congress proceedings

Transcription

CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS
Hôtel Holiday Inn Express ***
Paris-Canal de la Villette
68, quai de la Seine | 75019 Paris
www.ffe.com/tourisme
CONTENTS
Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1. Overall summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2. Summary of the talks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3. Promoting the activities of the CNTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
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| CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS
1. Overall summary
Outdoor leisure and sport has really taken off since the 90s, attracting more and more enthusiasts and
professionals who have no hesitation in travelling to other countries to practise their activity. Outdoor sports
are major levers for regional development, create jobs and are factors for social cohesion in the different regions.
Equestrian tourism, which is one of these outdoor sports, therefore has a serious role to play at a European level. The increasing number of riders in recent years shows a real enthusiasm for what is a perpetually changing
activity.
Reflecting this trend, the French Horse-riding Federation National Equestrian Tourism Committee (CNTE-FFE)
organised the 1st European equestrian tourist trails conference on 24 and 25 May this year, in Paris.
54 participants from 9 European nations came together for this first event to exchange their experiences of
trails and equestrian tourism. The CNTE-FFE had invited all the people involved in European and transnational
projects to the event. The National Equestrian Tourism Organisation (ONTE) and the Regional and Departmental Cross-border Equestrian Tourism Committees came to share their various initiatives, with the aim of
examining ways of managing equestrian tourism in Europe, promoting good practices and encouraging the
transfer of experience. In all, 17 speakers came to talk about their problems linked to trails and infrastructures,
at a national and European level. All the talks were an opportunity to highlight and share everyone’s successes
and difficulties in organising this activity.
Organising equestrian tourism
© CRTE Auvergne
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The French experience
Over the two days, the CNTE Chairman, Bernard Pavie, and General Secretary, Christian
Boyer, presented the French experience, both in
Metropolitan France and in the Overseas Territories. In recent years, the CNTE-FFE has led
a strong policy in favour of trails and accommodation, particularly through the implementation of the National Plan for the development
of equestrian tourism infrastructures. This
activity is strategic to the entire horse sector
and to the promotion of rural regions in France.
With the participation of the Chairman of the
International Equestrian Tourism Federation
(FITE), Hervé Delambre, they also focused on
the work carried out jointly between the two
organisations. Their words were illustrated by
talks about the projects that had been completed, with the presentation of an event and two regional initiatives shared with foreign countries. Setting up events can help
to support and sustain the creation of cross-border trails. They are a good means of communication for letting people know
about and discover new circuits.
Two important aspects were also covered:
• The characteristics of trail riders
in order to develop, equestrian tourism needs to consider the needs and expectations of trail riders. It is essential to have a sound
knowledge of their practices in order to make national and cross-border trails viable and sustainable.
• European funds
The talks chosen for the conference aimed to enlighten the people involved on the type of financing they should seek depending on
the type of project they are considering.
1. Overall summary
Foreign participants
France had invited the European countries to the conference with a view to sharing their experience regarding trails and
equestrian tourism. A total of 6 countries responded to the invitation and were keen to talk about these issues: Austria,
Belgium, Spain, Italy, Rumania and the United Kingdom. The different speakers presented national initiatives, analysed ways
of managing equestrian tourism and highlighted good practices.
These exchanges showed that there has been a real structuring of the activity, particularly in countries for which we had little information. Austria and the United Kingdom, in particular, presented a well-developed network of trails and a high-quality equestrian tourism structure with promotion and access to information as its strengths.
The new event also gave us an opportunity to get to know the different countries better and allowed us to add a great deal
to the results of the survey carried out by the FITE in 2011 on equestrian tourism trails and accommodation in the ONTEs.
Certain issues were examined more closely and clarified, leading to a better understanding of the current equestrian tourism
in their country.
The variety of methods of organisation encountered is closely linked to the cultural and historical aspects of each region
and is one of the strengths of the activity in Europe. Each country’s specific characteristics need to be considered in order to
develop equestrian tourism on a European scale. This event has highlighted the strengths of each ONTE and its expectations
for the future.
Pooling and sharing of information
Discussion and partnerships
© Didot
The organisation of a meeting raises a number of aims, one of which is for
the participants to meet. The search for suitable contacts in each country
is essential if we are to work together towards a European equestrian
tourism. To develop our activities on this scale we need clearly identified
referents who can inform and act on behalf of equestrian tourism. It is
therefore up to each country to appoint its own special correspondent
responsible for coordinating trail and accommodation projects at a national and European level.
This 1st Conference was an opportunity for the CNTE-FFE, and for all the
nations present, to forge new contacts with people directly involved in
infrastructures in their region. They add to the list of trail and accommodation correspondents drawn up in the 2011 survey and the contacts identified in previous discussions.
Through this Conference, the key aims were to:
• bring together the French and European stakeholders who may be
•
•
involved in implementing cross-border trail projects,
identify possible partnerships,
discuss potential projects.
The CNTE-FFE is very keen to maintain and deepen the links created with these stakeholders. It is also considering pursuing
its work of investigating and searching for contacts in the other countries.
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1. Overall summary
Opening up to new horizons
Other outdoor sports federations and stakeholders have already introduced projects on a European scale. While each activity has its own special features, there are still characteristics that all of them share. The CNTE-FFE was therefore keen to
invite the European Hiking Federation, the National Outdoor Sports Resources Centre and Marseille-Provence 2013 to share
the results of their experiences.
Bringing together stakeholders of different nationalities, working parties, quality labels, data collection tools and the sharing
of experiences were the main subjects highlighted by these contacts. The European projects and tools that they have put in
place may serve as examples to our different structures in developing equestrian tourism in Europe. The transfer of experiences is a key to helping our activity grow on this scale. It helps to identify good practices with a view to reproducing them
and guaranteeing a certain level of quality on the trails.
Events and meetings help us to build a common culture, allowing people to share their successes and difficulties and work
together to find appropriate solutions. The grouping of European stakeholders also means that their activities may receive
greater consideration from European government policies. This is an essential aspect as it implies recognition of the activity
on this scale and the release of funds or subsidies to develop it.
Developing the practice in Europe
© Vercors à cheval
This 1st conference was an opportunity to share common concerns and begin discussions about ways in which the activity
might be developed in Europe. The speakers attempted to offer solutions, while respecting the special features of each
country. If they are to move towards European equestrian tourism, the ONTEs need to work towards:
• a common European language in order to improve communication and discussion between the countries.
It is essential to work together to define the activity and all the component parts required for implementing it.
• setting up working parties to carry projects and structure a European stakeholder network.
• a definition of trail quality criteria to achieve a certain consistency across Europe.
To preserve and maintain areas where people can ride, it is essential to develop and introduce infrastructures that allow them to do so
in complete safety. The defence, preservation, quality and upkeep of these areas are essential if they are to survive over the long term.
These criteria would help countries to plan and structure their trail riding offer. They could then be adapted to infrastructures on the
trails, again with a view to safety.
• a single platform for circulating information in several languages.
It should create a list of national and cross-border equestrian trails and of the information riders need in order to travel. If this information was more widely available, it would help to sustain equestrian tourism infrastructures and the people responsible for them.
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1. Overall summary
Initiatives in favour of cross-border trails
© E. Minodier
Some talks highlighted the influence of equestrian tourism on many areas of
activity: equestrian sports, health, the economy, the environment, tourism,
etc.
Equestrian trails can serve as a basis for attracting tourists to rural areas. The
aim is to promote a region’s local heritage and preserve the environment.
The movement of people and the exchanges of know-how resulting from the
introduction of trails play a major role in the economic, social and cultural
development of the areas concerned. Cross-border trails help to encourage
people to cross borders on horseback and create tourist activity in the regions they travel through. The conference highlighted that there is still a great
deal of work to do to build up a European equestrian tourism network. Many
ONTEs need, first and foremost, to structure the activity within their own
borders before they can consider setting up European projects.
The speakers raised a number of points to be respected or introduced to support the development of cross-border trails and European cooperation projects:
• standardise the organisation of equestrian tourism within a single territory;
• seek and encourage the creation of partnerships with local and foreign
organisations, particularly with a view to applying for European subsidies;
• place the emphasis on cross-border zones;
• ensure the continuity of trails by dealing with problems linked to access to riding areas and trail development;
• introduce a European-scale relations policy to make it easier to cross borders;
• promote and publicise cross-border trails and maintain them to keep them alive.
Europe at the heart of CNTE-FFE concerns
Certain particularities emerged with regard to the development of trail riding
in the various countries represented. When it comes to discussing the overall
organisation of equestrian tourism, national trails or cross-border trails, each
country has its own special features and its own way of operating. The priorities given to the activity vary from one territory to another.
The various talks highlighted France’s lead in the development of the equestrian tourism activity and more particularly in the national and cross-border
organisation of trails. Its federal model is based on France’s know-how in the
tourism sector and the unity of the equestrian sports and leisure activities
sector within the French Horse-riding Federation.
