FRANCE
Introduction
Rural tourism in France is an essential part of the French tourism sector. It is an element of the image of a region and its attractiveness. Farmers have contributed significantly to its development.
Rural tourism is of interest for farmers:
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To develop and preserve their created and natural heritage
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To diversify their activities
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To create additional income
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To welcome and meet people from different backgrounds
Rural tourism has evolved along the countryside, with adaptations of agricultural activity and the arrival of new population, part of which is employed in tourism. It is diverse in accommodation and additional activities and has no seasonal character.
Rural tourism in France offers:
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Accommodation: gîtes (cottages), gîtes for children, guest rooms, guest houses, camping on the farm, natural camping, etc
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Catering: table d'hôte, farm inn, degustation in the farm, snacks on the farm, etc
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Recreational activities and sports: fishing, hunting, outdoor sports, hiking, horse riding, cycling, mountain biking, etc
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Cultural and educational activities: exploration of agriculture and rural life, educational farms, school in the farm, etc
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Sales of farm products: picking of farm produce, selling of organic quality products processed or not, etc
1. Brief characteristic of the current state of agrotourism in France
Agrotourism in France is considered still not very well developed sector. According to figures from the agricultural statistics of 2010, about 100 000 farms (18%) are engaged in direct sales of products and more than 17,700 (3%) in an activity related to tourism (two-thirds offer accommodation and nearly 16 % catering) .
Chambers of Agriculture in France support the sector through technical advice, the establishment of specific training, professionalisation and networking of players in the sector with the creation of federative brands.
Aid for rural tourism
The development and exploitation of the advantages of tourism in rural areas is a priority in the measures for rural development implemented by the Ministry of agriculture, food and fisheries:
- Contract of State-Region plan 2007-2013,
- European Programme PDRH 2007-2013, Axis 3 of EAFRD
- Measure 311: Diversification into non-agricultural activities for farmers,
- Measure 313: Promotion of tourism activities, for non-farming public.
- Several provisions benefiting rural tourism have been adopted in the law 2005-157 of 23 February 2005 on the development of rural areas
Departments involved in the development of rural tourism:
- Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Spatial Planning, through the services of DATAR (La Délégation interministérielle à l'aménagement du territoire et à l'attractivité régionale)
- The Ministry of Economy, Industry and Employment, through the management of tourism
- The Ministry of Health, Youth and Sports, through the sports management.
Specialized agencies:
- The Bergerie Nationale, rural tourism department
- The Center of Tourism Resources and Rural Heritage
- The Directorate-General for Competitiveness, Industry and Services (DGCIS), Sub-Directorate of Tourism
- Odit: Observation, Development and Tourism Engineering
- Welcome to the farm, the network of Chambers of Agriculture
World tourism demand is continuously growing and France is well placed in international competition. It is on the first place among the receptive countries in the world (in 2007, 82 million international tourists) and the third country for tourism revenue, after the United States and Spain.
Important facts about French tourism demand :
- 73% of French residents move out of their home for short (at least 1 night) or long stays;
- 9 out of 10 holidays take place in France;
- 63% of the population goes on vacation;
- The average length of stay decreases : the French go more often and for shorter period each time;
- Short stays grow faster than all stays;
Tourism in rural areas comprises:
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85 % of the national territory,
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35 % of domestic tourists,
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50 % of the national capacity of accommodation,
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20% of tourism consumption
2. Certification systems in France
Bienvenue à la Ferme “Ferme Auberge des Trouilles” is a member of the network Bienvenue à la Ferme.
In France Bienvenue à la Ferme is a trademark of Chambers of Agriculture. It is the largest network of farm producers and entrepreneurs offering tourist accommodation in farms. There are more than 6,500 members on French territory.
Benefits
French farms - members of the network Bienvenue à la Ferme offer a full range in:
Farm products:
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More than 4,500 of the members sell farm products
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In 2012 Bienvenue à la Ferme has developed collective stores, where gift boxes and baskets with farm products are offered.
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The Marchés des Producteurs de Pays, brand of Chambres d'agriculture specialized in outdoor markets in the city made a partnership with Bienvenue à la Ferme in 2012.
Catering:
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Nearly 400 Farm inns:
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Over 150 Snacks at the farm. A snack is composed of local specialties and a drink.
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Farmers’ appetizers at the winery
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Bags for picnic: a picnic on the grass with picnic bag including farm produce: salted and sweet specialties, wine or other natural drinks.
