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Conclusion

Alain CLERC - President of Observatoire Mont-Blanc-Léman (OML), Archamps, France

 

Responsible for instigating and setting up the Summits of Tourism, the Mont Blanc-Léman Observatory for sustainable development (OML), can be pleased with the success of this first conference especially as the theme chosen for this first Summit was not an easy one. Firstly, the concept of "sustainable development and tourism" is not in itself highly motivating and as the professor Peter Keller so rightly pointed out, the very lack of substance and definition makes the concept of sustainable development deceptive. However, the outcome of this first conference shows that these obstacles can be overcome and demonstrates how discussions about sustainable tourism achieved a good start.

During these three days of talks and without detracting from the previous review, I would like to stress three major converging issues which have emanated from this Summit and which will determine how our work will continue. I consider them in fact to be three requirements :

• the need to set up a network of tourist players,
• the creation of a qualitative approach to sustainable development and consequently sustainable tourism,
• the need for unifying tools.

1. The need to set up a network of tourist players

Such a network has several uses. It must notably ensure :

• that innovative experiences in terms of sustainable tourism are shared. This need has particularly been made evident by the specialists from French speaking countries, who have met up here during these past few days,
• an improved circulation of information,
• access to certified and validated documentary resources,
• access to training modules as sustainable tourism can only be implemented if there is improved training of the various players involved.

2. The creation of a qualitative approach to sustainable development and therefore sustainable tourism

This issue has been highlighted by many speakers during the conference independently of their socio-professional commitments and has been confirmed by the answers to questions provided by IPK.

The presentation made by Mr Etienne Pauchant corroborates this demand.

3.The need for unifying tools

Setting up a network of players and developing a qualitative approach can only be achieved if adequate and new instruments to promote sustainable tourism are available. In this respect we are pleased about the Mayor of Fontainebleau and the Senator Paul Dubrule's initiative to create an Institute of sustainable development. The Summits of Tourism web site (http://www.sommets-tourisme.org) which was presented to you a few moments ago by Christophe Devouassoux must fill this role. The opportunities offered by this site as well as the facilities that will emanate from it will strongly contribute to the development of sustainable tourism. The setting up at Divonne, of a Training centre for territorial managers also has the same aim. Let us hope that synergies can be embodied within the training models for sustainable tourism between Fontainebleau, Divonne and the Summits of tourism.

The approach initiated by the Summits of tourism to proceed with critical appraisals of several tourist towns is one of the unifying tools.

This independent view of the development of tourist towns should encourage the identification of errors committed in the past and the elaboration of criteria for sustainable tourism. Chamonix has quite bravely agreed to be a subject of such appraisal.

The Summits of tourism will reinforce their team of specialists to achieve this objective and hope that other towns will agree to submit themselves to such analysis. The Summits of tourism's collaboration with the World Federation of United Cities (FMCU) and Metropolis should make this process easier.

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Finally, as a conclusion at this late hour in the talks, I would especially like to say that I am pleased with the beneficial outcome of these talks which have involved players with sometimes differing opinions.

This role of mediator played by the Summits of tourism between the compulsory partners of sustainable tourism namely the NGOs, economic decision makers, university political players on a local, regional, national and international level is a measure of success both for the Summits of tourism and the future of one of the principle economic activities in the modern world.

This result is not only due to the commitment shown by the Mayor of Chamonix, the Council of Haute-Savoie, the Rhône-Alpes region and the Secretary of State for Tourism as well as all the companies and organisations involved, notably the Accor group, Geneva Airport, Swissair, the STMB, Crédit Agricole, the Companie des Alpes, the OML and the Geneva Tourist Office. It is also due to what I call the "magic of Chamonix", which we saw in a luminous, friendly and amazing way last night at Montenvers.

I therefore conclude by saying that this first Summit of Chamonix is a decisive step forward with the setting up of new instruments for cooperation, which in the future will be used to manage sustainable tourism. Be assured that the Organising committee will make good use of our talks so that Chamonix, wealthy from its tourist past dating back nearly three centuries, will contribute efficiently and intelligently to promoting sustainable development. The Organising Committee looks forward to seeing you next year, on the 4, 5 and 6 December 2000, for the second Summit on the "tourism and growth" theme.