide financire est apporte par lAgence Nationale pour les Chques-Vacances.

Depuis 2002, grce cette initiative relaye par 120 Missions Locales et 60 FJT, plus de 10
000 jeunes ont pu prparer et vivre un sjour en autonomie.

L'aide au dpart en vacances des aidants familiaux
Une rflexion a t mene partir de 2006 sur la Rgion Poitou-Charentes autour de la
question de l'accs aux vacances des aidants familiaux. Elle a t suivie d'une
exprimentation du dispositif ds 2008. En 2010, grce l'aide de la Fondation de France,
Vacances Ouvertes dveloppe ce dispositif l'chelon national.

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Vacances Ouvertes propose toute structure :
- une aide financire, verse en chques vacances grce son partenariat avec
lAgence Nationale pour les Chques-Vacances, sous conditions.
- une aide mthodologique au montage de projets

En 2010, peuvent tre soutenus les projets de vacances individuels ou collectifs, accompagns
par des professionnels / bnvoles, ou non :
- avec des aidants, et/ou les personnes aides, et/ou les autres membres de leur
famille
- prvoyant des dparts dau moins 4 nuits en France toute priode de lanne
- ayant un cot maximum de 68 euros par jour et par personne (transport,
alimentation, hbergement, loisirs et assurances)

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Annex 8 : Thermal spa in France

Le thermalisme sest dvelopp en France sur le modle mdical avec remboursement de la
Scurit Sociale. Le thermalisme peut se dfinir comme lensemble des moyens mdicaux,
sociaux, sanitaires, administratifs et daccueil, mis en uvre pour lutilisation, des fins
thrapeutiques, des eaux minrales et thermales, des gaz thermaux et des boues. Le mot
thermalisme implique que soit utilise une eau dont les vertus curatives sont reconnues (effets
chimiques, thermiques et mcaniques) par le corps mdical.

12 orientations thrapeutiques sont retenues pour une prise en charge. Mais, parmi celles-ci, la
rhumatologie et les troubles respiratoires reprsentent la grande majorit des cures thermales
(84% des prises en charge).

En France, pour tre prise en charge par lassurance maladie, la cure thermale doit
obligatoirement tre prescrite par un mdecin ou un chirurgien-dentiste. Toute cure commence
donc par une consultation du mdecin, celui-ci prconise le traitement, les eaux utiliser, et
donc la station o effectuer sa cure.

La dure de prise en charge dune cure thermale est fixe 18 jours de traitement. Le montant
de la prise en charge est de 70% des forfaits de surveillance mdicale et des pratiques mdicales
complmentaires et de 65% du forfait thermal. Ces forfaits sont fixs sur la base de tarifs
conventionnels. Selon les ressources de lassur, les frais de dplacement et dhbergement
peuvent tre pris en charge.

Modalits de prise en charge des cures thermales en France, en 2009 :

La part de lactivit des tablissements thermaux prise en charge est importante. Selon le Conseil
national des exploitants thermaux (CNETh), les cures thermales rembourses par lAssurance
maladie reprsentent 74% du chiffre daffaires total de ces tablissements.

La France compte 108 stations thermales, et 112 tablissements habilits par le Ministre de la
Sant dispenser des cures thermales. Une dizaine de ces stations ne sont pas en activit.
Ces stations sont rparties dans une quarantaine de dpartements, avec une concentration
particulire au sud-est dune ligne Metz-Bordeaux, cest dire dans les massifs montagneux et
leurs bordures. Les deux-tiers dentre-elles sont situes dans 5 rgions Aquitaine, Languedoc-
Roussillon, Rhne-Alpes, Midi-Pyrnes et Auvergne.
Les deux indications thrapeutiques principales, rhumatologie et troubles respiratoires, sont
traites respectivement dans 87 et 38 stations. Chaque station traite en moyenne deux
indications thrapeutiques.

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En 2008, le nombre de curistes accueillis sest lev 492 331 reprsentant 8 805 571 journes
de cures. Il faudrait ajouter ces chiffres les consommateurs de cure thermale libre et de sjours
de sant au nombre de 65 772, ce qui correspond 324 000 journes, ainsi que la clientle des
accompagnants value 250 000 personnes.

