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Camille Lachèze director and Antoine Béco, mayor of Loubressac and president of OT Vallée de la Dordogne. (© Emilien Gerbois)
L’Dordogne Valley Tourist Office participates in the economic development of the destination by working with its two supervisory communities: Cauvaldor and the PETR Vallée de la Dordogne Corrézienne. Antoine Béco, mayor of Loubressac and president of the TO specifies the range of missions carried out.
News: What are the main missions of the Tourist Office?
Antoine Béco: Antoine Béco: To welcome well means to be at every point of contact of the traveler, before during and after his stay and consequently to meet his many expectations to facilitate his holidays. So if we focus on the quality of the reception in our 11 offices and the promotion of the destination through an ambitious action plan, we work directly as a business provider to professionals.
You mentioned the economic dimension, at what level is it exercised?
A. B. : The tourist office is at the service of the destination and its supervisory communities, Cauvaldor and the PETR Vallée de la Dordogne Corrézienne, i.e. 141 municipalities. Our priority remains the economic development of the territory, but also the harmonious development of tourism between inhabitants and travelers.
Thus, the group service ensures the marketing of tourist products to prescribers such as travel agencies, tour operators, associations and on this date, activity resumes strongly.
“The turnover generated in recent weeks with the end of confinement and the relaunch of group tourism is already identical to that generated over the whole of 2020.”
How is this season looking?
A. B. : The turnover generated in recent weeks with the end of confinement and the relaunch of group tourism is already identical to that generated for the whole of 2020. Marine Konik, head of the sales department, is working on confirmation 120 files for 2021. 80% of this turnover then goes to service providers (restaurateurs, accommodation providers, visitation sites, regional guides, etc.).
In recent years OTs have developed a ticketing service, what about?
A. B. : The tourist office becomes a privileged place to buy tour tickets, with exclusive advantages and personalized advice. In 2019, this activity generated € 195,000 in turnover, 90% going to professionals. This service is available at all of our reception offices, as is the sale of regional products and artistic crafts, in partnership with producers and artisans.
As for online sales, what does it represent?
A. B. : We equip and support service providers in marketing their offers. In 2020, the marketplace generated more than € 1.7 million in turnover for professionals, an increase of 47% compared to 2019, despite the context of the health crisis.
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