The 2022 edition of the Atout France magazine, Explore France, is entirely dedicated to sustainable tourism. The main theme of the magazine is water, earth’s most precious resource, essential to life: the sea, the rivers, the canals, the benefits of the thermal spring water, the spas…
Today more than ever, France aims to be a country of sustainability: the environment and the water are two key sectors.
Famous and influential people are fighting hard to protect our planet and raise awareness on environmental issues, such as Laurent Ballesta, the main story of our magazine, who’s a biologist, great photographer and winner of the Grand Title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2021 with an extraordinary photo. Ballesta’s goal is to discover the beauty of the underwater world and emphasize on the urgency of protecting marine heritage. Water and environmental protection are the main priority. Likewise, Manu Laurin, founder of Sauvage Med, recovers waste from the sea – from fishing nets to plastic bottles – which he transforms into splendid bijoux and Julie Gautier, freediving champion, underwater dancer and film-maker are putting the spotlight on the sea, its beauty, the need to protect it.
At the same time, water has become a culture opportunity with underwater museums, “blue” islands and cities, and the itineraries along the great rivers – the Loire, the Seine, the Rhone.
Sustainable tourism has also become centered on gastronomy, with fish restaurants awarded with the green Michelin star for their commitment to defending the environment.
Sustainable tourism is the goal of all the regions of France featured in the magazine, from the Loire Valley to Paris Région, from the Côte d’Azur, from Menton to Nice, Alsace, the Var, Corsica, till Nouvelle-Aquitaine which aims to become the most sustainable region in France. A commitment that applies to many sectors. Even Disneyland Paris, which turns 30 this year, the Galeries Lafayette, the top department stores in Paris, the recently reopened La Samaritaine, are increasingly committed to sustainability, along with eco hotels surrounded by nature, spaces for teleworking…
The future of the water tourism of “blue” France is in the name of sustainability.
You can find Explore France magazine at the French Embassy and Institut Français and on the French Embassy website gr.ambafrance.org
The Explore France magazine is also available in digital version:
https://bit.ly/magazine-explorefrance2022_GR
Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the region of sustainable tourism
The largest region of France wants to become the first region for sustainable tourism. Variety is the hallmark of Nouvelle-Aquitanie with many proposals from Bordeaux with the Cité du Vin, to Lascaux the most famous rock cave in the world, the jewel-city of Sarlat, Biarritz and the Basque Country, Poitiers and Futuroscope, Cognac, Pau and the Pyrenees, Limoges and its porcelain savoir-faire… And of course the beaches: 750km of sandy coastline with ports from Bayonne to La Rochelle, 51 surf spots, the Dune of the Pilat, 110 meters dominating the Arcachon basin, the islands along the Atlantic: Ré, Oléron, Aix.
Nature is an absolute priority with a national park and five regional natural parks which guarantee a very rich biodiversity, in addition to the Dordogne Valley, a UNESCO world biosphere reserve. An ideal setting for slow tourism, from bicycle itineraries to river cruises, lighthouses, the magical scenery of the Marais Poitevin.
Nouvelle-Aquitanie’s goal is to become the first sustainable tourist destination in France.
