The first Forum Innovation et Tourisme to be held in Lyon

Over the last few years, the requirements of tourist clients has developed enormously. Fragmented holidays, last minute bookings, the search for environmentally-friendly holiday options, budgets that are not necessarily increasing, holiday bookings via the Internet, global warming... A plethora of issues that force tourism professionals to adapt or perish.

This is a sector in which the Rhône-Alpes, one of the world's top tourism destinations, is well placed to show off concrete examples of "best practice" and practical debate that places France in a strong position vis-à-vis a growing and increasingly aggressive competitive market.

Rhône-Alpes Tourisme, which has employed major innovations in its communication campaigns over the last couple of years via a range of e-newsletters as well as RhôneAlpes.TV, has jumped into the arena with both feet by organising the first edition of Forum Innovation et Tourisme due to take place on 29 and 30 November at Lyon's Centre des Congrès. About 400 participants are expected, the majority of which are accommodation providers, consultants, representatives from regional and local tourist authorities and from tourist offices, local councillors and decision makers.

"The goal of this symposium is to place the Rhône-Alpes in prime position as an innovative European tourist destination thanks to its development of activities and tourism areas and following its adoption of a tourism and leisure policy for the 2008-2013 period," clarifies Bruno Jean, in charge of city development within the MITRA (Mission d'Ingénierie Touristique Rhône-Alpes).  "We've noticed that our tourism offer is growing faster than demand, and we also have to take into account that because we're French potential foreign tourists often consider us an "old" destination".

What is certain, however, is that the forum will be poles apart from this outdated image and it's quite obvious that there will be a "before" and "after" the Forum, with the aim that everyone can adopt an innovative approach in order to escape from the old, established programmes of the past. The occasion will be marked by a gala evening at the Sucrière, the Lyon's Mecca for contemporary art during the Biennale, on 29 November.  It will be interspersed with a number of special events: "Why innovate?", "How to innovate?" and "Encouraging innovation", the aim of the organisers being to highlight innovation in terms of human performance rather than in terms of new technology.

Discussions will focus as much on innovation within the sphere of sustainable development as through the adaptation of existing products, on the concept of creating an essential partnership between the client and the host area and also on how innovation can be found in many areas beyond the technological sector. 

There will be plenty of real examples used to supplement the various debates during the evening, allowing participants the chance to join in over a drink at the "bar à idées"...   This is an ambitious programme that has just been launched during two press conferences, one in Lyon and the other at the Press Club de France in Paris.