Wedding sector key for France

This year’s trade engagements will be to reconnect stakeholders in India and France through physical interactions, including buyer-seller meets, workshops, trainings and hallmark events, says Sheetal Munshaw, Director, Atout France India, in an exclusive interview with TRAVTALK.

Hazel Jain

What are Atout France’s plans for the India market this year?

This year will be focussed on revival of travel to France. We have a slew of activations earmarked starting with our alpine tourism buyer-seller meet called ‘Destination Montagnes’ in early March showcasing the French Alpes and the diverse tourism offering.

As part of our multi-market approach, we have a zonal presence at the Dubai Expo this year at the France Pavilion. For the first time, we will host an Atout France B2B showcase – Marhaba 2022 – that will see delegations from Dubai and the Middle East, Israel, Russia and India meet and interact with over 50 French suppliers between March 9-11. This will be the first time in two years that Indian delegates will actually be meeting with French partners. We will also be hosting our annual B2B Showcase ‘Explore France’ in September this year in an offsite format. On a global level, we are also going to launch an international e-learning training programme.

What kind of strategy have you planned for the market?

Our strategy is to amplify themes such as sustainable tourism that have been the mainstay of evolving travel trends.

We are also focusing on the three big sporting events that will take place in France between 2023 and 2024, namely the Courchevel Meribel Ski Championship, the Rugby World Cup and the Olympic Games. These sporting events will provide ample opportunities for fans to explore France around the event.

Has some sort of travel movement restarted between France and India?

When the borders opened in June 2021 and France recognised Covishield, we saw an immediate spurt in travel to France. In the period between July to December’21, we have had FITS, groups and even incentive travellers choose France as their destination. Paris has played host to a grand Indian wedding with more than 700 guests from India and the Mediterranean cities of the French Riviera hosted the shooting of an episode of the immensely popular web series ‘Made in Heaven Part 2’.

What is the eligibility for acquiring a Vaccination Pass for Indians when visiting France?

As per the latest mandate, a vaccination pass is required for people over 16 years of age to access restaurants, recreational activities, campgrounds and inter-regional transportation. To access the vaccination pass, a third dose of vaccine is mandatory for people over 18 years and one month who’ve received their second dose of vaccine more than four months ago. These regulations are evolving constantly based on situations.

What kind of trade engagements are you looking to do?

Should the situation permit, the leitmotif of this year’s trade engagements will be to reconnect our key stakeholders in India and France through physical interactions including platforms such as buyer seller meets, workshops, trainings and hallmark events. Our annual workshop will be our flagship trade event in this year. It will indeed be special as it will be a physical event after more than two years. In addition, there will be a trade delegation going to Dubai in March to interact with French suppliers. We are hoping that this year will also see French partners visiting India for sales calls and prospection missions in key Indian cities.

Your views on how Indian outbound will change in 2022-23?

The desire to travel has been a long pent up one and it is clear that the motivated traveller is packing his bag the minute there is a let-up in travel conditions.

When do you think MICE/weddings from India to France is likely resume?

We have already had a huge wedding take place in Paris last November. The last trimester of 2021 also witnessed some MICE movements from India. We have received many queries from incentive specialists this year. The wedding sector has tremendous potential and is one of the key segments that we are targeting this year.