The Senate votes on a support system for mountain tourism

This provision, "negotiated with all the actors of the mountain", underlined the Minister of the Cohesion of the territory Jacqueline Gourault, was adopted within the framework of the examination in first reading of the bill 3Ds (differentiation, decentralization, deconcentration and simplification).

This is, explained the minister, to fight against "the real scourge" represented by the disappearance of tourist rental accommodation in mountain resorts, further accentuated by the season without ski lifts, due to the Covid epidemic. -19.

Furnished accommodation in mountain tourist residences is in fact generally owned by individuals who rent them out through professional operators.

When they are put up for sale, operators benefit from a priority right for their acquisition, but very often do not have the means to exercise it. The property is then sold to an individual who will no longer rent it out. We then speak of "cold beds" to designate accommodation rarely occupied by their owner and not rented. According to the government, the erosion of the "hot bed" park is "between 1% and 3%" each year.

The voted mechanism proposes to transfer the right of priority to specific bodies approved by the State. These would undertake that the property would be operated as a tourist residence for at least nine years.

The rapporteur Dominique Estrosi Sassone (LR) had initially given an unfavorable opinion to the government amendment, believing that it asked "a certain number of questions". She finally agreed with the arguments of the minister who undertook to involve the Senate in the development of its drafting in the wake of the parliamentary shuttle.

Senator from Savoy Cédric Vial (ratt. LR) said he was "very favorable" to the solution proposed by the government, even if "it deserves to be supervised".

The Senate also unanimously voted on another government amendment aimed at allowing communities to acquire abandoned property ("property without masters") after 10 years (instead of 30) in revitalization areas. rural areas (14.900 municipalities concerned) and in priority areas of city policy.