Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency, successfully organised the 5th edition of its prominent B2B event, “Explore France,” held in Kochi from the 10th to the 12th of October. This event served as an exceptional platform for fostering valuable collaborations between French tourism partners and the travel trade community across India.

Over the course of 2 days filled with interactive exchanges, approximately 1,500 scheduled meetings transpired between buyers and exhibitors, reinforcing India’s immense potential as a source market for destination France. The French delegation consisted of both seasoned partners with a consistent presence in the market and new entrants eager to establish their footprint. Remarkably, this year marks the 20th anniversary of Atout France’s establishment in India.

On the 11th of October, an enchanting event called “An Evening Under the Stars” was organised in collaboration with La Vallée Village – a member of the Bicester collection. Distinguished guests included Ms. Lise Talbot Barré, Consul General of France in Pondicherry and Chennai, Mr. Didier Talpain, Consul General of France in Kolkata, and Mr. Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, Consul General of France in Mumbai.

On the 12th, a highly informative session on visas was conducted by the Consulate General of France in Pondicherry and Chennai for all participants. This session offered valuable insights into visa submissions and other pertinent information.

Sheetal Munshaw, Director, Atout France India, expressed her thoughts, stating, “We are delighted with the significant turnout for this edition of our showcase. Both our partners and agents demonstrated high levels of enthusiasm and a genuine interest in showcasing destination France to the discerning Indian traveler. India stands among the top 15 source markets for France, and we are pleased to announce that the arrival figures for the first half of the year (mid-June) amounted to approximately 499,000. With the Rugby World Cup underway and the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games scheduled to take place in Paris next year, I firmly believe that the interactions between our partners and agents are crucial in establishing France’s strategic position as the preferred tourist destination for this year and the next.”

For event images, click: https://bit.ly/3PWjSD1