The training of riders and instructors, the quality of horse-riding and infrastructures, the large number of events and competitions, the structuring of trails and accommodation… all these factors
contribute to the development of these activities and their reputation outside the country.
After the national plan for the development of equestrian tourism infrastructures introduced by France between 2009 and
2012, the CNTE – FFE now intends to tackle the European project. To do this, France is considering supporting a few European projects starting from within its own territory. By monitoring these projects we will see the need to set up a European
organisation dedicated to equestrian tourism.
These first meetings have opened up some promising horizons for the future of European equestrian tourism. A date has
already been set for the second event in 2013.
For full information about the 1st European equestrian tourist trails conference, see www.ffe.com/tourisme.
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2. Summary of the talks
“Presentation of the survey of trails and accommodation in the ONTEs”
Hervé Delambre (FR), Chairman of the International Equestrian Tourism Federation (FITE).
The FITE AGM expressed a desire to undertake significant initiatives concerning equestrian accommodation
and trails at an international level. At the suggestion of Bernard Pavie, Chairman of the CNTE, it gave the
responsibility for this wide-ranging study to the French ONTE. The survey, carried out among the 16 ONTEs
affiliated at the time, focused on two main themes.
Firstly, to identify a special correspondent in each ONTE responsible for trails and accommodation. Secondly,
the aim was to see how each ONTE deals with this fundamental aspect of equestrian tourism, which is a prerequisite for being able to travel on horseback in the best conditions of comfort and safety.
The survey fulfils some obvious aims:
to make it easier to travel on horseback and encourage the activity by implementing
appropriate measures linked to traveller expectations,
to introduce a relations policy to make it easier to cross borders by establishing permanent contact between the managers concerned,
to compare what is done in each ONTE and learn from it,
to ensure that infrastructures are known and used, that they live and provide a living for those who look after them.
•
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•
The survey points to a diversity in the way in which equestrian tourism is organised in Europe. Federal, public or private
structures may be responsible for developing, organising and promoting trail riding. The main stakeholders acting on behalf
of equestrian tourism operate within these different organisational structures.
Among these stakeholders are those directly involved in the activity, i.e. the equestrian federations, the equestrian associations, the professionals in the sector and tourist operators specialising in selling equestrian products.
The equestrian tourism activity may play a role in making a territory more attractive to tourists and broadening the tourist
offer. Local authorities are therefore working on several levels to develop trail riding. They often work with the Regional or
Departmental tourist authorities and organisations involved in developing outdoor activities at a local level.
The European countries that are members of FITE have a real determination to promote equestrian tourism. Certain areas
for development are common to most of them. The ONTEs are guiding them towards prioritising the implementation of new
projects, waymarking, accommodation and trail management and maintenance.
Some countries are well ahead in terms of the organisation, development and promotion of equestrian tourism. Others still
have a great deal to do in terms of access to information and a uniform approach to organising equestrian tourism in the
same territory.
At a European level, there is a problem over the continuity of cross-border trails for all the countries concerned. The main
reasons are the disparities in:
• the legislation, as the regulations governing access to leisure areas, the use of paths and the number of paths vary from
one country to another,
• appreciation, as there is not the same desire to develop and create equestrian tourism trails in each country,
• the financing that may be granted to develop the activity.
Communication and relations between the ONTEs need to be improved if we are to continue to act day after day to support
national and European equestrian tourism. This survey has been the starting point in giving us an initial view of equestrian
tourism in Europe. We now need to get everyone to work together in the same direction, particularly by setting up working
parties.
Contact:
Hervé Delambre, FITE
Website: www.fite-net.org
E-mail: [email protected]
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“An evaluation of the National Equestrian Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan”
Christian Boyer (FR), General Secretary of the French National Equestrian Tourism organisation.
In a society in which tourist development is a key issue, French equestrian tourism has
a major role to play. Among many advantages, it can rely on changing societal values,
such as the environment and education, a proven enthusiasm for outdoor horse-riding
and a network of thousands of kilometres of trails. The CNTE is acting directly today
for 87,000 licence-holders and over 1 million riders. Its key missions are the training
of riders and instructors, improving the quality of structures, organising major events,
circulating information to licence-holders and regional development.
The Second National Equestrian Tourism Infrastructure Meetings of 2008,
and the inter-regional meetings that took place in 2009, contributed to a
blueprint for the National Equestrian Tourism Infrastructure Development
Plan. The word “infrastructures” refers to all the components required for
equestrian tourism, particularly long-distance trekking on horseback or in a
horse-drawn carriage.
Through the introduction of this Plan, the FFE-CNTE has played an active role
in developing equestrian tourism, which is strategic to the whole horse sector
and to the promotion of rural regions in France.
For the period 2009/2012, the FFE and the CNTE implemented forty actions
based on 4 main themes. Today, we take a look at the results of these actions:
Development and life of infrastructures
This concerns the 2 essential components of equestrian tourism: trails and accommodation structures. The challenge is to
support the initiatives of local authorities working with
the CRTE and CDTE on projects to create and develop
equestrian trails. This has involved updating the official
equestrian waymarking, setting up the “Cheval Etape”
label and drawing up the quality specifications relating
to trails currently being developed.
French equestrian waymarking is represented by an
orange mark with 4 different shapes: continuity, cross,
turn, horse-drawn carriage. This mark has been registered by the FFE-CNTE since 2004, with a precise colour code and size.
The “Cheval Etape” label was born from a realisation
that there was a lack of clarity concerning the offer of
accommodation for trekking horses. The aim of the label is therefore to raise the value of professionals, the
services they offer and their commitment to a quality
policy.
Concerning the structuring of a network of trails, the
aim is to offer a simple trail classification system that everyone can identify, that can be easily adapted to the regions and
can be incorporated into existing trails.
Information-sharing
All the existing information and technical documentation has been listed and updated and new documents have been
created. Among these are two methodological guides and some practical factsheets on the trails, the accommodation and
the waymarking. An effort has been made to circulate these as widely as possible via a variety of means: website, newsletter,
the “Estafette” magazine and REF.
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© FFE-AC
This involves working on the image and prestige of
equestrian tourism. It aims to ensure that equestrian
tourism is represented at both national and local levels. This image work is essential in giving real credibility to equestrian tourism and supporting policies
concerning infrastructures. In order to penetrate the
outdoor sports network, the FFE and CNTE have forged
different partnerships with the sports federations,
countryside managers, accommodation providers, etc.
Agreements have been signed with the French Hiking
Federation, the French Cycle Touring Federation and
soon with the National Forestry Authority. Partnership
projects are in progress with the Regional Parks and the
Gîtes de France Federation. The FFE-CNTE’s presence
at major national events and shows has also helped to
place equestrian tourism firmly within this network and
alongside local authorities.
© FFE-AC
Training for the network and the stakeholders
Training for the people in the field was one of the Plan’s priorities. Regional contacts, trail marker trainers and trail markers are beginning to
form a network of people who are experts in their field. They are the key
representatives of the national authority in the field.
© E.Minodier
Contact:
Christian Boyer, ONTE France
Website: www.ffe.com
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© FFE-AC
Representation of equestrian tourism
“A survey of cross-border links”
Bernard Pavie (FR), Chairman of the French National Equestrian Tourism Organisation.
As an extension of the work initiated by FITE and entrusted to the French ONTE, the latter led an initiative concerning cross-border links with
France, assisted by the Regional and Departmental Equestrian Tourism Committees and their regional infrastructure correspondents. This
survey illustrates a desire to work in greater depth with these territories and promote the cross-border zones. France has a large number of
borders with other countries and this offers a wide range of opportunities for travelling abroad on horseback and setting up trails. Information gathered on existing trails has been used to compile and inventory of the different types of people involved in developing this activity at
a European level and to gain a better understanding of the partnerships between French and foreign organisations.
A total of 9 departments in 5 regions have more or less developed cross-border trails with 6 foreign countries: Andorra,
Belgium, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom. 65 cross-border trails have been identified. There are, however,
many others which are used regularly to move from one country to another.
The survey has shown that the two countries with the best-developed
cross-border links are Belgium and Spain.
Cross-border trails can be classified according to several themes: religious and historical trails, trails exploring natural and cultural heritage, those that form part of a European project, those created for
an equestrian event, those in favour of environmental protection and
conservation and, finally, local trails.
A variety of stakeholders are helping to implement cross-border projects in France. These include the decentralised FFE equestrian tourism bodies, the local authorities, foreign organisations, the equestrian tourism associations in France and abroad and, finally, the Parks
and nature reserves common to two countries.
These projects need to obtain a certain amount of financing to get off
the ground. The regions and departments subsidise initiatives to support tourist development and the development of outdoor sports, of which horse-riding and long-distance trekking are part.
Other financing comes from the Regional and Departmental Equestrian Tourism Committee “action” budgets. European
funds have been allocated to certain cross-border trail projects following an application. Through the Interreg II programme,
Nord-Pas-de-Calais (France) and Kent (United Kingdom) have been awarded European funds to set up a number of circuits.