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Catering activities for weddings, buffets, trade fairs and shows with services of a farmer and local produce of the regions.
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Rental of meeting rooms in rural areas
Accommodation
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Nearly 700 guest farms
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Nearly 900 farmhouses (apartments farms)
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Nearly 400 campsites farms (accommodation outdoors)
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Nearly 100 children holidays on a farm
Additional services for the leisure time:
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More than 550 farms to explore.
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Nearly 400 educational farms
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More than 200 horse farms
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Hunting on the farm
Bienvenue à la Ferme has its own Ethical charter. By joining the network, the members undertake to respect the quality parameters and guarantee the quality of their services in agricultural tourism. Compliance and monitoring of these commitments are controlled by the decentralized services of the State by the Chambers of Agriculture and by the Bienvenue à la Ferme Network.
Quality requirement
Customer satisfaction through a constant requirement of quality: welcome and service, clean and tidy environment, ... to ensure the welfare of visitors.
Personalized approach
Members of the network Bienvenue à la Ferme will focus on offering their guests a personalized and professional service.
Exciting discovery
Proud of their profession and their farm products produced with the utmost care, farmers will propose a visit to their farm with clear explanations on agricultural practices.
Serving the heritage
Ambassadors of sustainable and responsible agriculture, rooted in the territory, the preservation of agricultural and rural development is a priority for this farmers’ network, because this unique heritage is a common good.
Authentic welcome
The farms in the network generally are part of traditional and authentic architecture, a rich history, rural traditions and architectural know-how in a natural and preserved environment.
Gîtes de France
Gîtes de France is a leading network of homestays in Europe. It is a movement for the development of tourist accommodation created in the Basses-Alpes by a senator at the end of the Second World War. This initiative was involved in a logical planning to fight against rural depopulation.
The National Federation of Gîtes de France is an organization that brings together departmental associations for the promotion and marketing of tourist accommodation and awards unofficial labels to tourist accommodations that meet specifications. The certificates "Gîtes de France" awarded according to the level of comfort (from 1 to 5 ears of corn) are accompanied by a classification and an advertisement that informs the consumer about the quality and level of equipment of the accommodation.
Today, about 47,000 houses exist throughout the national territory ( DOM-TOM included- all the French-administered territories outside of the European continent) and 30,000 guest rooms. 44,000 owners are concerned and the direct and indirect sales account for € 1.2 billion per year. Gîtes de France attracts about 20% of foreign customers. The childcare in families for the holidays is also organized
Standards of Comfort – épis Gîtes de France (ears of corn)
The quality label Gîtes de France guarantees precise standards of comfort (1, 2, 3, 4 ears of corn - épis Gîtes de France) and adherence to a national charter. 
Whatever the ranking, the guests find in the houses the equipment or additional services specified in the description.
All Bed and Breakfast Cottages in France are classified according to the architectural quality of the house, their environment, their level of comfort, decoration and services, and reclassified at least once every 5 years. They are most often revisited in the event of a dispute.
 1 épi Gîtes de France: Simple bedrooms.
 2 épis Gîtes de France: Comfortable rooms, each with at least a bathroom or private bathroom.
 3 épis Gîtes de France: Comfortable rooms, each with private and complete bathroom (shower, bath, wash basin and wc).
 4 épis Gîtes de France : very comfortable rooms, each with private and complete bathrooms. They are arranged in homes of character, in a privileged environment. Additional services are often offered.
Les Pays d’Accueil Touristique
This French label is run by the Fédération des Pays d’Accueil Touristique. Created in 1976, there are now 142 of these "tourist regions" in France. The Pays d'Accueil Touristiques, known as PAT in France, play an active role in the development of tourism by providing facilities, organising tourist events, promoting, marketing and assessing investments, as well as training those involved in the tourist industry.
Les plus beaux villages de France:
The "Most Beautiful Villages in France" label is awarded to rural villages with a population of less than 2,000 which have retained their exceptional architectural heritage. Since 1982 the label has been awarded by the "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France" association. 144 villages currently hold the label, each of which has retained its harmonious style of architecture and urban design, as well as its interesting historical heritage. 149 communes belong to the Plus beaux villages de France association, a non-profit organisation (Loi 1901) which receives financial assitance from local and regional state authorities.
www.les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france.org
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