Tourism Law in Europe

FRANCE | LAURENCE JÉGOUZO 187 Mission of tourist unions: On the other hand, the tourist unions carry out their missions freely, as defined by their board of directors and voted by their general assembly. In fact, these missions, without being qualified as compulsory or optional as in the case of tourist offices, are often similar. 2.3.1. COMPULSORY TASKS OF TOURIST OFFICES Definition: Article L. 133-3 of the French Tourism Code, amended by the Law of 22 July 2009 on the development and modernisation of tourist services, sets out these missions. Traditionally, they are reception and information services as well as tourism promotion for the municipality or group of municipalities in coordination with the departmental tourism committee and the regional tourism committee. These missions are generally the reason why local elected representatives created them. 2.3.2. OPTIONAL MISSIONS OF TOURIST OFFICES Definitions: The optional missions of the tourist offices consist of:  the elaboration and implementation of local tourism policy and local tourism development programmes, in particular in the fields of the elaboration of tourist services, the operation of tourist and leisure facilities; studies, leisure activities, the organisation of festivals and cultural events;  the marketing of tourist services under the conditions laid down by the Law of 22 July 2009; and  consultation on collective tourist facilities projects. Marketing of tourist products: The Law of 13 July 199250 laying down the conditions for the exercise of activities relating to the organisation and sale of trips or holidays authorised the marketing of tourist products by tourist offices on condition that it was limited to their geographical area and after authorisation from the prefecture of the department when they were acting in the general interest and private initiative was lacking or absent. Otherwise, this constituted an infringement of the principle of freedom of trade and industry51. Since they 50 Law No. 92-645 of 13 July 1992 laying down the conditions for the exercise of activities relating to the organisation and sale of travel or stays, OJ 14 July 1992, p. 9457. 51 the French Tourism Code, art. L. 211-1 III: “Local tourism bodies receiving support from the State, local authorities or their groupings may engage in or assist in the general interest in the operations mentioned in

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