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IN BRIEF
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For ten months, the Terres et Merveilles tourist office, attached to the Community of communes of Ponthieu-Marquenterre, has been experiencing a vacancy at its leadership. Following the arrest and dismissal of its previous director, the establishment has been functioning through transitional solutions to maintain its welcoming and attractiveness missions. There is a sense of impatience among elected officials and economic actors in the territory, while a new recruitment is on the horizon, awaiting stable governance and a new momentum for the structure.
An unprecedented context marked by the absence of official leadership
August 2024 marked a real turning point for Terres et Merveilles. The arrest of the former director at the Fort-de-France airport, in possession of over one hundred kilograms of cocaine, deeply shook the structure and its teams. In the span of a few days, the governance found itself without its leader, prompting president Francis Lépine to announce her immediate dismissal to preserve the image of the office.
Since this event, no official leadership has been appointed. The interim has settled in for the long term, allowing the structure to carry out its daily missions, but without a strategic vision or clearly identified leader to guide the establishment toward new horizons. An expectation that generates as much concern as hope within the territory.
The urgency for new governance
The current situation was recently discussed at the general assembly of the office. Francis Lépine, aware of the stakes, did not hide the urgency of the situation, reminding elected officials and partners of the importance of “finding a leadership without delay, or the situation will become difficult to manage.” This statement summarizes the growing impatience of all the stakeholders involved in promoting the territory, as the influx of tourists for the summer season approaches.
The challenges are numerous: maintaining the interest and motivation of the teams, ensuring the continuity of promotional actions as other destinations have recently done with success, such as the Emerald Coast or Grand Avignon, and once again embodying a unifying vision for the territory.
A recruitment announced to reinvent the future
Faced with this prolonged vacancy, the president of the office has assured that the recruitment of a new director would be launched in the coming weeks. For now, no name has been officially put forward, but the willingness to turn the page is evident. The stated goal is clear: to ensure managerial stability and instill a renewed dynamic to mitigate any risk of decline for the office and its attractiveness.
This pivotal period also highlights the importance of adaptability: since January, valuable support has come to strengthen the team, with the presence of Jérémy Maison, tourism facilitator for the Syndicat Mixte Baie de Somme – Grand Littoral Picard. Thanks to this support, the office’s staff have managed to maintain their involvement and willingness to develop new initiatives, such as projects focused on the local heritage or showcasing nature in the summer.
A strategic issue for the vitality of the territory
The upcoming appointment of a new leadership is not just a simple administrative act. The future leader will embody the future of tourism in the Ponthieu-Marquenterre territory, taking over from other exemplary regional initiatives, such as the rehabilitation of the roof of the Orthhez chapel. They will need to unite, drive innovation, and reinforce the excellence of hospitality to support the local economy.
Thus, the Terres et Merveilles tourist office is heading towards a decisive stage, poised to mark a renewal in its approach to supporting residents, visitors, and tourism professionals, while reaffirming its primary mission: to highlight the natural and heritage riches of this exceptional territory.
