Taking the time to travel differently is the essence of slow tourism. In this interview, Brice Duthion, Founder of the agency “Les nouvelles voyages extraordinaires” discusses the principles of this respectful approach to nature and territories, its implications for public policies and the aspirations it arouses among travelers. ‘Today. Comments which will be developed in a series of columns for the Slow Tourisme Lab.
What is slow tourism?
Brice Duthion, Founder of the agency “New extraordinary trips”
Slow tourism is a way of life that is based on the art of traveling while taking your time and respecting nature. This means slowing down to better appreciate the journey, meet local people and share authentic moments. This is an approach that respects territories and their resources.
Is this still a trend today?
Yes, but interest in slow tourism has been mixed with broader reflection on proximity, particularly after the COVID-19 crisis. Many territories are wondering about this way of traveling. Clermont-Ferrand, for example, values the discovery of its volcanoes from a slow and contemplative angle. Another example: Combrailles, in Auvergne, relies on an original communication: “Here, you will do nothing”. Except being together and meeting the population. Internationally, Switzerland is the slow tourism destination par excellence. It offers experiences such as the Grand Tour by train, which invites you to admire the landscapes and create connections.
What are the major trends linked to slow tourism?
Slow tourism meets several aspirations. It promotes disconnection and rejuvenation, allowing you to travel to find yourself and slow down. It is based on frugality, a simple and respectful way of approaching the trip. This tourism also advocates a different temporality, with longer and enriching experiences. It highlights soft and shared mobility, to reinvent modes of travel. Finally, it promotes local involvement, by building authentic territorial stories with residents.
Is cycle tourism an illustration of slow tourism?
Absolutely. This is one of the key elements. For example, infrastructure such as the greenway and the blueway in the Grand Est region make it possible to explore a destination by bike while offering stops and related services. The Loire à Vélo is a beautiful illustration of this concept. But slow tourism is not limited to landscapes: it also promotes meetings with locals, as in Brittany with the “In Brittany without my car” initiative, which preceded the COVID period.
What about unusual means of transport, like airships?
Airships could be part of this same trend in the future, as is envisaged in the Arctic for 2028. Certainly, this will remain marginal, but it offers a new perspective on gentle and respectful travel. Just like hot air balloons which are a unique way to discover a destination in a spirit of slowness and contemplation.
As slow tourism grows, means of transport such as the Hyperloop are emerging and with them the promise of speeding up everything. Are we witnessing two-speed tourism?
I don’t think it’s an opposition, but a cohabitation of different ambitions. Some prefer to travel quickly, aboard a Hyperloop or a magnetic suspension train in Japan, while others opt for slow. These technological innovations, although far from slow tourism, also contribute to reducing the carbon footprint. In my opinion, innovation and slow tourism can go hand in hand.
What are your missions within the Slow Tourisme Lab?
At the Slow Tourism Lab, we see rurality as the destination of the future. Our missions are multiple: to become a reference platform for slow tourism, to support project leaders, to acculturate professionals and residents, and to experiment with new ideas. The objective is to reinvent the link between rural and urban territories, because these spaces are full of potential and initiatives to be promoted.
Why is slow tourism sustainable in the long term?
Faced with the lack of consideration for rurality, it is crucial to rediscover these territories. The locals have a lot to offer. Slow tourism offers a model where innovation, respect for the environment and authenticity combine to meet the expectations of a public in search of meaning and renewal.
Opening photo: wave
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