The Organization of Wine Tourism in France

Abstract

Summary This paper aims to present the outcome of research into French public sector management of wine tourism, undertaken in 2001. The sample for the research consisted of those working in an executive position within the Comites Departemental or Regional de Tourisme in wine areas. Although smaller wine regions were contacted it was found that only in the big wine regions did this function exist. In addition to the wine regions two other government institutions (Maison de la France and AFIT, l'Association Francaise d'Ingenieurie Touristique) were interviewed for the study, with partial success. The main conclusions of the study are that: insufficient research into data have been collected for the national strategy, especially of wine tourist profiles; the French public sector is composed of many bodies working at different levels-national, regional, local, which, despite having a clear definition to their responsibilities and duties seem to have difficulties in working together towards collective goals; research into wine tourism operation and goals was not undertaken with or in all wine regions, draft objectives show priorities of some regions but not others; and communications between involved parties is often slow due to differing political loyalties.