178 TOURISM LAW IN EUROPE 4) Missions Purpose: The departmental tourism committee has a major role in rural development. It contributes to the development, promotion and marketing of products at departmental level in conjunction with tourism partners. It is also responsible for promotion, even though the texts state that the regional tourism committee has sole responsibility. Rural tourism: Within this framework, the départements establish programmes to support rural amenities. They contribute, through the global equipment grant of which they are beneficiaries, to the modernisation of rural accommodation, in other words, rural hotels, cottages, bed and breakfasts, farm campsites, etc. Possibility of drawing up a departmental tourism development plan: Provided for in Article L. 132-1 of the French Tourism Code, this document can be produced by the departmental council with the support of the departmental tourism committee. It should be noted, however, that this is only an option provided for as a “need”, which would mean, in our opinion, that it must be a necessity, either because the department is very touristy and must have very detailed elements that the regional plan does not provide, or because the regional plan is insufficiently precise and sets out, for example, only the main lines relating to financing. Marketing of tourism products: The departmental tourism committees are competent for the marketing of tourist products. Thus they can carry out the activity of tourist operators subject to the registration system provided for in Article L. 211-1 of the French Tourism Code. Indeed, they very often produce products adapted to their department for works councils, travel agencies, tour operators and coach operators. These products are generally sold within internal or external structures of the departmental tourism committees called leisure and hospitality services. In addition, they play an advisory role for professionals in the sector who wish to develop this type of product. The development of the departmental tourism development plan: The departmental plan referred to in Article L. 132-1 of the French Tourism Code takes into account the guidelines defined by the regional tourism and leisure plan. This document generally makes it possible, for a period of four or five years, to formalise the tourism policy of a department. These objectives are most often oriented towards strengthening the attractiveness of tourism, supporting commercial tourist accommodation, and contractualisation with partner local authorities. On reading several departmental plans, it can be seen that financial aid and technical assistance are provided for each of the tourism axes developed. However, the financial aspect should be covered by the regional plan.
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