The needs analysis conducted with different tourism SMEs in the French territory highlighted some challenges relevant to the comprehensive development or update of tourism strategies. Almost all the interviewed SMEs agreed on the importance of the development of comprehensive national or regional strategies considering economic, environmental and social sustainability of tourism and the need for an integrated approach for best practice exchange for strategy development on national, regional and local level, which are the main focus of Topic 4 of the Transition Pathway. Even more important would be an intensified action in the dissemination of these good practices and the active participation of all players in the tourism ecosystem.

One significant EU-funded initiative related to comprehensive tourism strategies development in France is the “INTERREG Europe” programme, which aims to promote interregional cooperation and exchange of experiences among European regions to improve regional development policies. One notable Interreg Europe project in France is the OUR WAY project, which aims to contribute to the protection and promotion of natural and cultural heritage in Europe using greenways by means of the improvement of policy instruments related to the cultural and natural quality of the territories involved, including tools for their governance and developing specific measures for their promotion and preservation. Through interregional cooperation, the project has exchanged practices and developed Action Plans to integrate lessons into regional policies. The project has been instrumental in showcasing how integrating green infrastructure into tourism strategies can lead to sustainable regional development, demonstrating that sustainable tourism development can be a driver for regional economic growth while preserving the environment. 

In this example, lessons learnt highlighted the importance of improving coordination among the different key actors, developing governance systems to manage greenways, identifying models and good practices for the protection and maintenance of greenways, identifying financial instruments and funding for greenways.

Below some examples of lessons that can be drawn from existing case studies: 

• Integrating sustainability: France should prioritize integrating economic, environmental, and social sustainability considerations into its tourism strategies. Lessons from “Sustainable Tourism Development: Guide for Local Planners” by World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) emphasize the importance of balancing economic benefits with environmental conservation and social equity.
• Multi-level collaboration: successful strategy development requires collaboration between national, regional, and local stakeholders. Case studies such as “The Role of Regional Tourism Organizations in the Development of Rural Tourism” by Eurostat provide insights into effective multi-level governance structures.
• Integrate data-driven decision making: using data and research is critical for informed decision-making. The report “Tourism in France: Key Figures” by ATOUT France provides valuable statistics and insights into tourism trends that can inform strategy development.
• Integration with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): aligning tourism strategies with the SDGs is crucial for achieving sustainable outcomes. The publication “Tourism for SDGs: Good Practices in the Mediterranean” by Plan Bleu highlights best practices for integrating tourism into regional sustainable development strategies.
• Promotion of responsible tourism: encouraging responsible tourism practices is essential for minimizing negative impacts and maximizing benefits. The “Tourism Industry Trends and Initiatives” report by Sustainable Travel International offers insights into innovative approaches to responsible tourism.