Concerning links between France and Belgium, the project sponsor - IDETA – was awarded European Regional Development funds to set up trails and publish guides. There are a number of issues relating to cross-border trails that sometimes
hinder their progress. These concern trail continuity, access to information, border crossing, finance and the setting-up of
partnerships.
It is vital to establish links between European countries in order to gain the support of the various stakeholders for setting
up cross-border trails. It is essential to give greater publicity to the trails already in place with a view to encouraging foreign
clients to ride from their own country to France and vice versa.
Contact:
Bernard Pavie, ONTE France
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“Overseas Territories and the development of equestrian tourism”
Bernard Pavie (FR), Chairman of the French National Equestrian Tourism Organisation.
© atout France/aquashot
Following on from an inventory of the work done on equestrian
tourism on Reunion Island, discussions are underway about how
to create territorial continuity between Europe and the French
Overseas Departments and Territories. To support the development of the horse sector in these distant island zones, with their
very varied characteristics, a project to set up an overseas committee is being studied. One of its key roles would e to provide
better representation for these territories within the national and
European authorities.
The 11 main Overseas zones account for 9491 FFE licence-holders. All these territories have differences in
terms of legal rules, equestrian culture and the situation of
the equine sector. A number of common features explain
why it is difficult for these territories to develop equestrian
tourism and follow France’s policy in this domain: geographical remoteness, insularity, the high cost of living, the narrowness
of the markets, the lack of teaching and training and the difficulty in travelling to Metropolitan France.
Reunion Island has 32 equestrian establishments, 10 of which offer mainly equestrian tourism services, and 1/4 of its licence-holders are tourism signposted. Demand from riders for equestrian tourism activities has grown constantly over the
last 10 years. In New Caledonia there are approximately 2500 licence-holders, 350 of whom are tourism signposted, along
with 26 FFE establishments.
Reunion Island: an environment conducive to outdoor sports and more particularly to equestrian tourism activities.
Reunion Island has a Departmental Plan for Walking and Hiking Routes (PDIPR) which contains over 300 km of equestrian
trails, most of which are shared with other outdoor sports stakeholders, particularly walkers and mountain bikers. The
professionals estimate that only 50% of these trails could be used to allow riders of all levels to enjoy long-distance riding.
Work to promote the activity needs to be implemented. There also needs to be an improvement in the offer to adapt to the
different types of clientele, as the services currently available are traditional.
A number of initiatives have been introduced to deal with these problems:
a Reunion Island tourism working party,
a CROS working party for outdoor sports,
the drawing-up of a National Park charter,
a project for an equestrian brigade to supervise the forests.
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•
•
•
Projects are currently in progress to improve the way in which equestrian tourism is organised on the island. The territory is
working on producing a brochure on horse-riding on Reunion Island. A trail census procedure has begun with an inventory of
what already exists and an analysis of user numbers. In order to come up with a suitable equestrian product offer, Reunion
Island is studying the development of tourist products based on horses. It is analysing supply and demand, along with proposals for action to develop these products in collaboration with the National Park.
Finally, it is working to draw up development guidelines for the horse sector on Reunion Island.
To develop equestrian tourism in the Overseas Territories, we need to consider their special features, particularly by allocation mobility grants and setting up an overseas committee to represent them in Metropolitan France and Europe.
Contact:
Bernard Pavie, ONTE France
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“A presentation of the national experiment and national projects, and the activities of the Carpathian Crescent in Transylvania”,
Doina Pieper (RO), Chairman of the Rumanian National Equestrian Tourism Organisation and Murgur
Pop (RO), Technical Director.
Rumania has benefited from its special geographic location at the heart of Europe. The aim of the project is to turn equestrian tourism into
an eco-tourist alternative while contributing to the development of the communities living in the protected areas. Particular importance is
attached to promoting the country’s attributes: its traditions and customs and its specific plant and animal life.
The horse is the only means of transport that allows people to follow these high-altitude trails and enter the more remote parts of the Carpathian Crescent.
Linking up to the cross-border trails of neighbouring countries is a current project. It is part of an equestrian tourism programme orchestrated
at European level.
Since the 1st Regional Equestrian Tourism Association (RETA) was set up 15 years ago, Rumania has not been able to create
a data centralisation system to organise equestrian tourism. The inventory of trails and their development does not depend
on people’s goodwill but on the regulations in force.
Demand for the activity has grown steadily in recent years, but few professionals organise and offer horse trekking in the territory. As far as equestrian tourism is concerned, the main emphasis is on training and not on developing and restoring trails.
The equestrian tourism offer in Rumania consists of all types of trails and treks. The trails that people follow are mainly
forest tracks not waymarked for riders. Riders use the waymarking provided for walkers to practise the activity. However, a
mark has been designed for the “On horseback in the Carpathians” trail but has not been approved by the authorities. It is a
“warning mark” to warn walkers that there are riders on the same paths. For equestrian tourism, Rumania is looking initially
to adapt the walkers’ programme to riders.
The lack of accommodation structures capable of receiving horses and riders is also slowing the development of the activity.
Few are listed in the country’s mountainous regions. The Rumanian National Equestrian Tourism Committee needs to try to
motivate local communities to create accommodation and thus develop the activity.
As with accommodation, equestrian tourism structures have difficulties in developing in Rumania, as stakeholders have
little interest in the activity. And yet the country has much to recommend it with regard to setting up the activity. It is in the
centre of Europe and the Carpathian region has a rich and varied natural heritage.
The 1st equestrian tourism project in Rumania is “On horseback in the Carpathians”. It is sponsored by 4 of the country’s
regions which are looking to create structures and trails and connect them together.
However, government support is needed to implement the project. Despite good communication with the Ministry of Tourism, little has been done on the ground. The key partners for setting up equestrian tourism are the regional parks, which
act as administrators.
Equestrian tourism trail projects are mostly considered as alternatives for local communities. Partnerships with the regional
parks are thus essential to the development of equestrian activities. These alternatives are used as an eco-tourism solution
for developing protected areas in Rumania.
Rumania is currently working on a cross-border link with the Ukraine through the Carpathian region. The aim is to set up a
north-south trail with the Ukraine and another on the Danube Delta. These are regions with a rich natural heritage conducive
to the development of horse trekking.
Contact:
Doina Pieper, ONTE Rumania
Murgur Pop, ONTE Rumania
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“Equestrian tourism trails in Austria: the current situation and plans for the future”:
Manfred Salcher (AT), national equestrian tourism referent in Austria.
Austria has its own system for managing horse trekking trails. Connections do already exist with neighbouring countries, but these raise
a number of problems. The possible solutions to these problems will serve as a starting point for our discussions and contribute ideas for
European tourist trekking trails.
Generally speaking, it is possible to ride a horse on public roads and lanes. Riders are faced with having to live with road traffic. Special horse lanes would be more suitable but to set them up would require the permission of landowners who would
have the right to demand financial compensation.
The network of equestrian trails in Austria is very well developed in the east of the country as land is cheap and public
ownership is widespread.
In the west, the many private properties and the high cost of land make it difficult to get equestrian trail projects off the
ground.
The “active” equestrian trails in Upper Austria are the ones most used by tourists, particularly the area known as «Mühlviertler Alm» (approximately 600 km).
The reasons for this success are:
• good relations with landowners,
• clearly marked trails,
• accommodation,
• good circulation of information (maps, websites, etc.).
There are a few cross-border trails, but there is little activity on these circuits due to the lack of facilities suitable for horses.
In addition, information relating to each country is presented on different websites. Riders find it difficult to plan their route
and it takes longer to prepare for the trip than the trip itself.
It would be useful if this work led to the creation of links with Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovenia.
Plans for the future in Austria:
The Austrian ONTE is currently looking to find a single Internet platform on which all the trails and all the information that
riders need is brought together and easily available.
The information that should appear on the site is:
• the trail routes on a map,
• accommodation sites,
• blacksmiths,
• veterinary surgeons.
All the trail routes should also be available in gpx format so that they can be downloaded and recorded on a GPS.
In addition, the Internet platform should be available in several languages.
The Wikiloc site is a good example. On the same database it contains all the sites in the world where outdoor sports are
practised. It offers searches by language, by country and by activity. All the trails listed are mapped against the background
of a Google Earth map and recorded in gpx format. Detailed information, such as the land profile, accommodation sites and
the coordinates of the nearest veterinary surgeons are also available. Anyone can add to the database and suggest a circuit;
all you have to do is register on the site.
Nearly 1000km of circuits in Austria will soon be listed on Wikiloc.
According to Manfred Salcher, more and more riders trek without a map, using only a GPS; he believes that the digital revolution and new technologies are the future of equestrian tourism. The Wikiloc site could be the inspiration for a “single
platform” project for Europe’s equestrian trails.
Contact:
Manfred Salcher, ONTE Austria
Website: www.fena.at
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“Quality standards in European hiking routes”,
Armand Ducornet (FR), General Secretary responsible for international relations in the FFRandonnée
and Vice-Chairman of the European Hiking Federation (FERP).
