Yachting and nautical activities: some considerations for an integrated development

Eric Rahyr

Fédération Française des Ports de Plaisance, Paris (FR)

Yachting and nautical activities represent a dynamic economic sector with high potentialities of growth in terms of tourism and leisure consumption. They are a strong factor of promotion for coastal resorts. They are also a tool for local economic development, providing direct as well as indirect employment (nautical activities, yachting related industries, tourism products, ...).

Whithin a context of increasing demand but congestion of yachting harbours, the development of this branch of activity goes through the identification of innovative solutions to meet yachting people's desire, while preserving the landscape and environmental quality of our coasts.

Because creating new yachting harbours is less and less possible, other plans should be proposed : extensions, convertion of existing structures, inland storage... as well as helping new firms to settle in and developping nautical products. All these solutions must refer to an integrated approach in order to :
- be socially and financially acceptable for local authorities
- narrow environmental impacts and improve urban waterfronts
- look for an optimal social and economic benefit, while being in accordance with local development strategies.

This presentation will deal with :
- the importance of yachting and nautical activities in France, in Europe
- the problem of yachting harbours limited capacities
- the possible answers to this problem
- harbours development challenges : considering harbours as local development tools
- harbours development : towards integrated operations compliant with environmental conservation and economic growth.