La frquentation est oriente la baisse depuis plusieurs annes : entre 2000 et 2006, le nombre
de curistes a baiss de 9,56%, soit une perte de 52 150 curistes, de 1 043 000 de journes de
cure reprsentant un chiffre daffaires de 73 M. Entre 2006 et 2008, la chute sest ralentie, avec
une baisse de 1,46%. La demande de cures thermales mane essentiellement des dpartements
o sont implantes les stations, et des dpartements limitrophes. La demande de soins
spcifiques est induite par lexistence mme dune offre de soins de proximit.
En outre, la part de la clientle trangre est infime, elle reprsente 1 % de la clientle totale en
2008.

En termes de typologie du public des cures thermales, selon une tude de la Scurit Sociale
datant de 2008 : 58% sont des femmes, un tiers des curistes, probablement de jeunes retraits,
sont gs de 60 69 ans. Si lon ajoute la tranche dge des 70 79 ans, cette proportion passe
60%. Les curistes de plus de 60 ans gnrent 68% des dpenses des cures alors quils
reprsentent moins de 21% de la population et 47,2% des dpenses rembourses. En outre, ils
bnficient de 64% des cures en raison principalement de troubles rhumatismaux, de troubles
affectant les voies respiratoires ou relevant de la phlbologie.
Les enfants et les jeunes de moins de 20 ans sont, quant eux, concerns par 7% des cures et
sont soigns pour dautres types daffections : celles des voies respiratoires ou dans une moindre
mesure, des affections relevant de la dermatologie. Ils gnrent prs de 2% des dpenses de
cures thermales alors quils reprsentent 25% de la population.

La stratgie du secteur thermal franais est au recentrage sur les mtiers de base du
thermalisme, ou en tout cas la diversification lintrieur du thermalisme autour de 4 axes :
adopter une approche innovante en matire de besoins/services, prenant en compte les
mutations des marchs, le nouvel environnement conomique et social, du secteur, et
sappuyant sur une vision prospective des modes de mise en march, avec le rle
prminent dInternet, et du e-thermalisme ;
profiter dun atout unique des stations thermales, avec la concentration du personnel
mdical et paramdical, et le savoir-faire reconnu dans laccueil des seniors (la clientle
thermale est en majorit ge de plus de 65 ans) ;
ractualiser et raffirmer le rle prventif et dducation sanitaire des stations thermales,
et dvelopper des services innovants distance, et tout au long de lanne ;
enfin, privilgier un nouveau modle de dveloppement en phase avec les volutions
dmographiques, et notamment le vieillissement de la population, et concevoir de
nouvelles offres dimmobilier et dhbergement en phase avec les
attentes/handicaps/contraintes des seniors : accessibilit, ergonomie, services, et
intgrant les nouveaux services daide la personne ge.

Annex 9 : Exemples daides au dpart en vacances accordes par les rgions franaises
Source : Etude sur le tourisme social et associatif mene par Dtente Consultants pour le compte de la
Direction du tourisme et de lANCV

Exemples daides au dpart en vacances accordes par les rgions franaises
: Etude sur le tourisme social et associatif mene par Dtente Consultants pour le compte de la
Direction du tourisme et de lANCV
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Exemples daides au dpart en vacances accordes par les rgions franaises
: Etude sur le tourisme social et associatif mene par Dtente Consultants pour le compte de la

1-12

1-13
Annex 10: Calendrier des vacances scolaires 2009-2010

1-14
LIST OF INTERVIEWEES

Name of the
interviewee
Position Organisation Type of
organisa
tion
Interview
date
Laurence
Dermenonville
Chef du bureau des
clientles touristiques
Ministre de
lconomie, de
lIndustrie et de
lEmploi Sous-
direction du tourisme
Public
authority
15/03/2010
Philippe Kaspi Directeur gnral ANCV Public
authority
15/03/2010
Rmy Charousset Conseiller pour le
dveloppement de la
politique sociale du
tourisme
ANCV Public
authority

Christine Bouyet Dlgue gnrale UNAT NGO 17/02/2010
Franois Soulage Prsident national Caritas France NGO
Marc Castille Secours Populaire NGO 08/02/2010
Marie-Magdeleine
Hilaire
Dlgue gnrale Vacances ouvertes NGO 10/02/2010
Jean-Franois
Simon
Dlgu gnral Ethic Etapes Private 05/02/2010
Annette Masson Prsidente Tourisme et Handicaps NGO 17/02/2010
Soraya Sat Responsable du
rseau culture et
loisirs
Restos du coeur NGO 11/03/2010

LIST OF STRUCTURES CONTACTED BY EMAILS

Private stakeholders:

