Andernos, destination of excellence recognized by obtaining the classified resort label!

The Tourist Office

of Andernos les Bains

is classified in category 1

Reminder of the ranking criteria

The classification of tourist offices guarantees consistency and homogeneity in the services that tourist offices offer to visitors to the different holiday destinations in France.

Established by the ministry in charge of French tourism, this classification is made up of 3 categories: from category 1 (the highest) to category 3,

The different classification criteria make it possible to guarantee the same base of services meeting the main needs of visitors.

The difference between the 3 levels of categories is due to the provision of additional services, the actions developed, their scope of action and the means available to the Tourist Office in order to always better welcome you, advise and satisfy tourist customers.

Download the latest documents on classification reform April 2019

• Methodological guide – Procedure relating to the classification of Tourist Offices
• Learn more

NB: The new criteria came into force from 1er July 2019*

The National Federation is available to answer any questions that this new classification grid and its annexes may raise.

*Note that the classification criteria for Tourist Offices were revised simultaneously with the new Quality Tourisme brand grid, and the classification criteria for tourist resorts.

Andernos, destination of excellence recognized by obtaining the classified resort label 

Two levels of classification are provided for municipalities which invest in the development of a tourism policy in their territory. The first level materializes by obtaining the name of tourist commune governed by articles L.133-11 and L.133-12 of the tourism code. This designation is issued by a prefectural decree taken for a period of five years. To do this, candidate municipalities must respect three criteria: have a classified tourist office; organize tourist activities and have accommodation capacity intended for a non-permanent population. In January 2019, more than 1300 tourist municipalities were listed.

The second level, higher than the first, is materialized by the classification as a tourist resort as defined by articles L.133-13 to L.133-16 of the tourism code. This classification is the act by which the public authorities recognize the efforts made by a community to structure an adapted tourist offer and an excellent welcome. This classification, awarded by decree for a period of twelve years, assumes compliance with a grid of demanding criteria. In June 2019, the 400th tourist resort was classified.

At the initiative of the Interministerial Tourism Council, a new grid setting the classification criteria has been developed: it aims to modernize the system by removing obsolete criteria and distinctions and by taking better account of innovations and the new needs of tourists , particularly in terms of new technologies and activities offered. This new regulation came into force on July 1, 2019.

The tourist office obtains the Qualité Tourisme mark

At the end of a pre-season mystery audit, followed by a complete audit in October, the tourist office obtained, with a remarkable result of 93,44%, the brand Qualité Tourisme. This distinction rewards the work of the team and its commitment to offering, among other things, quality stay advice. This also demonstrates a common desire of tourism stakeholders, both institutional and professional, to revitalize our territory, by identifying it as a destination of excellence.

As such, we will continue to work to satisfy customers and respect the commitments made, namely:

• a warm welcome
• attentive staff
• mastery of foreign languages
• personalized welcome services
• clear and precise information
• guaranteed cleanliness and comfort
• taking your opinions and feedback into account

As tourism professionals, you too can commit to the Tourism Quality approach and participate in positioning Andernos as a destination of excellence.

More Info https://www.qualite-tourisme.gouv.fr/fr

A strong commitment

in the Tourism Quality approach

QUALITÉ TOURISME™, created by the ministry in charge of French tourism, is recognition of the continuous improvement initiatives in the quality of services put in place by Tourist Offices. An audit is carried out every 3 years.

A tourist office having obtained the QUALITE TOURISME™ mark guarantees:

• a personalized welcome;
• qualified, clear and precise information;
• competent staff who listen to you;
• a comfortable place;
• taking your opinions into account and processing your complaints;
• continuous improvement of services and benefits;

The Qualité Tourisme™ brand brings together under a single banner the quality approaches of multiple tourism stakeholders in France: hotels, tourist residences, holiday villages, campsites, restaurants, cafes and brasseries, tourist offices, seasonal rental agencies, places of visit and outdoor activities. It is a guarantee of trust and quality of service between professionals and visitors.

More information on the website of the ministry responsible for tourism: htt//www.entreprises.gouv.fr/marques-nationales-tourisme

Andernos-les-bains, classified resort

The classified station:

• has a capacity for diversified and quality accommodation intended for a non-permanent population;
• implements an active reception, information and tourism promotion policy;
• demonstrates its excellence in terms of tourist offering and reception: high level of services and activities, tourist and cultural events, physical and sporting activities;
• highlights the site’s natural resources and heritage;
• has a classified tourist office;
• facilitates access and circulation in the tourist commune;
• has local shops (catering services, food shops, a weekly market, etc.).

The decree of June 16, 2023 modified the criteria for being classified as a “tourist resort”:

• addition of criteria linked to the sustainable development of tourism : four categories of criteria have been inserted, namely the development of soft and sustainable mobility, energy efficiency, the preservation of natural heritage and biodiversity, and the development of short circuits and the circular economy;

These modifications aim to “green” the classification of classified resorts so that these municipalities of tourist excellence participate in the government objective of making France the leading global destination for sustainable tourism.

A first step was taken with obtaining the Générosity de l’Accueil label

Thursday January 24, 2019, during the Gironde tourist office network day, organized by Gironde Tourisme and MONA, the tourist office received the Generosity of Welcome label.

This label validates compliance with the criteria of chapter 6 “commitments to visitors” of the national “Tourism Quality” framework.