Report on the Avenir Montagne plan

Mountain territories are subject to major changes such as snow cover difficulties, the melting of glaciers or the erosion of biodiversity. The challenges are many.

Aware of the potential but also of the fragility of the French mountains, Avenir Montagnes is laying the foundations for a new model. A more diversified, more sustainable tourism model. A model that both improves the quality of life of the inhabitants and guarantees the experience of a successful stay for tourists, all year round.

In this sense, Prime Minister Jean Castex presented on May 27, 2021 and after numerous consultations with mountain stakeholders, Avenir Montagnes, a major support plan for mountain territories towards more sustainable and diversified tourism. This plan is based on 3 priorities:

• promote the diversification of the tourist offer and the conquest of new customers,
• accelerate the ecological transition of mountain tourist activities,
• revitalize leisure real estate and stop the formation of “cold beds”.

The “3DS” law has also reinforced the model of tourist residences by allowing local property companies supported by communities to be given priority for the purchase of accommodation with a view to continuing to rent it.

Future Mountains Investment

Mobilization of €300 million in investment aid financed equally between the State and the Regions, including €50 million in 2021 and €100 million in 2022 for the State.

Eligible equipment and investment projects must be located within the perimeter of a mountain range and carried out by local authorities or by other players in the mountain ranges (public establishments, associations, joint syndicates, companies, etc.). They can intervene in several fields of activity:

• the development of sustainable tourist equipment linked to the diversification of two or four seasons and the modernization of equipment allowing the practice of a snow activity;
• support for the ecological transition of activities and the protection of biodiversity. A budget of 10 M€ is thus devoted to the construction and restoration of 1.000 km of paths as vectors of nature education and the preservation of biodiversity;
• the development of first (or last) kilometer mobility, including cable transport mobility;
• the renovation of certain tourist accommodation and the creation or renovation of accommodation for seasonal workers;
• the renovation or modernization of thermal establishments and wellness centers or even the upgrading or diversification of the offer of thermal spas, as well as the enhancement of the historical, natural and built heritage of thermal spas. In the end, 18 M € were mobilized for hydrotherapy for an initial objective of 10 M € for the floor.

In 2021 and 2022, €150 million in State loans were committed to 484 investment projects, generating a total investment of €560 million.

Local authorities (municipalities, EPCIs, departments) represent 67% of project leaders and 64% of grants allocated in 2021 and 2022; the other beneficiaries are associations, businesses, PNRs, national parks and mixed syndicates.

The projects supported by the State within the framework of Avenir Montagnes Investissement are available at the following address: Avenir Montagnes Investissement 2021 (arcgis.com).

Three Engineering Support Devices

Future Mountains Engineering

Territorial support program piloted by the ANCT, with the support of the Banque des Territoires, endowed with €16 million over two years. It provides operational and tailor-made support to 62 mountain territories in the design and implementation of their transition project towards more sustainable and diversified tourism.

The 62 winning territories were selected in two waves, in October 2021 and February 2022 (list in appendix). These benefit:

• funding on a flat-rate basis of 60.000 euros per year for 2 years, by the ANCT, of a dedicated project manager, to support the design, implementation and monitoring of the new tourism development project in transition;
• access to an engineering service offer from around twenty program partners, with new cooperation agreements signed with the FFCAM, Nordic France, the FFRandonnée, the Fédération des Grands sites de France, the Cerema and the Fabrique des transitions . The service offer is available at: OfferDeService_AM_v6.pdf (agence-cohesion-territoires.gouv.fr). The Banque des Territoires finances methodological support for project managers to speed up the development and organization of the project;
• animation and sharing of experiences at national level and by mountain range with the support of the mountain police station.

A support course dedicated to the elected representatives of the 62 Avenir Montagnes Ingénierie winning territories is deployed in partnership with the Fabrique des Transitions.

Future Mountains Mobilities

Endowed with €10 million, carried by the ANCT and France Mobilités, this system supports in engineering sustainable, innovative and inclusive mobility projects in mountain areas.

The system has been opened to communities and authorities organizing mobility as well as to their private partners. The winners benefit from financial support of up to 50% of the eligible part of their project, limited to €200.000 (with a share of the grant of a maximum of €25.000 for the investment component), and technical support provided by the CEREMA. 100 projects were selected in two waves, March and October 2022.

The projects supported within the framework of Avenir Montagnes Mobilités are available at the following address: https://www.francemobilites.fr/cartographie-laureats#montagnes

France Tourism Engineering

Led by Atout France and endowed with €5 million financed by the Banque des Territoires, this system aims to provide engineering support to 50 mountain resorts for the renovation of their leisure properties. As part of the first wave of selection, 25 sites were selected in December 2021, covering 33 stations. Each of the sites benefits from tailor-made engineering support from Atout France for two and a half years, corresponding to a financial commitment of 2 euros.

Examples of projects supported by Avenir Montagnes

The renovation of the thermal baths of Bagnères de Luchon

Supported by Avenir Montagnes Investissement (Massif des Pyrénées)

Located in the heart of the Bagnères de Luchon resort, the city's thermal baths have benefited from a complete renovation and extension. As part of a territorial partnership strategy, thermal activity has historically been a key activity there. The objective is to consolidate Luchon as a health and nature tourism resort.

OVERALL COST: €30,8 million, including €2,87 million in State loans under Avenir Montagnes Investissement and the Occitanie Region

Les Orres ski resort

Accompanied by France Tourisme Ingénierie on the renovation of leisure property (Massif des Alpes)

The resort of Les Orres, committed to the energy and tourism transition, has a resort center classified as a remarkable heritage of the XNUMXth century and a sector of tourist residences, Bois Méan. Atout France supports the development of an energy and architectural renovation charter in order to guarantee compliance with the Remarkable Contemporary Architecture label and promote the resort's identity. Participative work with socio-professionals has also been undertaken on building bases and commercial advertising. Atout France also provides project management assistance for the overall renovation of a condominium in the resort centre.

The creation of a Sport Nature Handicap respite holiday village

Supported by Avenir Montagnes Investissement (Massif Central)

After the opening of a cycling stopover in a beautiful typical Creuse farmhouse in Champagnat on the route of the Est Creuse cycle route, SAS Roue d'escampette gives new scope to its Sport-Nature-Handicap project with the creation of a real respite holiday village on the grounds of this former farm. With 20 places, this project, which was supported by the departmental CAUE and which promotes local materials and reuse, will make it possible to accommodate all audiences, in particular people with hearing, visual, mental or motor disabilities. The objective is to allow everyone to practice outdoor activities, to benefit from the appropriate equipment on site and to take advantage of a time of respite for real family holidays, including for caregivers.

OVERALL COST: €2,2 million including €650.000 in State loans under Avenir Montagnes Investissement

A breath of fresh air for the Markstein resort

Supported by Avenir Montagnes Investissement (Vosges Mountains)

The project allows the destruction of a tourist wasteland, formerly a luxury hotel with seven levels. This landscape wart, today a danger and an obstacle to attractiveness, is located in the heart of a resort in the process of diversification. The contribution of Avenir Montagnes will make it possible to promote a new image and a new reception project in the resort.

OVERALL COST: €2,3 million including €1,84 million for Avenir Montagnes Investissement (in two phases, 2021 and 2022)