Industrial tourism

For several years, tourism is becoming a very privileged sector causing each country to improve its environment. Currently, industries are also affected by this phenomenon and many of them make it a priority.Does this mean it that industrial tourism has a positive contribution to their economic affairs? To find the answer to this question, first let's develop the concept of this kind of tourism, second we move to the benefits that  it can generate .

Concept de tourisme industriel

By definition, the industrial tourism  represents all forms of plant visits made by tourists, students, professionals or individuals. It is becoming increasingly common and it's attracting more and more visitors. Indeed, several companies have already introduced these days in their monthly expenses and most students establish in advance the programs of visits to factories to practice their theoretical studies.

Most of these explorations are not free and visiting hours are usually fixed in advance. The costs of visits is the value of information (useful for each industry) and offers that the industries  give to visitors. These offers may be samples of their products, tasting, or the license to test the  manufactured equipment etc.. Furthermore, timed to allow these plants to prepare for the actions they want to perform before the public and conceal the operations they want to keep secret.

All sectors are affected by this type of tourism, but the most dynamic one's are agro-food and crafts. For example, we find the basement of the Chartreuse in Voiron in Isere, manufacturer of the famous liqueur of the Carthusians whose formula and the recipe has been kept unchanged for centuries, which provides a tour of 60 people on average every 10 minutes offers adults the opportunity to taste the products of the establishment, despite the free service. We can also quote the great workshop Cornille-Havard Channel, which produces bells in a modern way by using computers. He also receives a large number of tourists throughout the year and its rate of access is 3.35 euros per person.

There are  companies which are very famous in the organization of open-door to the public and their customers to visit their factories. Such is the example of the Rance tidal power plant, producing electricity in trade and represented by the EDF, which is home alone for over 200,000 visitors each year and thus takes a special place among the industrial sites world's most visited. There is also the site of Airbus, which, for 9 euros a tour bus for an hour and a half and offers its customers the panels and models showing the manufacture of aircraft.

So the tourism industry is more likely to only a few sectors, almost all economic activities were launched into the breach. In fact, all have seen the benefits they could draw to open the doors of their factories to the public.

The Benefits of industrial tourism

For the company, visits by the public in its workshops are proving to be a relevant and fun to make themselves known. While the objectives of these tourists are not directly in the interest of the industry in question since their first goal is simple curiosity, but these needs have discovered a very effective advertising impact for the company. EDF is the case that, by opening its doors to people who want to have ideas about the job, immediately perceived an increase in its customer base and thereby increase its sales. In other words, the communication to the public enables companies to develop their brand image and customer loyalty.

For the public, the tourism industry can acquire new knowledge. Indeed, the fact of entering the heart of the action answers many questions: how does one manufactures inks and pens? Or does one find the materials to produce porcelain plates? What are the steps they have to cross before getting to produce wine or other drinks? etc.. Moreover, it is also a way to guide young students on what they want done in their lives, the education level they should reach in order to realize the profession they intend to operate.

But tourism industry also has a positive effect on regional and national level. Indeed, by agreeing to inform the public about the technology and economic heritage of the region, an industry of a region is another challenge to make it better. This type of healthy competition does not kill the company but the push to always improve.

In conclusion, given that globalization is a forced march, companies in all areas are encouraged to connect with the global economic order not to remain a laggard.