Organisation Name Surname Position
Fdration unie des auberges de jeunesse
(FUAJ)
Agns Lahouel
Alliance nationale des UCJG - YMCA France Marc Lehning Prsident
Jeunesse au plein air (JPA) Jacques Henrard Secrtaire gnral
La ligue de l'enseignement Jacques Chauvin Charg de mission
vacances
Ligue franaise des auberges de jeunesse Monique Bonnenfant Secrtaire gnrale
CNAJEP (ducation populaire) Magali Verdier Charge de projets
OFAJ Heike Hartmann Responsable des
jumelages
Union nationale des centres sportifs de
plein air (UCPA)
Damien Jacquart Charg de mission
relations
institutionnelles
Association nationale Vacances mutualistes
(ANVM)
Jean-Claude Nrisson Prsident
Cap France Jean-Michel Coeffe Directeur
Fdration nationale Lo Lagrange (FNLL) Yves Blein Secrtaire gnral
Loisirs Vacances Tourisme (LVT) Alain Le Fur Prsident
Vacances et familles Stanley Jacquet Dlgu gnral
VVF Villages Patrick Brault Dlgu gnral
Fdration nationale des ans ruraux Maguy Bouhin Dlgue gnrale
Les Petits Frres des Pauvres Armelle Guilhermet
Vacances bleues Alain Digeon Responsable des
partenariats
Restos du cur Soraya Sait
Villages Club du Soleil Alex Nicola Directeur gnral
Association des paralyss de France Nolle Pirony Responsable conseil et
aides aux vacances
UFCV Luc Cazenave Directeur gnral

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Regional authorities and associations:

Region Institution Name Surname
Nord Pas de Calais
Conseil rgional / tourisme Matthieu Herman
DRT Nathalie Thieuleux
UNAT Pascal Sarpeaux
Conseil rgional/Europe Vincent Van der Poorten
Lorraine
Conseil rgional Emilie Masson
UNAT Pierre Charles
DRT Jean-Marie Franois
Rhne Alpes
Conseil rgional Caroline Barnay
UNAT Frdric Prelle
Conseil rgional/programmes europens
DRT Jean Mathis
Midi-Pyrnes
Conseil rgional Stphane Beyrand
UNAT Georges Glandires
DRT Francis Giora
PACA
Conseil rgional Laurent Greffeuille
UNAT Yannick Gallien
DRT Dominique Salomon
Languedoc-Roussillon
Conseil rgional Magali Ferrand
UNAT Grard Calas
DRT Alain Dudicourt
Alsace
Conseil rgional Jean-Claude Petit
DRT Georges Klaerr-Blanchard
UNAT Philippe Engel
Conseil rgional Europe
Champagne Ardenne
DRT Hlne Berthaut
UNAT Safi Kada
Service amnagement du territoire Didier Breton
Picardie
Service tourisme Fabien Roche
UNAT Jacques Estienne
DRT M-Franoise Salon
Aquitaine
DRT Marielle Mallet
UNAT Yves Audion
Service tourisme - unit Europe Florence Bouteau
Auvergne
DRT Franois Martin
UNAT Jean-Michel Barreyre
Basse-Normandie
DRT Marcel Stephan
UNAT Yvon Bonnet
Bourgogne
DRT Henri Iniesta
UNAT Thierry Soreau
Bretagne
DRT Laurent Goedfroy
UNAT Alain Le Fur
UNAT Pierre-Charles Harry
Franche-Comt
DRT Patrice Du Boulet
UNAT Vronique Lorenzelli
Haute-Normandie DRT Brigitte Rince
Ile de France
DRT Mladen Duspara
UNAT Franois Henrion

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Limousin
DRT Jean-Claude Devos
UNAT Bernard Poumroulie
Pays de la Loire
DRT Jean Berthier
UNAT Louis Basdevant
Poitou Charentes
DRT Jean-Marie Mocquet
UNAT Philippe Moretti

