Good Practice - Project
'Novel O'Bambiyo!' card game promotes good tourist practices in the French Vosges uplands
Innovative rural development project supported by LEADER in France addresses human behaviour dimensions of overtourism using an awareness-raising visitor management card game.
General information
RDP Priority
- P6. Social inclusion and local development
RDP Focus Area
- 6B: Local development
RDP Measure
- M19: LEADER/CLLD
Beneficiary type
- Local / regional authority
Summary
The LEADER project involved the creation of a visitor management card game called ‘O'Bambiyo!’ to raise holidaymakers' awareness of the need to respect local culture, society and landscapes in the Vosges massif territory.
The game was translated into English and German to expand its potential. It was designed to showcase the region and manage visitor pressure in hotspots – by promoting alternative tourist experiences in quieter areas that still retain adequate carrying capacities.
Other knowledge-sharing and awareness management content in the game inspires visitors to sort waste and be wise water guardians. Outreach campaigns purposely provided the game free of charge at cultural sites. It was also distributed to tourism operators like mountain guides.
Results
- 1 300 copies of the card game were published, including editions in English and German to reach international visitors.
- Nearly 300 copies were distributed to local tourism operators.
- Around thirty copies were offered for sale at the La Bresse Hautes Vosges tourist office.
- The game is widely appreciated for its simple, family-friendly approach to discovering the area.
Promoter
Communauté de communes des Hautes Vosges
Funding
Total budget: 19 093 (EUR)
RDP support: 15 070 (EUR)
Self-financing: 4 023 (EUR)
Resources
Links
Context
Innovative tools in local rural tourism are useful for managing high-pressure points like honeypot areas, which can become overcrowded and high-traffic spots. Rural communities can use a variety of tools to control and enabling real-time visitor flow management, reducing pressure on fragile sites, and improving the overall visitor experience. Such tools help shift, spread and guide tourists away from peak congestion times and locations, while boosting local economic benefits in other areas and promoting sustainability.
Tourism is a main economic activity in France’s Vosges region. Located in the country’s north-east, this attractive upland territory welcomes over a million visitors annually. Visitor management challenges exist and these can be exacerbated by climate change impacts.
LEADER’s regional support for the Vosges is able to help test new ideas and tools for better rural development. Funds for a community-led local development initiative were awarded to create and distribute a novel tourist card game. Unlike real-time management tools that react to congestion, this card game worked preventively by shaping attitudes and decision-making.
Through such gameplay, tourists can learn about fragile ecosystems; understand local customs and taboos; experience consequences of unsustainable choices; and recognise the impact of overtourism. When visitors internalise these lessons before reaching a honeypot area, they can be more likely to respect carrying capacities, visit alternative locations, travel during off-peak hours and support local businesses responsibly.
Objectives
The 'O'Bambiyo!' card game project was designed as a first step in an overall sustainable tourism project aimed at strengthening networks of sustainable tourism services. More specifically, the novel card game sought to:
- Promote cultural respect.
- Build environmental awareness.
- Encourage responsible decision-making.
- Support visitor dispersion.
- Strengthen local identity.
- Enhance visitor experience.
Activities
The initial idea was to design and manufacture an engaging awareness-raising tool that would encourage holidaymakers to respect local people, natural resources and landscapes. Rather than relying solely on digital communication tools, the project partners opted for a tangible, playful medium that could reach a wide audience, including families and slow-travel visitors.
Following participatory planning with tourism professionals, the O'Bambiyo! project defined the format of the awareness tool as a deck of cards. This format was chosen for its accessibility, portability, and ability to combine entertainment with educational content. The card game was conceived not only as a leisure activity but also as a conversation starter around responsible tourism practices.
The design of the deck involved co-creation sessions to ensure strong local identity and authenticity. Each card highlights a specific aspect of the region: emblematic tourist sites, traditional trades, local legends, and community initiatives. Dedicated cards promote practices to adopt during visitors’ stays, such as waste sorting, water-saving behaviours, respect for biodiversity and appropriate conduct in culturally sensitive places. Additional cards introduce public services and key local stakeholders, encouraging interaction with the local economy.
Once produced, the deck was distributed to holidaymakers through tourism stakeholders, like accommodation providers, tourist information offices, activity organisers, and local guides. By integrating the cards into welcome packs and visitor experiences, the project actions strengthened awareness, fostered sustainable behaviours, and enhanced the overall quality and authenticity of the destination.
Main results
- 1 300 copies of the O'Bambiyo! card game were published, including editions in English and German to reach international visitors.
- Nearly 300 copies were distributed to local tourism operators.
- Around thirty copies were offered for sale at the La Bresse Hautes Vosges Tourist Office.
- The game is widely appreciated for its simple, family-friendly approach to discovering the area.
- Game rules and content are easy to explain to children, making it suitable for intergenerational learning.
Key lessons
- A novel card game designed for rural tourism can be a surprisingly powerful innovation and especially when managing sensitive or overcrowded destinations. While digital tools (apps, AI, IoT sensors, VR) manage flows, a card game manages mindsets.
- This project integrated current issues linked to the development of tourism within an eco-responsible framework that promoted good visitor practice throughout the LEADER territory.
- The project’s dual objective worked well to raise awareness among tourists and also among local stakeholders, thereby fostering a more global commitment to the region.
- What's more, the playful aspect made it easy to understand and reach out to the younger generation, for whom these issues are essential.