As another World Travel Market draws to a close, we reflect on what has been a truly vibrant week for France!
Our Explore France stand (N2 200) at London’s ExCeL Centre comprised 39 partners this year, with a dedicated zone for Paris, alongside representatives from northern and southern France and a number of transport companies and DMCs.
Gwénäelle Delos, Managing Director for the UK & Ireland at Atout France, took part in a panel organised by Wanderlust magazine on WTM’s Discover Stage on Monday, on Reshaping the Future of Sustainability in Europe’s Tourism Markets. Gwénäelle highlighted the fact that 80% of visitors to France focus on just 20% of the territory, which has sparked the development of a strategy to regulate tourist flows announced by France’s tourism minister Olivia Grégoire in June.
Christophe Decloux, CEO of Visit Paris Region, also took to a panel on the Innovate Stage on Tuesday to talk about Winning Gold: Why Events, Festivals and Sport Matter – a key topic ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Christophe emphasised Paris’ focus on excellence for visitor experience during summer 2024 and beyond, and the region’s aim to capitalise on the Games’ legacy.
A drinks reception to mark the forthcoming 150th anniversary of the birth of Impressionism was held on the Explore France stand on Tuesday. The reception was attended by Sébastien Bidaud, Deputy Minister-Counsellor at the Chancery of the French Embassy in London. An ‘Impressionist Adventures’ photobooth was in use on the stand throughout WTM.
On Wednesday, the WTM Interview Wall met Sophie Mandrillon, Marketing and Partnerships Director at Atout France. Sophie explained that Paris 2024 will be a country-wide celebration – not only concentrated within Paris – and that itineraries are being promoted to encourage visitors to explore outside the main Olympic hubs. Aiming to be the greenest and fairest Games ever, Paris 2024 will champion gender equality and repurpose 95% of existing infrastructure for the event’s varied disciplines.
France and its destinations also achieved several prestigious media awards this week. Normandy was voted a Best Value Destination in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2024, coinciding with the publication’s 50th anniversary. Meanwhile at the 30th birthday celebrations for Wanderlust and its accompanying annual Reader Awards, France was voted into top spot as Most Desirable Destination for Culture & Heritage, and second Most Desirable Destination for Gastronomy.
Also unveiled at Wanderlust’s ceremony were awards for Bordeaux (silver for Most Desirable European City) and Nouvelle-Aquitaine (silver for Most Desirable European Region), while Normandy and Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur took 7th and 9th places respectively in the latter category. France was also recognised in 8th place for Most Desirable Country for Sustainable Experiences.
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