Tourisme et privatisation littorale : autour du privilège spatial de l’accès exclusif aux fronts d’eau. L’exemple des grands lacs périalpins savoyards (Annecy, Bourget, rive française du Léman)

Abstract

Bodies of water are very attractive for recreation and tourism. Therefore, waterfronts have the strategical function of putting users in contact with the liquid element. However, they can face privatization processes, which aim at keeping exclusive access to water for particular groups. The paper focuses on the case study of three large perialpine lakes located in the Savoy region (Lake Annecy, Lake Bourget, French side of Lake Geneva) and analyses the entanglements between lake tourism and private uses of waterfronts. The study relies on (i) an inventory of the specific section of the lake tourism offer which relies on exclusive access to water, and (ii) a qualitative analysis of the discourses and perceptions that go along with this offer. Drawing from this material, the paper highlights the links between the two phenomena, particularly obvious in the case of Lake Annecy. Unlike individual private uses of the lakeshores, which constitute a local public problem, this exclusive tourism offer appears to be less controversial. The paper suggests that its function is to give temporary access to what is socially perceived as a spatial privilege: the exclusive experience of close and direct contact with water.

Keywords

• access to waterfronts
• privatisation
• lake tourism
• perialpine lakes