Developing Gites with Disabled People and Their Families in Mind

Not someone else developing gites?

On various websites and in a lot of forums you will have heard that 'there are too many gites in france'. That every 'brit' who comes to France wants to develop gites - 'there are too many gites'

Believe me there are not enough accessible gites or gites suitable for disabled people and their friends or family to holiday

In a general sense a lot of people moving to France do develop outbuildings into properties to rent out, particularly in the summer months. They can be a good means of earning excellent additional income without the need to set up a business with all the complex issues this entails. In many areas, especially those served by regular airline flights, people are still looking to rent gites, including accessible gites, either to access historic places of interest, get to the beach or rural peace and tranquility.

Of course many people want access to large towns and cities, good golf courses, opportunities for hunting and fishing, among a variety of other personal reasons. What reasons can you think of that would attract people to your gites?

If you are considering developing gites, there are a lot of excellent places to get information, including tourist offices, Gites de France, Clearvacances or a variety of forums. Be canny about using the forums as a lot of subjects often go off topic. One of the best resources in terms of excellent advice and helpful topics from a forums is

lay-my-hat.com

So Developing accesible Gites, Have you considered it? Why would you? What is in it for you

WELL

• Property still attractive and inviting, appealing to families holidaying with or without someone who has a disability - who may none the less be able to recommend you to another family/friend/association
  
  
• Will give you an edge over others who do not offer accessible facilities (socially caring? considerate of people with a difference?)
  
  
• You can obtain up to 30% of the costs covering labour and materials.
  
  
• You will obtain a very special quality mark 'Tourism et Handicappe' and get promoted (for free)on the official goverment and tourist board websites and literature
  
  
• You will be helping create a better environment, offering social and leisure opportunities largely still unavailable for a significant proportion of the population
  
  
• You will be able to cash in on the relatively new, almost untapped market for holidays for people with a disability and their families. Many countries in Europe, including the UK and France, offer financial assistance for people with a disability to take holidays
  
  
• You Will be able to rent your gites outside of the main holiday season
  
  
• You will have the opportunity to maximise return visitors
  
  
• You will gain more word of mouth referrals as people let others know within the specialist communities that people with disabilities and their families are often part of

How to Access Grant Aid

These grants are available via your Regional Conseil General. In the first instance contact them. Please use the link below to find the one covering your area.

Find your Conseil General

If you require assistance, or wish for a free informal, initial consultation please do not hesitate to contact me. As a British and French state registered Occupational Therapist, I will be able to guide you through any of the concerns you may have, including 'French disability norms and regulations' best practice and reaching specialist markets