Connecting tourism and mobility for a low-carbon future(FR)

In Hauts-de-France, tourism is concentrated along the coast, especially around the Baie de Somme. Inland areas are often overlooked, and sustainable alternatives to private cars are underdeveloped, poorly promoted or hard to access. Train stations lack links to tourist attractions, bike rental options are fragmented, and tourist offices struggle to guide visitors effectively before they arrive.

There is a clear need for joined-up thinking between tourism and mobility actors to make low-carbon travel both visible and viable.

This pilot brings tourism and mobility stakeholders together to:

• Improve access to eco-friendly transport options
• Strengthen soft mobility infrastructure and services
• Expand the role of tourist offices as mobility hubs
• Promote inland destinations and reduce coastal pressure

The project aims to rethink mobility from a tourist perspective — making sustainable choices easier, more intuitive, and more widely used.

• A regional working group meets every three months to develop mobility solutions
• A new study is linking two major regional cycling routes
• Four workshops were held on:
  • Mapping existing transport services
  • Identifying barriers and opportunities
  • Defining the role of tourist offices
  • Improving communication and infrastructure for cyclists

Example actions:

• Creating a shared database of bike rentals
• Offering routes in GPX format
• Promoting the “Accueil Vélo” label across hotels, restaurants and visitor centres

This pilot is led by ADEME and supported by:

• Local and regional tourism offices and authorities
• Mobility providers including Vélo Baie de Somme
• Somme Tourisme, APES, and the Baie de Somme Zéro Carbone initiative

The pilot applies the Territorial Tourism Ecology (TTE) approach from ADEME, encouraging cross-sector collaboration and resource-sharing to reduce environmental impact in tourism.

• A stronger network of low-carbon transport options
• Improved links between mobility and tourism services
• Practical tools and promotion strategies for sustainable mobility
• A regional model that other destinations can learn from

Project lead ADEME Hauts-de-France – https://www.ademe.fr/contact/
🔗 Learn more: ADEME TTE Guide