PUAEP Issue : Tourism (Cuba 2017)

Stamp PUAEP Issue : Tourism it reflects the thematic directions:

Stemming from military practices and a long tradition of teaching by equestrians such as La Guérinière and François Baucher, traditional French equestrianism is essentially represented at the Cadre Noir de Saumur. The practice of equestrianism has evolved towards sport and leisure, opening up to the general public. At the end of the 20th century, the sport became much more democratic, with a sharp rise in the number of riders, particularly young people and women. The teaching of equestrianism as a leisure sport in France is based on the existence of over 8,000 riding schools, which make trained horses available to the public. Their establishment is supported by the French government thanks to a reduced VAT rate from 2004 to 2013. At the end of 2013, riders and industry professionals protested against the increase in VAT on their activity.

Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. Tourism may be international, or within the traveller's country. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as being limited to holiday activity only", as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes". Tourism can be domestic or international, and international tourism has both incoming and outgoing implications on a country's balance of payments. Today, tourism is a major source of income for many countries, and affects the economy of both the source and host countries, in some cases being of vital importance.