France: new in tourism!
Tuesday 23 June 2009
Bill "development and modernization of tourist services - called" Bill Novelli, the name of the Secretary of State for Tourism confirmed in office in the new government Fillon IV is still under consideration Parliament.
It was amended in 1st reading by the National Assembly on 23 June 2009, after being examined by the Senate in May.
Recall the objectives of the Act:
Tourism remains one of the first sectors of activity french, but the market share of France in the destination of world tourism flows does not increase the rate at which it may claim.
Therefore modernize French tourism and better marketing. To do this, it is first necessary to give to the travel conditions for their competitiveness by modernizing regulations applicable to them.
We must also make a major effort to renovate the hotel and offers a better integration of the components of the bid, which requires better coordination of public and private actors. The reform of our system of classification of tourist accommodation and the creation of a single operator, the tourism development agency, will contribute to the modernization of tourism.
Finally, we must ensure better access to French tourist services, which includes an overhaul of the system of holiday vouchers.
The outline of the bill in its current state are as follows:
- Birth of ATOUT France, economic interest grouping resulting from approximation of ODITE France (engineering tourist agency) and Maison de la France (promotion agency of France abroad), which becomes the operator single state's tourism
- End of the exclusivity of the profession of travel agent (although a number of important conditions are to meet to be allowed to sell the trip ")
- Reform of the hotel classification system with the birth of a fifth star,
- Lower rate of VAT in the catering trade rose to 5.5%
- Distribution of vacation checks extended to SMEs.
More info: http://www.senat.fr/dossierleg/pjl08-200.html