Clean and Green PARIS
As the world’s leading city for tourism, Paris is conscious of its high profile and takes advantage of this to assert its values in the area of sustainable development, values which it has made commitments to through Agenda 21 and a Climate Plan.
Tourism is generally recognised as one of the biggest industries in the world. An industry that also depends on the quality of the environment. But, if tourism is not managed in the right way, it could damage the resources that are essential to its success and future. The city of Paris has become involved in initiatives for sustainability in numerous domains, including tourism, with initiatives that outline the sustainable image of the world’s leading tourist destination.
Every year, Paris attracts 28 million tourists. Around 45 per cent of visitors come for professional reasons and this generates some 5 billion Euro of economic spin-offs. With its excellent geographical situation, exceptional cultural heritage and European and global competitive clusters, the French capital has much to offer business travellers.
In this rubric, the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau seeks to promote the ‘green’ advantages of Paris, to enhance the value of Parisian establishments in the tourism sector with an eco-label and to encourage all initiatives aimed at bringing visitors and Parisians closer together. The Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau gives assistance to tourism Improving the eco-responsible content of events: and long-term effects of all involved in the event.
professionals, notably those involved in the meetings industry, in order to develop their eco-responsible practices.
Using the various standards and labels available in the events sector, clients and service providers are invited to work together to create new eco-responsible ways to welcome and dazzle guests attending future eco-designed events in Paris, with ecoresponsible standards in accommodation, eating out, entertainment, getting around and communicating.
The major elements of this endeavour are fighting against climate change, developing social cohesion, developing a sustainable local economy and awareness raising.
Getting around ‘Responsibly’
The 21st century traveller gets around Paris by mass transit, by Vélib’ and by Autolib’, eating organic food in specialist restaurants and enjoying walks in one of the city’s 400 green spaces. In doing so, he expands the scope of his discovery as a tourist to the lesserknown districts of Paris and seeks out encounters with people who live in the city. Very soon, the reality of being a ‘responsible tourist’ - in the same way as being a ‘responsible citizen’ - will be matched by that of professionals, major players in sustainable tourism.
Figures showing the behaviour of tourists coming to the capital speak for themselves! As tourists travel around the capital, they respect the environment, and there are statistics to prove it: 89 per cent of tourists use the metro to get around, 23 per cent take the bus, 16 per cent take taxis and 3 per cent travel by bike (source: www.paris.fr).
Connecting Europe
With its geographically centralised location in Europe, Paris already has all it takes to be a sustainable tourist destination. It is well-connected with major European cities through a high speed train network—one of the cleanest means of transport.
Vélib exceeds the borders of Paris
It’s a fact that’s impossible to ignore: the bicycle has taken over in Paris.
Metros for longer routes
The Métro operates 16 lines serving 380 stops throughout the capital: an environmentally-friendly means of transport.
The tramway on a green roll
Since 2006, the old boulevards of the Maréchaux sud have been the route of tramway line n° 3 – electric, quiet, non-polluting, regular, fast and reliable.
The Seine en vogue
Since 2008, the Seine has been offering an alternative means of transport to the metro and bus with Voguéo, the first public transport shuttle boat.
Clean cars
Rather than disappearing, the car is undergoing a transformation. Paris already boasts initiatives which indicate this transition into a new era: taxis running on biofuel, electric cars and two-wheeled vehicles, etc. Nothing is lost, everything is transformed: it’s an adage that’s now well understood when it comes to cars.
Paris already boasts initiatives which predate this transition into a new era: in terms of taxis, some companies have converted to agrofuel or offer a fleet of hybrid vehicles, especially Taxis Bleus, turned into Taxis Green; Taxis G7 with the Green Cab fleet; and NEOCAB, luxury taxis offering various ways for travellers to respect the environment.
Even ‘4 roues sous un parapluie’, the agency offering tours of Paris in the mythical French ‘2CV’ car, is updating to go green: In 2010, the first electric prototype was presented. Along the same lines, My Magic Tour has created the electric City Car; this sharp-looking black-and-yellow vehicle will make you feel like you’re discovering Paris in a New York taxi! Recharging points are available throughout Paris for vehicles of this type, both cars and two-wheelers.
Paris is equipping itself with tools and coming up with answers to make the most of the natural, cultural and social resources it already possesses, for the longterm, without forgetting participatory and fair cultural tourism that it seeks to promote.