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  Closing Session of the 4th Tourism Summits

Mr. Michel CHARLET - Mayor of Chamonix Mont-Blanc, Chairman of Tourism Summits, France

 

Mr. Minister,
Madam Chairman,
Chairmen,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am greatly honoured and truly delighted to chair this round table meeting, as much for the quality of the speakers who I thank most sincerely for taking part, as in my capacity of an event chairman who is reaching the end of his first term of office. 

We are in the habit of saying that Chamonix has had an open mind since 1741, when the first tourists (the English already) arrived in the valley.  It also has a critical mind and likes to think of itself as a forum for debate and reflection.Four years ago, Chamonix was keen to put this experience to good use through the Tourism Summits, to find answers to its own questions and also to reflect on putting into practice the concept of tourist development at world level.

Environmental, economic, social and cultural aspects, each field was analysed, ideas were debated and concrete experiences illustrated with a wealth of lessons to be learned.

Peter Keller will shortly be drawing the conclusions of these 4 years and you can appreciate this wealth for yourselves.

This year has again highlighted the importance of actions by economic partners and of local populations and communities who must boost the sustainability approach.

Chamonix wanted to give itself a clearly defined strategy to promote the need for a shared global vision.

After analysis, reflection and discussion, the different partners in the resort agreed on a strategy focusing on our natural resources and our heritage.

Values with which everyone can identify and find his own level of participation in a common objective and which tend to seek a balance between “Tourism and Culture” and “Tourism and Natural Resources” instead of pitting them against each other, as this alone can guarantee nature conservation and an economy adapted to local expectations.

The development programme is conceived based on this strategy focusing on the exceptional features of the massif.

It also justifies the stands we are taking.

With the wish to see the Mont Blanc massif become a UNESCO World Heritage Site becoming more widespread, a wish supported by all the cross-border communes in the Mont Blanc area, and following the speech on sustainable development by President Chirac in Johannesburg, the Mont Blanc community dares hope that the government avoid reintroducing a massive source of pollution which we have been condemning for years and which will promote the measures necessary to transfer goods traffic to the railways.

With this in view and whilst waiting, the first major sign would be a decision to maintain the alternative traffic system which in addition guarantees the safety of those using it.

I am handing you a book which will convince you if necessary of the majesty of the site and by way of conclusion, I shall draw on philosophy from the Bhutan, a country we are collaborating with, which advocates the notion of Gross National Happiness, a fine example of research into sustainable development based on a controlled economy, a confirmed culture, natural resources and a clearly defined policy strategy.