Dog-friendly Tourism: Destinations With A Canine Touch
It is not easy for the 20% of French households that own a dog to book holidays for the whole family, including the pet. To address this issue and offer services tailored to four-legged travelers, some tourist offices in France have developed a dedicated offer: "toutourisme"! Here is everything you need to know about this initiative that helps you travel peacefully with your dog.
What is dog tourism?
As its name humorously suggests, "toutourism" is aimed at pet owners, particularly dog owners. One in five French households has at least one dog. It is for them that "toutourism" was invented!
It involves providing a suitable welcome for people traveling with a dog and giving them all the useful information for a successful vacation with their furry friend.
This friendly initiative is sponsored by the 30 Million Friends Foundation and has partnered with the LAPSA brand, Laboratory for Animal Health.
Who invented dog tourism?
The concept of "toutourisme" was developed by the Troyes Tourist Office in July 2007. Since then, this friendly and original idea has been adopted by other tourist offices in France. These structures have organized themselves into a network and created a label (see the official website below).
The city of Troyes even exported this idea to Quebec in 2009, following a partnership between this Canadian province and the Troyes Tourist Office!
In 2024, no fewer than 51 tourist offices are labeled in different regions of France, from Champagne to Brittany, including Normandy and the PACA region. They welcome you with your pet to guide you to places where you can stay with complete peace of mind.
What are the dog-friendly destinations in France?
To consult the map and comprehensive list of destinations labeled "toutourisme" in France, I invite you to visit the official website of this label (see the link below).
From north to south of the Hexagon, you will find labeled tourist offices in the following cities:
• Berck-sur-Mer;
• Amiens;
• Reims;
• Troyes;
• Les Sables-d'Olonne;
• Rochefort;
• Gap;
• Albi;
• Fréjus;
• Istres.
Why prioritize a pet-friendly destination?
By choosing a destination labeled "toutourisme," dog owners are assured of finding accommodations and places to visit where their four-legged companion will be accepted.
The labeled tourist offices welcome dogs with a water bowl and their owners with a welcome pack that includes:
• a practical city guide gathering useful addresses, parks and gardens, and restaurants where dogs are allowed.
• cleanliness bags to encourage owners to follow cleanliness rules in the city.
• dog treats offered by LAPSA.
• a digital magazine offered by the 30 Million Friends Foundation.
What are the benefits of dog-friendly tourism?
If you think that "toutourism" is a nice but anecdotal concept, think again! This dog-friendly initiative is not just a label aimed at attracting a new category of tourists to a city or tourist destination.
The good reception of dogs in tourist sites and accommodations also aims to prevent abandonment, which is still too frequent during vacation periods.
The actions developed by the labeled tourist offices encourage visitors to be civic-minded and respect the environment. They help facilitate cohabitation between tourists and city residents in terms of urban cleanliness.
And of course, thanks to this initiative, going on vacation with our furry friends has never been easier. In partner locations, dogs are recognized and welcomed as full-fledged family members. For all these reasons, "toutourism" is an idea that has both charm and a future!
