Context and description of the scheme

1. Context

This call for projects is part of the LEADER Loire 2023-2027 program, which aims to promote the transition towards sobriety and the improvement of living conditions in our rural territories.

The GAL Loire consists of three tourist destinations, the Roannais in the north, the Forez in the center and the Pilat in the south, which share common characteristics:

− They rely on a rich heritage and the nature-based offering is an important marker;

− They are moving towards sustainable four-season tourism, respectful of the environment;

− They promote experiential offerings and slow tourism;

− Their clientele is mainly composed of visitors from the urban areas of the AURA region (Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Clermont-Ferrand). In view of this convergence, common challenges have therefore been identified such as:

− The diversification of the tourist fabric around shared values;

− The upgrading of the offered services through both better structuring and better enhancement of the territory's assets;

− The improvement of the reception capacity, notably by taking into account all types of audiences (families, seniors, people with disabilities...