The FERP has a “Leading Quality Trails – Best of Europe” criteria system which makes a route’s appeal measurable, and guarantees a
high-quality hiking experience. Such a system caters for the diversity and uniqueness of landscapes and hiking routes in different regions of
Europe. The system was designed in a flexible manner. It is based on years of practical experience in countries already using quality criteria
as an aid to planning and improving their itineraries.
The “Leading Quality Trails – Best of Europe” label is both a distinction and a transparent means of optimising itinerary infrastructure. The
criteria can be used as a checklist to help countries that are in the process of creating their own hiking solutions. For countries already having
a network of operational routes, this new label can boost hiking tourism. A document is available at the following address www.era-ewvferp.com .
The European Hiking Federation has 55 members from 30 countries, i.e. 2,700,000 licence-holding hikers. The organisation
takes an interest in:
• 12 European hiking trails, including the Mediterranean Arc, which is currently going through the labelling process,
• cross-border trails,
• countryside protection,
• a knowledge of European history and culture,
• free access to the countryside,
• cross-border cooperation,
• organising events on a European scale.
The label is based on those that already exist in the European countries, and particularly the German label. It is
an aid to promoting the trails.
Although there is a wide variety of countryside, waymarking systems, cultures and practices, etc. in Europe, the
common aim is to offer high-quality trails to ensure that
hikers have an enjoyable experience.
The label aims to improve and promote the existing
network and quality in the design of new trails.
A number of studies have pointed out the expectations
of hikers in terms of trail quality. The key criteria are the
quality of the waymarking, ease of access, the quality of
the ground, the information available, rest areas, sites
offering accommodation and food and the availability of
public transport.
Based on this information, the European label specifications have been drawn up, separating the key criteria
from the secondary criteria.
12 European long distance paths in brief
15 / 35
An objective evaluation of the trails is thus based on:
• the type of trail,
• countryside/landscape,
• civilisation,
• culture,
• waymarking,
• safety/level of difficulty,
• accessibility/ mobility,
• access
The evaluation is carried out along a whole trail, a one-day stage or on 4km sections (1 hour’s walk). It considers the special
features of the landscape and region in each sector.
The stages leading to the award of the label are:
• the training of experts responsible for evaluation in the field,
• evaluation in the field,
• proposals for improvements,
• application for the label,
• examination of the data,
• a survey of the trail by the label award teams,
• the award of the label
The award of the label means that the whole trail has to be waymarked. It is valid for 3 years.
The brochure setting out the quality criteria for these trails is available in 3 languages.
A pilot training session was carried out in Kassel in March 2012. This led to a readaptation of the training materials and certification tools. These were then translated into English and French. The training schedule will be available from September
2012. The aim of FERP, like that of the other sports federations and authorities, is currently openness and sharing. The cooperation that exists between FERP and FFE could be developed on a European scale.
© atout France Pierre Torset
Contact:
Armand Ducornet, FERP
Website: www.era-ewv-ferp.com
16 / 35
“The issue of trails in Belgium”
Olivier Teirlijnck (BE), Chairman of VVR (Flanders Equestrian Tourism Association).
Belgium has three regions – Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels – with different laws and languages. The equestrian trails are organised differently according to these 3 zones. The problems relating to trails are mainly linked to trail maintenance, urban development and their disappearance. An information office has been set up in Flanders and helps to find responsible bodies, finds information about legislation, etc.
© E. Minodier
The 3 Belgian regions use different systems for structuring and publicising equestrian trails:
• To the north there are loop systems with numbered route
marks, traditional waymarking and maps that may be ordered.
• In the centre (Brussels and Brabant), circuits are available on tourist maps that may be ordered. Information sheets
and downloadable GPS format trail routes are also on offer.
There is no waymarking in this region for ecological and budgetary reasons.
• In southern Belgium, trail routes are available on IGN
maps. An association, “Commissaires verts”, manages the
circuits, collecting information and recirculating it according
to demand. Tourist maps and an “accommodation” brochure
are on offer.
Cross-border trails are in place, especially in the north, with the Netherlands, and to the east with Germany.
A single quality label has been introduced for equestrian gîtes. It is inspired by the German “Eifel zu Pferd” label. It applies
only in the province of Limbourg.
Concerning equestrian trail maintenance and monitoring, despite the websites and special call numbers, much of the waymarking has disappeared after a few years and tracks have been closed or tarmacked. Today, only 2 of the 15 trails are still
passable on horseback.
Trail promotion is also a problem as the budgets that are allocated are very small. Any effort that is put in is soon brought
to a halt.
The Belgian authority would like to see all the European equestrian tourism stakeholders grouped together within a single
federative body. One of the aims would be to monitor initiatives in favour of cross-border equestrian tourism and to see that
they are maintained.
For example, one of the first steps could be to make it easier to cross European borders with a horse, if it is part of a leisure
activity. This country, which has a number of borders with other nations, has high hopes of European intervention.
Contact:
Olivier Teirlijnck, ONTE Belgium
Federal website: www.equibel.be
French-speaking website: www.lewb.be
17 / 35
“Accreditation and signage for equestrian tourism trails”
Joaquim Fernandez Duro (ES), ONTE representative, Spain.
The Spanish Federation has introduced an accreditation system for the equestrian trails on its territory. The accreditation of an equestrian
trail aims to guarantee the safety and quality of the routes that are followed. Official waymarking also contributes to this by informing riders
of the characteristics of the trail and of other more specific elements linked to travelling on horseback (water sources, car parks, addresses of
veterinary surgeons, etc.). The Spanish Federation has published the first le premier equestrian trail waymarking and accreditation manual,
in collaboration with QF Turisme.
Spain currently has 12 accredited trails spread across
the country and 9 in the process of accreditation.
Each circuit that forms part of this quality approach
is identified by an orange plaque combined with a
reference number. 3 different waymarking symbols
similar to those used for equestrian waymarking in
France show the direction to follow, a change of direction or a direction not to follow. There are also some
very precise pictograms showing picnic areas suitable
for riders and horses, water sources, equestrian gîtes,
etc. All this information follows a strict corporate graphics style and is placed on model posts, information
boards and other harmonised directional signs.
Secondly, the Spanish equestrian trails accreditation
approach contributes towards the preservation, renovation and promotion of picturesque roads, historic
tracks and abandoned communication routes. The aim is to combine equestrian activity with environmental protection, and
also to create a tourist attraction in rural areas to support their economic development.
Spain has a strong equestrian tradition; a real awareness of the importance of equestrian tourism for regional development
is needed. Through its work to repair the drove roads, for example, the government is showing that this evolution is in progress.
At a European level, it is now essential to group together, use the same quality criteria, have enough circuits suitable for day
riders and long-distance trekkers and ensure that there is free access to these circuits.
Contact:
Joaquim Fernandez Duro, ONTE Spain
Website: www.rfhe.com
18 / 35
“Structuring a European outdoor sports network”
Thierry Bedos (FR), National Outdoor Sports Resource Division (French Ministry of Sport).
Practising outdoor sports is a steadily-growing social phenomenon in all European countries. The variety of stakeholder networks involved,
the many forms of activity and legal organisations generate singular forms of governance. In addition, this sector, originally the reserve of
the associative world, is today a source of small company start-ups, and therefore large numbers of jobs. The aim of structuring a European
network to support the controlled development of outdoor sports is pursued through three types of activities: creating contacts, advice and
expertise. Nature & Sports Euro’Meet is part of this objective, with the recommendations that emerged from the first meeting helping to
guide the work of the newly-created network, whose current challenge is to integrate the controlled development of outdoor sports in Europe
with the requirements of Europe 2020.
© FFE-AC.
The National Outdoor Sports Resource Division (PRNSN) is responsible
for a Ministry of Sport mission to structure outdoor sports. From 2003
to 2009, its role was to provide the tools and coordinate the network of
stakeholders at a national level. Since 2009, this mission has been widened to a European scale. There is a real need in this area as a result of
the current enthusiasm for outdoor activities and the emergence of new
problems linked to the mobility of participants and professionals.
The aims of building a European outdoor sports network are:
• to build and promote a common culture,
• to share successes and difficulties and promote good practices,
• to encourage the structuring of a European outdoor sports stakeholder network,
• to contribute towards incorporating outdoor leisure sports into national and European sport, tourism and environmental policies.
•
•
•
A methods committee made up of representatives of various European
countries has been set up with the main task of organising the Euro’Meet
events. In 2011, the event attracted 500 participants, 17 European countries and 2 non-European countries. 50% of the talks and experiences
presented were by foreigners. These events have enabled us:
• to build and promote a common culture,
to share successes and difficulties through the 145 field experiences collected (online on ENOS Experience),
to encourage the structuring of a European outdoor sports stakeholder network
to contribute towards incorporating outdoor leisure sports into European government policies through the drawing-up of
recommendations presented to the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Ministries of Sport and the members of the
European network.
