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Welcoming speech

Mr. Denis BOUCHET - Vice-President of the Haute-Savoie Departmental Council in charge of Sports, Tourism and Mountain Policy, France

 

Within the framework of the objective set by the Scientific Committee, headed by Peter Keller, in 2005 for a period of 3 years, namely: “to find innovative solutions to the major tourist problems currently encountered by the resorts”the 2007 theme on the problems surrounding land and property would appear to be particularly relevant.

The leisure real estate “boom” seems to be stimulating the tourist economy.

Consequently, buildings which were completely neglected and wasteland which was sometimes located in the heart of resorts all disappeared about fifteen years ago.

Certain accommodation, which had been scarcely or badly operated, was put back on the market in particular due to the arrival of Tour Operators.

The value of second homes has risen and these homes are used more and more by their owners (they represent nearly 40% of tourists visiting the resort).

But this “boom” has perverse effects leading mainly to permanent residents, and in particular young people, leaving the resort due to the cost of property and land, which has had an impact on rent prices. This produces the most detrimental imbalance for resorts: they lose their soul and their life. This also results in an increase in travelling which is prejudicial to the environment.

The increase in the value of property also has tax repercussions making the passing down of hotels in particular very difficult owing to estate duties.

Local authorities, which through their investments participated in increasing the value of land and property, receive a minor financial return on land sales.

It is thus quite obvious that the land and property market requires regulations which, if they are not taken, will bring into question the basic fundamentals of our development. Now, today we do not have at our disposal – at least not in France – a true policy on the subject, nor the appropriate tools.

The conference this year should consequently contribute to the discussions under way and suggest avenues for a better control of land and property. This prerequisite is indispensable before any policy on town and country planning and tourist development.

Certain measures would naturally have to be taken by the Government, such as a higher taxation of the exorbitant capital gains made as a consequence of land and property sales.

Subsequently, a true policy in terms of land reserves could be set up by sharing these new tax collections with the local authorities.

Finally, urban planning documents specify space use but do not allow for a real control on urban development and do not prevent changes being made to the purpose of property or land.

The Haute Savoie is particularly concerned by such problems as it has become a major tourist destination due to the diversity and beauty of its landscapes, and to the quality of its heritage.

We are today responsible for the area that has been shaped over the years by prior generations. This does not naturally imply that we should be ultra-conservative or have a withdrawn attitude. On the contrary, it should encourage us to become an innovative area where financial results are not the only reference mark.

Our Departmental Council hopes that your discussions will enable you to put forward strategies and measures to be implemented.