The future of creative tourism took shape this Wednesday, April 15, in Perpignan, during the presentation of projects developed by the vocational high‑school students in the “Métiers de l’Accueil – Tourism & Heritage” program at Lycée Maillol in Perpignan, and the Tourism BTS students from Lycée Bourquin in Argelès‑sur‑Mer.
In front of a professional jury composed of Olivier Sanchez and Mathilde Aguad—respectively Head of the Tourism Division and Sustainable Tourism & New Offers Development Officer at Cap Sud 66—along with Nathalie Bousquet, Deputy Director of Vocational and Technological Training at Lycée Maillol, and Caroline Couret, President of the Creative Tourism Network®, the high schoolers and students unveiled ambitious and innovative proposals.
This event marked the culmination of the Creative Tourism Challenge, an unprecedented initiative commissioned by the teaching teams of Lycée Maillol and Lycée Bourquin, and carried out by the Creative Tourism Network®. The project aimed to transform the Network’s training program into a hands‑on, professionalizing, and fully integrative learning experience.
The next generation of professionals designed creative tourism experiences intended to attract specific traveler profiles previously identified for the Perpignan‑Méditerranée destination.
The project is all the more relevant given that Perpignan‑Méditerranée holds the CreativeFriendly® label, alongside international destinations such as Cannes, Barcelona, Salvador de Bahia (Brazil), or Jinju (South Korea). Inspired by these promising prospects, the students developed original experiences that highlight local heritage and the transmission of know‑how: ceramics, espadrilles, Catalan boats, gastronomy… a wealth of traditions that reflect the region’s identity.
Caroline Couret expressed that she was “impressed by the quality of the work produced as well as the innovative learning model implemented by the teaching team.” According to her, “this project represents a model of governance for destinations wishing to position themselves internationally while making creative tourism a driver of sustainable development. By fostering co‑creation between educational institutions, local authorities, and businesses, it highlights an exemplary ecosystem for new forms of virtuous and regenerative tourism.”
This perspective was shared by Olivier Sanchez, who emphasized that “creative tourism strengthens the strategy of Perpignan‑Méditerranée—also certified as a Green Destination—and paves the way for positive synergies by placing people at the heart of tourism activity.”
Mathilde Aguad also noted that “the experiences presented showcase the richness of local heritage and confirm the destination’s potential as a reference in sustainable development.“
Christine Pomès, who initiated this project, highlighted that this mobilizing initiative successfully strengthened the connection between the vocational high‑school program and the BTS curriculum.
Finally, Nathalie Bousquet praised “the very positive results of this first stage,” which she sees as a promising sign of future collaborations between the institutions, local stakeholders, and the Creative Tourism Network®.
All participants commended the outstanding work of the teaching teams at Lycée Maillol and Lycée Bourquin – @Christine Pomes Marie Ausseil, Marine FOURNEYRON, @Gregory Tessier Pascal HAIRIE – without whom such a challenge could not have been met—and elevated.