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List of documents

Etude sur les structures du tourisme social et associatif Rapport ralis pour lANCV et
la Direction du tourisme, 2008
ANCV Rapport annuel 2008
Jean Pierre Marcon, Le tourisme associatif en milieu rural, source de dveloppement local
et de cohsion sociale, Conseil conomique et social, 2006
Claude Blaho-Poncet, Michelle Cabanis, Luc Greffier, Tourisme, conomie 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 dpart en vacances des
familles, CNT (2004)
Rapport sur lavenir des quipements du tourisme social et associatif, Unat, 2005
Un tourisme associatif ambitieux, Unat, 2006
Le tourisme associatif, une ralit conomique et sociale, Unat, 2006
Gilles Caire, Les associations franaises de tourisme social face aux politiques
europennes, 2006
Temps des familles, temps des enfants : des espaces de loisirs, Confrence de la famille,
2007
Franoise Potier, Josette Sicsic, Synthse 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 lconomie
sociale, ditions lHarmattan, 2002

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GOOD PRACTICE DESCRIPTIONS

French Chques-vacances (Holiday vouchers)
Name of the expert
conducting research
Marion Doublet
Country France
Respondents/informants

Agence nationale pour les Chques Vacances (National Holiday
Vouchers Agency)
Target group involved:

The main target group of the chque-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.
Description of
mechanism:
The chque-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
chques-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.

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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.

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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 chques 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 chque-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%)

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For the firms, the holiday vouchers are deductible from taxable
benefits under certain conditions. For firms with less than 50
employees, the chque-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).
Lessons learned 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.
Chques 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.

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Bourse Solidarit Vacances (BSV)
Name of the expert
conducting research
Carine Guidali
Marion Doublet
Country France
Respondents/informants Agence Nationale pour les Chques Vacances

Beneficiaries of the Bourse Solidarit 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.
Description: 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 Chques-Vacances
(ANCV) since November 2006.

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.
needs:

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.

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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.
mechanisms
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, Comits daction et entraide sociale, Cap
France, comits dentreprises, Center Parcs, Ethic Etapes,
Eurodisney, Fdration des uvres laques, 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.

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.
mechanisms:
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.

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Seniors en vacances
Providing all-included holidays for low-income and isolated seniors
Name of the expert
conducting research
Marion Doublet
Country France

Agence nationale pour les Chques Vacances (National Holiday
Vouchers Agency)

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
Description of exchange: 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 all-
inclusive 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.
needs:

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, laccompagnement
low fat menus.
Locally the associations in partnership help the beneficiaries to
prepare their holidays.
mechanisms
ANCV is responsible for the programme and negotiates offers with
stakeholders in order to put together holiday packages (all-
inclusive 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.
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.

1-26
mechanisms:

Public funding (50%
of the stay) for non-
taxable 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)

Lessons learned 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.

Holiday gift box for young people (project)
Encouraging young adults holidays
Name of the expert
conducting research
Marion Doublet
Country France

Ministry of Economy, Industry and Employment Tourism
Department
Laurence Dermenonville
Target group involved: 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
Description of exchange: 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 doesnt concern specifically off-season holidays.
needs:

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 parents car) for their
holiday, and only 25% use the train.
mechanisms
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
mechanisms:

About 50% of the
social package
financed by ANCV
25% to 30% in
charge of the
target, which
means 30 to 50
euro without
transport.
About 25% financed
by partners to be
found.
Lessons learned
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
conducting research
Marion Doublet
Country France
Respondents/informants CCE SNCF (works council of French national railway company)

All SNCF employees (all financial situations) are concerned but
young workers from 18 to 25 have an extra grant for these kinds
of travels.
Description of exchange: 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.
needs:

Stays are focused on intercultural exchanges on the theme of
railway: visit of rail museums, all trips are made by train.
mechanisms
The stays last one to two weeks and are organised on and off-
season. 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 (Balatonfldvar). 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
years 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
mechanisms:

No public funding
but employees
can pay the stays
with holiday
vouchers.
Contribution from
participants depends on
their revenue (family
quotient): discount from
10 to 65% on the price
of stays. Transportation
to the visited countries is
paid by the participants.
French young
workers have an
extra grant of 200
euro per stay.
Lessons learned 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
conducting research
Marion Doublet
Country France

Vacances Ouvertes (NGO)
Marie-Madeleine Hilaire, general manager

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.
Description of exchange: 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.

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).
needs:

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.

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.
mechanisms
The association Vacances Ouvertes sells the packages to local
authorities wishing to set up this programme (regions, districts,
dpartements, 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.
mechanisms:

No public subsidies.
Holiday vouchers are
bought to ANCV
Participants pay
the rest of their
stays

Local authorities pay
the package
Lessons learned 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 Europen could be extended
with the development of a system of payment usable
everywhere in Europe.

Calypso Country Report France 2010

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