At the seminars organised prior to the Nature&Sports Euro’Meet 2011, 450 people from the network were also able to discuss the major themes linked to the development of outdoor sports.
In 2013, these meetings will take place in Slovakia. Calls for subjects will be sent out from 15 June 2012. The major themes
planned are:
• improving the management of outdoor sports in the countryside,
• the educational values of outdoor sports and professional qualifications,
• outdoor sports and health,
• the contribution of outdoor sports to regional development.
19 / 35
In the last few months, the PRNSN has been developing a new tool for collecting and sharing European
experiences linked to outdoor sports: ENOS, European Network of Outdoor Sports available on www.
sportsdenature.gouv.fr/fr/experiences.cfm
The aim of ENOS is:
• to share outdoor sports experiences,
• to publicise them and develop them at a national and European level,
• to use a single tool to keep them sustainable.
The database’s functions are to collect experiences,
store them, allow visitors to consult them and carry
out searches by theme and manage calls for projects.
The tool is available to all European outdoor sports
stakeholders. Anyone may offer an experience
by simply logging on to the site. The site currently contains 80 experiences and 50 more are being
validated. The subjects presented concern the protection of participants, access to sports sites, the
training of professionals, education, the development of regions through outdoor sports, health, innovation, etc.
Sports federations can also use the website to issue calls for projects.
If it is to completely fulfil its role, this outdoor sports network tool needs to be supported by all its members in the regions,
departments, establishments, schools, federations, etc., along with all the partners concerned - CROS, CDOS, Sports Committee, Departmental Councils, Local Authorities, European partners, etc. The equestrian tourism organisations need to
help feed the database, publicise the ENOS experiences (link to the website, Newsletter distribution, information by e-mail)
and use it for any calls for projects.
Contact:
Thierry Bedos, National Outdoor Sports Resource Division
Website: www.sportsdenature.gouv.fr
www.nature-sports.eu
www.cdesi-sportsdenature.fr
20 / 35
“A presentation of the European Funds”
Elise Gapaillard (FR), French Horse-riding Federation.
The opportunities for financing on a European scale are developing in a large number of activity sectors. Horse-riding in general and equestrian tourism in particular can expect support in a number of domains. The key is to be fully informed of the funds that are available and
likely to meet the needs of equestrian activities. Some funds are in fact particularly well suited, such as the European Agricultural Fund for
Rural Development (FEADER), the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and the Interreg programme which is specific to regional
cooperation projects.
General
A European subsidy is a form of financial aid distributed by the European Commission (EC) to a public or private organisation. It is a means of financing a specific, previously established project.
A European programme sets out the EC’s objectives in themes and finances projects in order to achieve these objectives.
These programmes are adopted for a period of several years (2007-2013), they concern all sectors of activity and any type
of organisation may benefit from them.
The global budget for the period 2007-2013 is 347 billion euros, and the budget allocated to France is 14.4 billion euros.
There is a European programme typology depending on the possible financing area of the project, the obligation or not to
take on partners and the body that will be responsible for managing the fund.
There are several hurdles to be jumped in order to successfully attract European financing for a project. You must first of
all prepare the project and identify the appropriate programme, then draw up your application and, finally, carry out and
manage the financed project, bearing in mind the heavy workload involved in monitoring it.
The opportunities of financing for horse-riding and equestrian tourism in particular
Certain funds are particularly well suited to the issues surrounding equestrian tourism, such as the European Agricultural
Fund for Rural Development (FEADER), the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), the European Social Fund (FSE)
and the Interreg programme which is a regional cooperation programme.
FEDER aims to reduce regional imbalances within the EU. It therefore finances projects linked to infrastructures, support for
local and regional development or assistance and services to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME).
FEADER is a programme linked to the development of rural regions. It aims to improve the competitiveness of agriculture
and forestry, the quality of life and the management of economic activities in the rural environment.
The FSE is responsible for policies linked to employment, i.e. preventing unemployment or accompanying changes in the
company.
Interreg is a regional cooperation programme divided into three sections: cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation. Cooperation areas are defined for each section.
An example of a European federative project
The FFE initiated a European project consisting of a campaign to raise awareness of the need to preserve biodiversity in the
countryside used by riders and walkers. The project was turned down by the European Commission due mainly to the lack
of partners. It is vital to draw conclusions from this failure and use gatherings such as this European equestrian tourist trails
conference to forge links and build the foundations for future cooperation.
Contact:
Elise Gapaillard, FFE
21 / 35
“European initiatives for the development of equestrian tourism in Corsica”
Thierry Angot (FR), Member of the French National Equestrian Tourism Organisation Steering Committee
and representative of CRTE Corsica.
Under European programmes, Corsica has set up various projects seeking to develop and promote equestrian trails on the island, working
also with Tuscany and Sardinia.
Three specific initiatives - “On horseback on two islands”, Operational, the France-Italy programme “IPPOvia”, and the Italy-France programme “IPPOtyrr” – were presented.
The aims of European cooperation programmes are the economic, social and cultural development of the territories
concerned and a better mutual understanding between populations through the circulation of people and the exchange of
know-how.
The France-Italy projects are being run by different stakeholders, including the Corsican Regional Horse-riding Committee,
the Corsican Regional Equestrian Tourism Committee and two Italian regions, Sardinia and Tuscany.
Sardinia is recognised as the leader of these projects. It represents the project before the European authorities. Equestrian
tourism professionals from each territory are involved in the project to ensure that its benefits are felt on the ground.
The different projects being run are:
• “On horseback on two islands”: this project, run by Corsica and Sardinia, is being financed by the Interreg III A programme; it began in 2000 with an audit of equestrian tourism activities in Corsica and Sardinia. A joint brochure was
then published and circulated to the public, describing the equestrian facilities. Various exchanges of good practices
also took place in the field of pony games, including the publication and distribution to professionals of a manual aimed
at creating uniform practices in this discipline. Finally, the partnership led to the use of Sardinian horses by Corsican
riders.
• “IPPOvia”: financed by the Interreg III A programme, the project was run jointly by Corsica, Sardinia and Tuscany
between 2000 and 2006 and led to an inventory, identification and promotion of the equestrian trails in the three regions. A joint website was set up to sell holidays and the 3 partners were able to take part in joint workshops – shows
in Paris, Lyon, Verona and Essen.
• “IPPOtyrr”: this is a “maritime Italy France” programme (2007-2013) involving Corsica, Sardinia, Tuscany and Liguria.
It has led to the creation of a network of infrastructures for sport and equestrian tourism in these 3 zones, based particularly on the spread of ethological horse-riding and working horses through the sharing of know-how. Cross-border
“sport for the disabled” holidays have also been organised; and brigades of mounted wardens have been tested in rural
areas in cross-border territory.
Other cross-border projects are currently being drawn up: the “European neighbourhood and partnership programme” and
the 2007-2013 “Mediterranean Basin – Mediterranean Region” project. The latter is of interest to Corsica and certain regions in Italy, Spain, Tunisia, Jordan and Egypt. Due to recent events on the southern shores, it is still at the discussion stage
and will certainly be switched into the next European programme for the period 2014-2020.
Contact:
Thierry Angot, ONTE France
Website: www.horseencorse.com
22 / 35
“Test for a typology of equestrian tourism riders”
Sabine Grataloup (FR), Member of the Management Committee of the French National Equestrian Tourism Organisation.
In 2009, a socioeconomic analysis of tourism and equestrian leisure clientele was carried out under the supervision of Malek Bouhaouala,
Lecturer at the Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble, and on the initiative of the FFE and the CNTE. It allowed us to define a number of key
characteristics of equestrian leisure practitioners, i.e., their socioeconomic and demographic profile, as well as the forms of horse-riding
practised. The typology was derived from the Randocheval travel agency’s experiment, and concerns riders travelling on horseback, unlike
the previous study, which was more focused on horse-riding practitioners in general.
Six categories of practitioners emerged from the study carried out by Sabine Grataloup:
Keen trekkers: these are riders who often trek alone or with friends, using their own equipment and their own horse. They
are experts in horse trekking.
• Adventurers: they are looking first and foremost for a unique experience, the exploration of new territories and the physical challenge.
They have been the pioneers of equestrian tourism and, up to a few years ago, nearly all equestrian tourism products were designed
for this type of clientele.
• Epicureans: they are looking for more comfortable treks with up-market accommodation and catering facilities, etc.
• Sports riders: they are looking for a memorable equestrian experience. They may be found on horseback safaris.
• Curious travellers: they are lovers of nature rather than horses. They see the horse as a means of exploring a region that would not
have been accessible to them otherwise. They are not strong riders but make up for this by being physically fit.
• Couples and families: riding abilities in families are often varied. There are not many suitable options for this type of clientele, and
yet this is the most numerous.
