WTA Chairman ZHANG Xu Meets with Director General of France’s Tourism Development Agency

Following the productive session of the WTA • Dialogue for China-Spain Tourism Cooperation, WTA Chairman ZHANG Xu led a delegation on an official visit to Paris from July 7^th to 9^th, 2023. On the afternoon of the 7^th of July, Mr. ZHANG met with Caroline Leboucher, Director General of the French Tourism Development Agency.

Chairman ZHANG acknowledged the contribution of the French Tourism Development Agency, as a representative of the French government, in promoting French tourism overseas backed by its abundant experience. As 2024 marks the 60^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, it will also be celebrated as the Year of Sino-French Cultural Tourism. He underlined the WTA’s intention to utilize this juncture to establish a solid working relationship with the French Tourism Development Agency. The envisaged cooperation aims to co-organize events under the Sino-French Cultural Tourism Year framework, providing an effective platform for facilitating dialogue and promoting exchange among tourism professionals from both nations.

Caroline Leboucher extended a warm welcome to Chairman ZHANG and his delegation. She acknowledged the tremendous potential of the Chinese tourism market, which, before the pandemic, had seen more than 2 million Chinese tourists visiting France annually. The severe impact of the three-year pandemic has heavily affected exchanges between China and France. She expressed her hopes for a swift resumption of tourism cooperation between the two nations. Leboucher also shared her anticipation for the events under the umbrella of the Sino-French Cultural Tourism Year and indicated that the French Tourism Development Agency has several proposals in mind. She expressed a keen willingness to engage in diverse forms of cooperation with the WTA, with the support of relevant departments from both countries

Chairman ZHANG seized the opportunity to inform Ms. Leboucher about the recent undertakings of the World Tourism Alliance and the pertinent situation concerning its French members. Furthermore, he extended an invitation to her to attend the “2023 World Tourism Alliance • Xianghu Dialogue” event scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China in November. Among the attendees of the meeting were LIU Shijun, Vice Chair and Secretary-General of the WTA, along with representatives from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.