Atout France, France Tourism Development Agency, recently conducted its annual B2B Workshop, ”Rendez-vous in France ” in New Delhi and Mumbai. The workshop saw a French delegation of 24 partners representing regions, cities, hotels and various products. According to Catherine Oden, Director Atout France India, the attempt this year was to diversify the format of the workshop by including new activities on the agenda of our delegates. “The objective was for the visiting professionals to gain a broader perspective of the Indian market and provide them with many more platforms for networking with members of various domains. We certainly hope that this endeavour will help the positioning of India as a potentially and rapidly emerging important tourist market for France.”
At a media lunch following the event, Oden revealed that the suspension of the biometrics system for visa applicants in Mumbai should increase the inflow of MICE tourists from India. “Incentive groups so far have mainly been from Delhi and Mumbai, and a small stream has been noted from the south, mainly Bengaluru and Chennai, and a few from Gujarat. We recently welcomed a large company’s group of 400 pax. However, the biometrics may have been hampering larger groups of over 600. The companies that heard of this service looked to other destinations instead. The suspension should help us attract more of this segment,” she added.
Oden further stated that the move would also encourage travel agents to promote Paris further as a MICE destination. Atout France is also trying to push Nice and Cannes to incentive groups, as well as Bordeaux for smaller groups. The destination recorded a small group at Dijon recently too, she added. “We feel the interest in the destination growing. This was a small roadblock and now it’s behind us. The next step is having a stronger Rupee. That is a new challenge for the whole trade. However, we do have partners who can offer affordable hotels, and presenting an affordable destination is next on the agenda,” said Oden.
Speaking about India as a growing market, Patricia Barthalemy, Marketing Manager, Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau opined that it is a regular growth of 5-10 per cent, which means the destination has not witnessed a big boom, but a steady growth that allows them time to adjust and serve the Indian market better every year. “Indian footfall has increased to Paris and we hope it will increase further as a result of the suspension of the biometric visa. We hope to have more FIT and repeat visitors as well as incentive groups,” she said.
Highlighting the success of the ‘Be There Do that’ campaign, Oden stated that it has been well received. “The campaign presents a France that goes beyond the cliché, and showcase a France with activities, adventure, culture, etc. One that shows a France that you look at and say, I want to be there, I want to do that. It is designed to counter the famous Indian adage “Been there done that”,” she added.
According to Barthalemy, several of the new tours have been gaining the Indian market’s attention. “We have different experiences such as Paris by Segway, which has gained popularity. In fact, following my meetings, I have seen an interest in the bicycle tours of Paris. It is simple and organised by private companies which provide guides as well. It’s a new experience on offer from us. In addition, our Cyclopolitan tours, which feature three wheeled cycles with a plastic cover for changes in season, have also received several inquiries,” she concluded.
The two-city workshop comprised of delegates representing Air France, Rail Europe India, Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau, Accor Hotels, Bateaux-Mouches, Disneyland Paris, Fraser Suites, L’Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe – Paris, Deauville Tourism, Lisieux-Tourism and Spirituality in France, La Baule Tourist Office, Champagne-Ardenne Tourism, Dijon Tourist Office, Auvergne Regional Tourist Board, Rhone Alpes Tourism, Chamonix Mont-Blanc Tourist Board, Mondoramas Incoming, Nice Convention and Visitors Bureau, Cannes and St Tropez, Pont du Gard, Lourdes and Carcassonne, Pau Pyrénées and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Globus Family of Brands.