© CRTE Franche Comté
Equestrian tourism in France is based mainly on marketing the offer, with guides offering products based on the characteristics
of their region. These products are not offered according to the different target clienteles. Offers are moving towards products
with greater comfort. The target clientele is
currently between epicureans and adventurers. It is currently seen as necessary to
develop products adapted to the different
target clienteles in order to stand out from
the competition.
Illustration of a marketing approach adapted to this typology: Randocheval Mongolia
Mongolia is a flagship equestrian tourism destination. It has traditionally offered treks only for “adventurer” riders. Randocheval therefore set up its own structure in the country with the aim of offering original equestrian products adapted to
the different target clienteles:
• enthusiasts and adventurers: autonomous treks with horses and load-bearing yaks,
• epicureans: treks with comfortable yurt accommodation,
• sports enthusiasts: creation of a Randocheval trek, an endurance race organised under the patronage of the French and Mongolian
Horse-riding Federations,
• curious: multi-activity treks and stays with nomad families,
• couples and families: specific trips that allow each member of the group to ride a horse or not, according to his inclination.
Contact:
Sabine Grataloup, ONTE France
Website: www.Randocheval.com
23 / 35
“The search for, construction, maintenance and promotion of equestrian tourism trails”
Heather Clatworthy (GB), Senior Executive at the British Horse Society (BHS)
The United Kingdom and Ireland have introduced a number of initiatives for the development and promotion of equestrian trails in their
countries.
From feasibility studies to the renovation of trails via a financing plan and promotional actions, each stage of the project has contributed to
its success. Post-launch, maintenance work, continuous assessment of trails and regular feedback have allowed us and continue to allow us
to ensure that the network in place continues to improve.
This experience can easily be transferred to any other country, even though most of the above experiment concerned the United Kingdom
and Ireland.
There are large networks of trails in the United Kingdom, covering approximately 21,000 km, over 13,000 km of which are
currently digitally mapped. The aim is to make all these trails available on GPS. A great deal of work has already been done,
with 5,600 km of trails already online on www.emagin.org.
Equestrian tourism has an influence on many aspects:
• equestrian sports: all riders are likely to practise the activity irrespective of their discipline,
• the local economy,
• health: the BHS asked Brighton University to carry out some research into the influence of the leisure activity horse on physical
•
and psychological health and well-being – the research report has been published and is online on the BHS website,
tourism.
The BHS is committed to promoting, improving, maintaining and preserving equestrian trails and also supports riders’ rights
of way. Through its local authorities, it takes part in the government’s consultations on these matters.
The United Kingdom has a good system for protecting its paths and trails. There are standards governing the development
of trails to ensure that the activity can be practised in safety: standards for the height and width of trails and tunnels, standards for barbed wire, etc. A website www.horseaccidents.org.uk has been put online to answer all the questions about
safety and incidents caused by riding. There is a wide range of advice to help riders trek in safety.
The setting-up of trails involves a number of chronological phases that may last for up to 5 or 6 years:
• A research phase that includes research relating to the setting-up of trails on the ground and a search for finance. This is the stage
that requires the longest period of time. The BHS has introduced online questionnaires and surveys for collecting this information on
www.surveymonkey.com. The funds must have been granted before phase 2 can start.
• A phase for building, launching and promoting the trail, based on efforts to ensure the trail’s quality, safety, longevity, sustainability
and attractiveness.
• A maintenance and promotion phase that requires continuous management, with everyone being allocated maintenance responsibilities. Trail maintenance involves expenditure. The cost of this therefore needs to be considered over the long term. Promotion
involves setting up a media strategy and instituting sustainability over time.
With the appearance of new trails, a digital website has been developed and European financing allocated to map them.
Funds have also been granted for the launch of new trails.
The United Kingdom is now seeking to establish a link with the continent to develop cross-border trails, as most tourists
come from European countries.
Contact:
Heather Clatworthy, ONTE United Kingdom
Website: www.bhs.org.uk
24 / 35
“The Moselle wine route”,
Marc Olenine (FR), Chairman of the Portes de France Equestrian Academy.
Since 2010 and its first trial gallop, the Portes de France Academy has organised “The Moselle wine route” every year. On horseback in 3
countries, the event includes vineyard tracks in the German, Luxembourg and French Moselle, thus offering a wide choice of cross-border
trails. The main aim for 2014 is to make it possible to travel from Koblenz in Germany to the Thionville area, a distance of approximately 240
km. For the 2012 event, 120 kilometres had to be covered in 12 hours, from Treves in Germany to Yutz in France.
The Moselle wine route is characterised by 3 major components:
• a relay race for horse-drawn carriages,
• a ride through the vines during which riders, walkers and mountain bikers are invited to join the horse-drawn carriages,
• des animations pour le grand public.
© CRTE Lorraine-Lefevre
This project is supported by sporting, economic,
tourism, cultural, identity and sustainable development issues. There is a real desire to associate
local stakeholders with the event. Towns have
been designated along the route to host equestrian and cultural events throughout the two
days. Culture plays an important role in the organisation of the event. Moselle has a strong cultural heritage and a highly developed sense of terroir. Apart from its attractiveness, Moselle is of
considerable interest to the business community.
A dense network of partners has been built up
to support the organisation of the event. Among
these are French and foreign local authorities,
tourist authorities, sports federations, associations, certain members of the equine sector, etc.
The main difficulty has been to persuade partners to share in a preconceived project when they have not been associated
with its conception.
Two major issues emerge from the organisation of this event:
• sustaining the 120 km of waymarked trails from Trêve to Yutz, half of which are cross-border,
• publishing a brochure presenting the trail to riders with different experiences, the possible halts, places of interest, etc.
The Moselle Wine Route is a European event which serves the cause of equestrian tourism trails. The work done in advance
to support the organisation of the event is carried on and made available to all. So a cross-border trail exists between these
3 countries as a result of the organisation of this event.
The organisers wanted to give the project a European dimension by applying for European funding. Applications have been
made to the FEDER and FADER funds and to the LEADER programme. The aim is to turn a rural territory into an active, living
centre as a result of the support given to innovative initiatives.
The tourist offices closest to the 3 borders form the nucleus of the work done on this project. We have adopted a multi-partner approach with a large number of stakeholders involved. Public and private stakeholders need to work together on
a strategy for the territory concerned. Territorial cooperation is fundamental to this type of programme.
We have chosen to build a number of micros-projects into the project to perpetuate the work that has been done and to
obtain subsidies, which support the event.
Contact:
Marc Olenine, Moselle Wine Route
Website: www.routedesvinsdemoselle.fr
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“Theme-based equestrian trails: art, history, culture and territorial excellence to
set up a national and European network for promotion and economic development,”
Alberto Spinelli (IT), Chairman of the Italian National Equestrian Tourism Organisation.
Equestrian tourism as a driving force for tourist development is characterised by a network capable of providing a high-quality, diversified
offer.
Each country must work through its own federation on its own territory but must not lose sight of the development of equestrian tourism on
an international scale. We need to work together and develop an integrated system that will highlight each country’s individual excellence.
The development of equestrian tourism should be achieved by setting up a cross-border network and Interreg projects.
© E.Minodier
Today, theme-based equestrian trails must be a driving force for economic development. Sports tourism
should help to increase the number of practitioners,
incorporate sustainable development and act as an
economic solution to the crisis.
Theme-based trails are a means of capturing a new
clientele as they allow people to try new experiences.
The current international economic situation should
be an opportunity to set up new forms of cooperation between all the public bodies, institutions, competent authorities and private structures based on a
common language.
Theme-based trails differ from one country to another and form part of the territory’s identity and singularity. It is therefore essential to find components
that we can share in order to develop a theme-based European network:
• unified mapping,
• uniform trail routes,
• labels,
• a common language.
Fitetrec-Ante is working on a theme-based trail project capable of establishing a relationship between the trails and the
quality of the territory being travelled through.
Trail projects have been encouraged in Italy since 1968. The current network brings together a variety of tourist activities
with a package containing other services (hotel, meals, etc.) and, soon, cultural components such as art, museums, etc.
Today, equestrian tourism is essential in stimulating concepts such as respect for the environment and sustainable development. With CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee), Fitetrec-Ante is leading a project dedicated to the development of
outdoor sports. The project is also based on concepts of well-being and a healthy lifestyle.
Today, Fitetrec-Ante has a broad network of equestrian tourism proposals that will enable all the stakeholders in the territory
to participate.
Contact:
Alberto Spinelli and Paola Olivari, ONTE Italy
Website: www.fitetrec-ante.it
[email protected]
26 / 35
© CRTE Côte d’Azur
“Presentation of the Mediterranean Equestrian Tourism Arc (AMEDITE)”
Pierre Petit (FR), Chairman of AMEDITE.
Founded in 2005,the AMEDITE association is made up of all the Regional and Departmental Equestrian Tourism Committees in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur (PACA), Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées regions, i.e. 19 departments. The association was born out of
a desire to bring together people who share a strong Mediterranean culture and similar concerns.
