Synergy between fishing and tourism: Example of the Great Atlantic Scallop Festival in Erquy

Synergy between fishing and tourism: Example of the Great Atlantic Scallop Festival in Erquy

This study is part of the third component of the GIFS program. It focuses on the economic benefits induced in the local economy by the fishing sector through its attractiveness for tourism. In this context, [the Great Atlantic scallop festival in Erquy http://www.erquy-tourisme.com/La-fete-de-la-coquille-saint-jacques_fiche_777.html] stands as an illustration of the synergy between fishing and tourism. At a local level, this event enables the evaluation of the economic benefits of tourism in relation to fishing.

“What are the economic benefits induced in the local economy by the fishing sector through its attractiveness for tourism?”

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The Great Atlantic scallop festival took place in Erquy on the 12th and 13th of April 2014. This festival is the link between the three components of GIFS: fishing, tourism and the territory. Its objective is to preserve and promote the Breton maritime culture. Fishing for scallops, pride of the Bay of Saint-Brieuc, is promoted in this occasion. The growth of its reputation is ongoing: in 2014, the city of Erquy hosted on average 75 000 people, against 60 000 in 2011.

Figure 1: Landing of scallop during the festival in Erquy (photo : Agrocampus ouest)

Figure 2: Fish auction in Erquy opened for tourists during the festival (photo : Agrocampus ouest)

Methodology

This research uses an adaptation of the [DGCIS http://www.entreprises.gouv.fr/] method (2012) described by Maurence with a field survey (questionnaire) based on two main principles:

• The first states that only the exchanges between stakeholders from outside the study territory and local stakeholders may be considered. Thereby, only the expenditures of visitors from outside the study area will be considered
• The second specifies that only the exchanges induced by persons having travelled specifically for the tourist event will be estimated.

To know the expenses of visitors on the territory, questionnaires hinged on 4 themes were used: the validity of the respondent’s profile, the modalities of presence on the festival (length of stay, reason for attendance, how people have heard of the festival), the assessment of visitors’ expenses (food, accommodation, activities, purchase of souvenirs or scallops…), as well as other descriptive information. The impact assessment takes into account the overall expenses made in the area: the city of Erquy and its surroundings. A total of 700 questionnaires were completed.

After having evaluated the visitors’ expenses, interviews with various stakeholders present during the Great Atlantic scallop festival, including shop keepers, fishermen, restaurant owners, have been carried out to gain some insight into their feelings about the course of the festival.