UNECTO is the national tourist trains and train museums federation of France. Its members include private companies, associations and public authorities.
Most of the French tourist trains are members of UNECTO. They account for more than 90% of the national passengers, ie 3.7m entries annually.
Its aims are :
- Enabling the sharing of information between its members, in order to improve collectively the quality of the tourist train offer.
- Promoting the sector and popularizing the qualities of tourist trains to the general public and institutional partners.
- Defending the interests of its members, especially concerning the specific regulation and policies for the sector
- Offering specific services and skills to its members (training, marketing…)
UNECTO is the natural interlocutor of State or main institutional actors concerning regulations applicable to tourist trains:
§ the Ministry in charge of Transport through the Technical Service of Skilift and Guided Transports (STRMTG) concerning the railtracks out of the scope of the National Railway Network
§ The Ministry in charge of transport, the Public Institution of Rail Safety (EPSF), SNCF concerning the railtracks belonging to the National Railway Network
UNECTO :
§ serves on the National Safety/Security Commission of Guided transports
§ is a deputy member of the National Council for Association (CNVA)
§ is a member of the National Tourism Council (CNT)
§ Is a signatory for the tourist trains development charter together with SNCF, RFF, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture
UNECTO is only financed by its membership fees.