The aim is to link together departmental, regional and interregional trails to create an equestrian “spine” that will eventually
link Italy with Spain via southern France, thereby encouraging equestrian tourism and long-haul journeys. The idea is to put
forward an interregional outline plan for the development of rural territories by implementing a network of equestrian trails
with adapted reception and accommodation facilities, professional horse hire and guiding establishments and service providers (blacksmiths, veterinary surgeons, etc.).
Its action should form part of an overall scheme to develop the regions concerned, which all have a European role. AMEDITE
is, incidentally, involved in 2 European projects: MED and ALCOTRA.
The project phases:
1 – Launch of the action programme with the support of the Eperon Fund
Work began with the identification and reconnaissance of the trails on the ground. This was carried out by pairs of riders
(paid) who travelled the trails, section by section, equipped with data sheets that they then passed on to the association.
The work was spread over 2 years and was accompanied by an inventory of accommodation facilities. To date, 3550 km
of trails have been reconnoitred and 70 accommodation information sheets have been recovered from all the departments
concerned.
27 / 35
© Vercors à cheval - E. Minodier
2 – Searching for finance and sending in the application
An application was sent in with the aim of joining the Mediterranean territorial cooperation programme for the period
2007/2013, under point 2 “Protecting the environment and
promoting sustainable territorial development” and objective 2.1 “Protecting and developing natural and heritage resources”.
270,000¤ of grants were promised by the Midi-Pyrénées
and Languedoc-Roussillon regional councils and the Var,
Alpes-Maritimes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes,
Vaucluse, Gard and Hérault departmental councils; the Eperon Fund (agreement for aid equivalent to the public subsidies granted) added a further 270,000¤. Despite great efforts, the FEDER grant for the MED programme was refused for the reason that the project did not fit in with the objectives
set by this European programme.
3 – An asset audit carried out by Sup’agro (via the Eperon Fund)
These interviews with 65 people identified three visions of
equestrian tourism:
• “Global” vision 1 is that of an equestrian tourism based
•
•
on long-distance touring: the initial vision of the AMEDITE
project, characterised by a strong spirit of adventure among the
riders who trek on the great Euro-Mediterranean trails.
“Local” vision 2 is that of a local equestrian tourism
structured into a web of “short trek” trails followed in a
loop by independent riders in territories that they know, using
service providers who are targeting a family clientele.
Vision 3 “at the interface between global and local” is
that of an equestrian tourism that is emerging in certain territories: on the initiative of one or more stakeholders (a CDTE,
Departmental Council, etc.), it takes the form of a gradual joint investment between a group of service providers. They are keener to
invest in local, targeted projects including small and larger traffic routes.
Conclusion of the asset audit:
Ideally, vision 3 of equestrian tourism offers quality and safety, generates added value and is of interest to political representatives and authorities. It appears relevant and realistic with regard to the development of high-quality equestrian tourism
and highlights:
• the territory as the place for constructing a mode of action appropriate to equestrian tourism, • a unifying concept of equestrian tourism shared between stakeholders,
• the need to agree on what everyone’s role is going to be in developing the potential of existing infrastructures,
In this context, AMEDITE has taken up a new position, with its role changing towards that of a facilitator, mediator and communicator, and is alert to the fact that it might change again during the project as new partners are brought in.
28 / 35
© Girodjl-Fotolia.com
The audit, “Conditions and means for the sustainable development of equestrian tourism in the Mediterranean Arc: what
strategies for stakeholders in the equestrian world and their regional partners in south-eastern France?” was carried out
between March 2010 and March 2011 in the territory comprising the Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence-Alpes-Côted’Azur regions and the Drôme and Ardèche departments in the Rhône-Alpes region.
4 – Repositioning the project on a cross-border cooperation programme
© Cap rando
The European ALCOTRA fund was approached in
March 2012 with reference to the AGRITEQ project (AGRIculture and Equestrian Tourism), which
concerns the France/Italy cross-border programme
for the period 2007-2013. It covers “Projects to improve and organise the tourist and promotion offer
in the region while maintaining a high level of compatibility with the environment”.
AGRITEQ aims to:
•
develop a network of paths for equestrian
tourism in the cross-border region between France
and Italy,
•
through a network of agricultural enterprises, set up the logistics required for receiving
horses and riders, a service offer (food, veterinary
care, etc.) and path maintenance.
The global budget allocated is 500K¤ (300k¤ for Italy and 200k¤ for France). The project leader is the CIA (Italian Farmers’ Confederation) and the other partners are Fitetrec-Ante (Italian Equestrian Tourism Federation), Il Cavalcavalli (Italian equestrian tourism association), AMEDITE and the MRE (Regional Breeding Centre) PACA.
5 – Producing a website with the support of the Eperon Fund and the PACA regional council
It offers a complete mapping module via a Geoportal API and lists full information on AMEDITE routes through departments, accommodation and Equestrian Tourism Centres that are FFE members and have been awarded a label. Information
can be downloaded in gpx format. The aims of the site are:
• to improve the communication tools used for equestrian tourism and to coordinate the AMEDITE network,
• to list all the information collected in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, Languedoc Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées regions, and make this available to as many people as possible,
• to create a digital network of equestrian trails, lined with accommodation facilities and offering a range of services.
© Crinières du Causse
The site is not set in stone as it can be totally or partially revised via the
Dotnetnuke opensource platform. It also offers a certain added value for
AMEDITE:
• greater visibility and awareness of all the initiatives within the project and the project’s progress,
• help in organising “equestrian travel” and long-distance touring,
• help in setting up all types of equestrian tourism products, useful to
local enterprises and service providers, contributing to tourist, economic and
social development in all the regions travelled through, the promotion of natural and heritage resources and the preservation of the environment (non-polluting means of transport).
Contact:
Pierre Petit, AMEDITE
Website: www.amedite.aricie.com
29 / 35
“Conference results and conclusion”,
Bernard Pavie (FR), Christian Boyer (FR) and Hervé Delambre (FR).
The 1st European equestrian tourist trails conference closed on what was unanimously felt to be a positive note. Bernard Pavie, Christian
Boyer and Hervé Delambre warmly thanked all those who had attended over the two days. In their respective conclusions, they emphasised
the need to carry on with the work that had begun during the conference.
Hervé Delambre thanked the ONTE France for allowing everyone to come together to discuss the issues concerning trails. France has taken
the first step towards involving the other European countries in this approach. It is now up to everyone to follow up on this initiative and
ensure that European relations thrive beyond this event.
Christian Boyer concluded by saying that the wealth of information that emerged from the talks and discussions had provided an initial assessment of the equestrian tourism trails in Europe. His entire speech was based on the main themes of the
talks, which were:
• a range of possible types of clientele,
• France’s results,
• the results of initiatives in the ONTEs,
• the results of the work of hiking organisations in Europe,
• the results achieved by the Outdoor Sports network.
©FFE-PSV
This served to highlight each ONTE’s strengths, weaknesses and expectations for the future. Through the various presentations focusing on it, France showed itself to be a model for developing and structuring trail networks. It is up to all stakeholders to pool their respective experiences and see what can be offered at a European level.
30 / 35
3. Promoting the activities of the CNTE
National Equestrian Tourism Committee
The horse, of course
The FFE National Equestrian Tourism Committee, which has followed on from its predecessors (ANTE - 1963 to 1987, and
DNTE - 1987 to 2000), is this year celebrating fifty years of equestrian tourism in France. Fifty years of working with the
professionals, riders and the public to develop and promote tourism activities linked to horses.
The FFE National Equestrian Tourism Committee (CNTE) acts on behalf of nearly 90,000 licence-holders and over a million
practitioners and represents 2500 equestrian establishments and rider’s associations. It works closely with its decentralised
organisations: the Regional and Departmental Equestrian Tourism Committees (CRTE and CDTE).
Discovery, progress, participation
The CNTE’s dynamism can be seen in practical terms, both regionally and
nationally, through its efforts to:
• Provide riders – beginners and the more experienced – with safe,
high-quality facilities and services.
» Quality of supervision validated by the training of equestrian tourism professionals.
» Quality of rider reception facilities validated by the “Equestrian Tourism
Centre” label.
» Quality of reception facilities for ponies and horses at halts validated by
the “Cheval Etape” label.
• Inform licence-holders of major equestrian tourism events and practices
» L’Estafette Publications, “Le Journal des Passionnés du Tourisme
Equestre”, a quarterly publication offering subscribers news articles and special reports on all types of horse-riding
in the countryside and infrastructures, along with a diary of national and regional events.
» Putting information, factsheets and photos online on www.ffe.com/tourisme.
» Participating in the publication of equestrian tourism reference books.
• Unite the outdoor and leisure riding establishments, promote their products and
support their marketing
» Publishing and distributing the “Cheval Nature” catalogue, an official directory
of equestrian tourism establishments and their regional versions.
• List, group, structure and protect trails, gîtes and stopover accommodation, which
are essential to equestrian touring
» The CNTE, supported by the CDTEs, has taken an inventory of equestrian trails.
