160 TOURISM LAW IN EUROPE Atout France has both a national and international dimension. Thanks to this new tool, the State wished to carry out its role of strategic steering of projects more effectively and to refocus on its essential missions of coordination and impetus in accordance with the objectives of the general review of public policies (la révision générale des politiques publiques – RGPP). When the law on the modernisation of tourist services was passed on 22 July 2009, the legislator opted for the legal form of an economic interest grouping (EIG) because, by definition, its purpose “to facilitate or develop the economic activity of its members, to improve or increase the results of this activity”. This status, by associating public and private persons, effectively enables it to fulfil its main mission, which is to contribute to the development of the activity of all the economic players in tourism. This example is highly significant of the phenomenon of the multiplication of the number of agencies alongside the traditional State administrations. This process is part of a series of reflections and measures reflecting the recent shift from a “producer state” to a “regulator” or “strategist” state, and more generally from a welfare state to a liberal state. Taking over the prerogatives of Maison de la France, Atout France is strengthening its position at international level thanks to a network of 33 offices in 30 countries. Through this organisation, which mobilises a total of more than 346 people, the structure has a perfect knowledge of international markets and cultures which enables it to target and relay to its members the promotional actions of its partners. 1) Main missions Purpose: Codified in Article L. 141-2 of the French Tourism Code, the missions of GIE Atout France are part of the pursuit of a threefold objective, namely: “the promotion of France, the realisation of tourism engineering operations and the implementation of a policy of competitiveness and quality of companies in the sector”. Atout France carries out a number of general interest missions with the support of the Directorate for the regulation of tourism professions, classifications and quality. The department is responsible for promoting tourism in France, registering travel and tourism operators (OVS) and classifying tourist offices and accommodation, with the exception of furnished tourist accommodation.
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