Sustainable Tourism and Development Policy

Our Commitment

Our Tourist Office is committed to promoting sustainable tourism and responsible development. We strive to play a leading role as an eco-friendly destination through our day-to-day operations and through the products and services we provide.

Internal Operations

Waste Management

We actively practice waste sorting and recycling. Cardboard, paper, plastic, glass, toner cartridges, printer cartridges, batteries, light bulbs, and other recyclable materials are sorted and regularly taken to local recycling centres in Gap and Tallard.

Outdoor bins and ashtrays are available at both Tourist Information Offices to help maintain clean public spaces.

Paper Management and Printing

We aim to reduce paper consumption by:

• Printing documents only when necessary.
• Using double-sided printing whenever possible.
• Reducing print sizes where appropriate.
• Limiting colour printing to essential documents.
• Reusing outdated printed materials as draft paper.
• Repurposing old A3 posters for internal information displays.

The number of publications printed each year is reviewed based on the previous year's consumption to avoid unnecessary waste.

Procurement Policy

Office supplies and cleaning products are ordered in a controlled and responsible manner, typically every three to four months.

Our brochures are printed by environmentally responsible suppliers using recycled paper whenever possible.

When purchasing equipment and materials, we prioritise products that carry recognised environmental certifications.

In our shop, we actively promote products made by local artisans and producers. We favour locally sourced products and short supply chains in order to reduce transport-related environmental impacts.

All cleaning products used by the Tourist Office are eco-labelled, and our cleaning contractor also uses environmentally certified products.

Distribution of Tourist Information

We carefully manage our stocks of tourist documentation according to visitor demand and seasonal attendance.

Printed documents are sent by post only upon request. Visitors are encouraged to consult and download our brochures and guides directly from our website in PDF format.

In partnership with local tourism providers, we organise documentation distribution rounds and encourage stakeholders to collect the materials they need directly from the Tourist Office.

Visitors are invited to return brochures and tourist information documents that remain in good condition after use so that they can be reused whenever possible.

Energy Management

We use energy-efficient lighting and adapt lighting levels according to visitor attendance.

At the end of each day, and during lunch breaks when appropriate, lights, computers, digital displays, printers, and charging devices are switched off or unplugged.

Heating and air-conditioning systems in both offices are regularly maintained.

During summer, air-conditioning settings comply with French regulations and recommendations. Additional fans are used when necessary.

Office areas are equipped with fans rather than air conditioning.

In winter, heating systems are operated in accordance with national energy-saving recommendations. Heating and cooling systems are switched off when the offices are closed.

Electric heaters in office areas are adjusted according to recommended temperature settings.

We also regularly clean and optimise our email servers and digital storage systems to reduce unnecessary digital consumption.

Sustainable Mobility

For business travel, we encourage carpooling with neighbouring Tourist Offices whenever possible and favour the use of public transport.

Video conferencing is prioritised to reduce travel between offices.

Public transport throughout the Gap-Tallard-Durance area is free of charge. Timetables for the AGGLO-BUS network are available on the local authority's website.

The area also offers:

• Carpooling facilities.
• “Rézo Pouce” hitchhiking and shared mobility services.
• Secure bicycle parking facilities.
• An expanding network of cycling routes.

Free park-and-ride facilities are available at the entrances to the city of Gap, enabling visitors to use the free public transport network serving the entire urban area.

Water Conservation

We encourage responsible water use when washing hands or dishes.

Our facilities are equipped with dual-flush toilets and water-saving mixer taps.

Sustainable Communication

We prioritise digital communication whenever possible.

All our publications are available online and can be viewed or downloaded from our website at any time.

We use social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to share information and events in real time.

Newsletters, press releases and event information are distributed electronically.

Internal communication is conducted primarily by email to reduce paper consumption.

Supporting Visitors

We encourage visitors to adopt environmentally responsible behaviours during their stay.

A “My Eco-Friendly Holiday Habits” poster is displayed in our reception areas and is also available on our website.

Visitors are encouraged to download brochures online and consult our events calendar digitally, helping to reduce paper consumption.

At our reception desks, documents are printed only when necessary. Foreign-language brochures are available online for download, reducing the need for printed copies.

We also promote the use of the free public transport network throughout the agglomeration.

Welcoming Visitors with Pets

Both Tourist Information Offices have been awarded the Toutourisme label.

Special services are available for visitors travelling with pets, including:

• Information on pet-friendly facilities.
• Dog treats.
• Waste bags ("Canisacs").
• Information promoting responsible pet ownership and cleanliness.

In Gap, dedicated dog exercise areas known as “Canispaces” are available.

In Tallard, dog waste bag dispensers are located at the entrance to the castle park and in the village centre.

Both Tourist Offices maintain a stock of dog waste bags for visitors.

Responsible Retail Practices

When required, customers are offered recycled paper bags for shop purchases.

We ask visitors whether they would like a printed receipt.

We do not distribute plastic promotional items.

Working with Local Tourism Professionals

Through our website, we provide information on:

• The Qualité Tourisme programme.
• The classification of furnished tourist accommodation.
• Sustainable tourism labels and certifications.

We actively promote certified tourism providers and regularly update information online to encourage sustainable practices among local stakeholders.

Event organisers are invited to publish their events directly through the Apidae Events platform, reducing the need for paper communication.

We also use the Hubo platform, allowing tourism providers to update their own information online and reducing the use of printed forms and documents.

Guidance is provided to accommodation providers on sustainable practices, including:

• Waste sorting facilities.
• LED lighting.
• Environmentally certified products for guests.
• Energy and water-saving measures.

Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

To evaluate and improve our environmental performance, we:

• Monitor stocks of our own tourist documentation.
• Monitor stocks of our partners' documentation.
• Participate annually in tourism documentation exchange programmes organised by the Hautes-Alpes Departmental Tourism Agency, helping to reduce transport and shipping.
• Track the number of classified and certified tourism establishments within our territory.
• Monitor our digital usage and consumption.
• Monitor printing volumes and office supply purchases.

Through these actions, we are committed to continuously improving our environmental performance and contributing to a more sustainable tourism sector.