This is published on paper and digitally and is available department by department.
From 2009 to 2012, the CNTE implemented the National Plan for Equestrian Tourism Infrastructures, the result of national and interregional meetings on the subject. At the end of this period the results of the various initiatives were assessed.
The work that was started during this period must be continued and the initiatives undertaken by the decentralised bodies supported. To facilitate their work,
the national authority has drawn up a regional plan based on the national action plan and focusing on 4 areas for
development: development and life of infrastructures, sharing of information, representation of equestrian tourism
and training of the network and stakeholders.
Each region can use this plan to implement a local policy to develop Equestrian tourism infrastructures in accordance
with national objectives and the characteristics of its own territory.
31 / 35
• Organise major annual events that attract trekkers and competitors in equestrian
tourism disciplines
» Since 1961, Equirando has attracted nearly 1000 horses to a giant bivouac over 3
days. Followers come from all over France and Europe to converge on the bivouac
on D Day. It is an ideal freedom formula: everyone sets off from wherever he wishes with his horse, mule or donkey, mounted or in harness.
» Organisation of national events to promote trekking and outdoor horse-andcarriage events. National Horse-and-Carriage Leisure Day is planned for Sunday
21 April 2013.
» Every year, the FFE and the CNTE, in association with the Ministry for Ecology,
Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing (MEDDTL), invites riders’ and
drivers’ clubs and associations to organise events during Sustainable Development Week, which took place this year throughout France from 1st to 7 April.
Equestrian tourism infrastructures
Equestrian tourism infrastructures (mounted and carriage) include all the facilities essential to travelling on horseback and
outdoor riding in general: trails and their accessibility, accommodation and the services they offer to riders and their mounts.
A coherent network of equestrian circuits and accommodation, good relations with other trail users and with the owners of
the land being travelled through and an understanding of the needs of trekking riders by the different authorities are all part
of our mission, the aim of which is to help riders and drivers by providing them with all the information they need.
France has a million km of trails. The CNTE’s decentralised departmental and regional bodies have recognised 80,000
km, of which 16 to 18,000 are waymarked.
Since 1963, ANTE, then DNTE and now CNTE have worked through their regional structures (ARTE, now CRTE) and Departmental Equestrian Tourism Committees (CDTE) to create circuits that are listed, maintained and often waymarked. You
will find them in the documents offered by the regional and departmental committees and on the maps drawn by them and
based on their close local knowledge.
Many of these circuits are also to be found in topographical guides (equestrian trails, accommodation, useful addresses).
Results of the National Development Plan
The 2nd National Conference in 2008 drew up the National Development Plan for the development of equestrian tourism
infrastructures for the period 2009/2012. Over these 4 years, the CNTE-FFE has worked day by day to support equestrian
tourism infrastructures, leading a number of projects to structure, develop and preserve the network of equestrian trails and
accommodation in France. The initiatives implemented during this period were based on 4 main themes:
• development and life of infrastructures
• sharing of information training of the network and stakeholders
• representation of equestrian tourism
• training of the network and stakeholders
The key initiatives included reaffirming the official waymarking trademark, setting up waymarking training, creating technical documents, setting up the “Cheval Etape” label and the various partnerships formed with outdoor sports representatives.
32 / 35
Waymarking: an official, specific trademark
In 1995 the CNTE registered a specific trademark to be used for waymarking trekking trails with the French National Institute for Intellectual Property (INPI).
The trademark, as defined in the official waymarking Charter, is represented
by an orange rectangle, size 10 x 2 cm.
In 2002, the CNTE registered three new trademarks with INPI to supplement equestrian waymarking:
• one “change of direction” trademark (orange horizontal and vertical
painted lines 2 cm wide forming an arrow in a 10 x 7 cm frame),
• one “wrong direction” trademark (orange painted lines 2 cm wide forming
a cross inside a 10 x 10 cm square)
• a trademark for carriages (orange painted lines 5 x 1.5 cm and 10 x 1.5 cm
inside a 10 x 10 cm square, supported by 2 orange circles 3.5 and 3 cm in diameter).
These official trademarks may not be used without CNTE authorisation.
Training of equestrian waymarkers
In spring 2011, the FFE-CNTE set up a new training course for equestrian
waymarkers. Open to all FFE licence-holders aged over 18, these courses
are organised in the regions by the regional and departmental committees. They are run by expert waymarking instructors
who teach the rules and methods for waymarking an equestrian trail effectively, cleanly and unobtrusively, with a permanent concern to preserve the environment. A “Technical manual for equestrian waymarkers” setting out all the notions and
techniques to be mastered is given to each waymarker at the end of the training session.
Methodological guides
The “Creating and developing equestrian trails and accommodation” and
“Waymarking and signage for an equestrian trail” guides were produced in
2010 by a FFE-CNTE working party to help local authorities, associations,
equestrian tourism committees, etc., to manage equestrian trail development
projects.
The first guide describes the stages and formalities required to set up equestrian trails and gives advice on how to develop overnight accommodation facilities for horses.
The second guide is inspired by the “Official Waymarking and Signage Charter” published in 2006, in collaboration with the French Hiking Federation.
It sets out the special features of waymarking for equestrian practices and
is therefore THE reference document for equestrian waymarking in France.
These guides both include the environmental dimension and the notion of
sustainable development.
They are online on the tourism page of www.ffe.com.
The Outdoor Rider and Driver Charter
Produced by the CNTE in 2003, the “The Outdoor Rider and Driver Charter” sets out the key guidelines that outdoor drivers
and riders should follow in order to trek in safety, with respect for their horses, the environment and other trail users.
In 2011, the Charter was revised to include new, sharper graphics for easier reading.
Download it from the FFE website, Equestrian Tourism page!
33 / 35
A label for identifying sites providing overnight accommodation for horses
The FFE has introduced a new label, “Cheval Etape” to meet rider expectations and help them find overnight accommodation for their horses during a trek or other form of trip.
The label is used to identify establishments that offer suitable overnight facilities for horses and to
promote their commitment to a quality approach that is a guarantee of reliability and competence. It is
aimed at FFE member establishments that are able to meet precise specifications relating to:
• Accessibility and reception (signs, internal signage, parking, reception point);
• The accommodation for horses: whether indoors or outdoors, the accommodation should be adapted, secure and clean and should have a water source;
• Care / preparation areas: an area should be set aside for riders to prepare their horses on arrival and departure; there should be a
room where riders can store their tack and carry-bags, etc.;
• Associated services (blacksmith equipment available, information on activities available nearby, trail maps that may be read on
site, etc.);
• Site maintenance and overall cleanliness;
• Food: to make life easier, the accommodation manager should provide hay for the horses staying on his facility.
Finally, to provide a complete service, Cheval Etape establishments should offer overnight rates for horses and at least one
accommodation/meal solution nearby for riders.
Partnerships and exchanges
In order to identify the strengths of equestrian tourism and to promote them, the FFE-CNTE has reinforced its position in the
outdoor sports network by forming links with different partners:
• the French Hiking Federation and the French Cycle Touring Federation with whom agreements have been signed, in 2010 and
2011 respectively, based on a shared vision that includes defending the environment, safeguarding heritage and preserving sites where
their sports are practised;
• the ONF (French forestry commission) with whom an agreement is currently being finalised to organise the reception of and
provide information for riders in a forest environment, in accordance with such issues as sustainable development, environmental
protection and public safety;
• the Gîtes de France Federation and the Regional Parks Federation with whom reciprocal discussions and invitations have taken
place;
• the National Outdoor Sports Resources Division, which coordinates various working parties involving the sports federations and
discussing themes such as sustainable development and access to sites where their sports are practised.
A regional development plan
The Regional Equestrian Tourism Committees (CRTE) are closer to the realities and
play a key role in all the development projects linked to equestrian tourism, leisure
sports and tourism in general. They coordinate the work of the departmental committees and work day by day to organise, list, develop, waymark and maintain trekking
trails and accommodation facilities for riders and their mounts. The concerted action
of these committees thus helps to make each region a high-quality equestrian tourism
destination. To facilitate their work, the national authority has drawn up a regional
plan based on the national action plan and focusing on 4 areas for development: development and life of infrastructures, sharing of information, representation of equestrian tourism and training for the network and stakeholders.
Each CRTE can use this plan to implement a local policy to develop Equestrian tourism
infrastructures in accordance with national objectives and the characteristics of its
own territory.
34 / 35
CONGRÈS ORGANISÉ PAR LE CNTE-FFE |
CONGRESS ORGANIZED BY THE CNTE-FFE
Document réalisé par la CNTE-FFE
Bernard Pavie, Président du CNTE
Secrétaire Général du CNTE
et
Emilie Berville
La Fabrique de Com
Document prepared by CNTE-FFE
Project coordination: Bernard Pavie, CNTE President
and Christian Boyer, CNTE General Secretary
Project supervision: Emilie Berville
Model: La Fabrique de Com
-

congress proceedings

Transcription

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