Atout France hosted the seventh edition of its bi-annual showcase, ‘Explore France 2026’, in New Delhi, bringing together 16 French exhibitors and around 35 Indian travel trade buyers for more than 500 B2B interactions over two days.
The showcase also featured a dedicated Media Hour, enabling exhibiting partners to engage with B2B media from across India. With 13 B2B publications attending over the two days, the event recorded the highest media attendance for an Explore France offsite.
A curated presentation by Sheetal Munshaw, Director, Atout France – India, focused on the diversity of India and best practices for working with Indian travel professionals, offering exhibitors a closer understanding of the country’s travel and work dynamics.
The showcase brought together representatives from destinations and experiences including Occitanie, Lourdes, the Paris region, Nice, Marseille and Reunion Island, alongside Rail Europe, Disneyland Paris, experiential activities in France and MICE offerings.
Beyond Paris: French destinations diversify their appeal
With Indian travellers increasingly looking for varied experiences, French destinations highlighted their distinct propositions at the showcase.
Occitanie, for instance, combines heritage, mountains and coastal experiences. Jeanne BRU, Director of Tourism Promotion & B2B – France & International AD’OCC, said, “You find a special heritage to enjoy in Occitanie. You can experience the medieval Caucasian city or enjoy in the Pyrénées mountains. The destinations also allows you to relish a seaside experience with the pink waters of the Camargue area.”
Lourdes is also encouraging Indian travel agents to explore the destination through complete FAM tours. Corine Laussu, International Promotion Manager, Lourdes Tourist Office, said the destination works closely with Atout France – India.
Highlighting Lourdes’ positioning, Laussu pointed to its spiritual connect across Europe and its hotel capacity, noting that it is the second city after Paris in France for hotel capacity, with more than 100 five-star hotels in the city.
Marseille, meanwhile, brings together history and natural landscapes. Cyrille SABOYA, Leisure Sales Promotion, Marseille Tourist Office, Leisure and Convention Bureau, said, “Marseille is the oldest French city with more than 2600 years old history with nearly half of the city covered with natural landscape. Coupled with charming urban villages, Marseille’s villages offer a unique atmosphere for tourists to enjoy.”
Experiences drive the French proposition
Beyond destinations, French exhibitors also highlighted experiences that can be integrated into Indian travellers’ itineraries.
Alexandre Schaub, International Sales Manager, Sodexo Live, noted that the company generally sees about 20,000 to 50,000 Indian tourists experiencing its activities. While the Eiffel Tower remains a key attraction because of its ease of inclusion in itineraries, Schaub also highlighted sightseeing cruises as another way to view Paris and its major monuments from the river.
He also urged Indian tourists to experience French gastronomy during their travels.
Luxury and experiential travel formed another part of the showcase. extime Travel focuses on introducing Indian travellers to extraordinary experiences, ranging from airport meet-and-greet services and chauffeurs across the city to heritage tours and family-friendly activities such as Disneyland Paris.
Melina BARTHELEMY, Head of International Client Development, extime Travel, said, “These experiences provide a lifetime worth of memories to enjoy magical boating where agents can book an entire private boat to bring Indo-French blended experiences to tourists!”
Paris sees Indian arrivals return to pre-Covid levels
Paris continues to anchor the French tourism proposition for Indian travellers, while changing travel patterns are also creating opportunities beyond the capital.
Axel Guyon, Country Manager, Paris Region — India, highlighted that Indian arrivals had picked up and returned to pre-Covid levels since 2024. He estimated that around 3 lakh Indians visited between 2024 and 2025.
According to Guyon, Indians spend nearly 16-17% more in Paris as compared to 2024, with the average stay in the capital extending to four nights. He also pointed to the influence of ‘Emily in Paris’, noting that the series has encouraged tourists to experience the city and explore other non-conventional destinations across the country.
Nice Côte d’Azur is another destination positioning itself for year-round demand. Louisa MARRONE, Congress & Corporate Events Development Manager, Nice Côte d’Azur, said, “Blessed with a distinct metropolitan, coastal, mid-country, and the highlands area, Nice has a year-round pleasant climate, making it a 365-day destination.”
From gastronomy to shopping, the destination is positioning its varied experiences for different traveller segments.
Rail travel supports multi-destination itineraries
The growing preference for multi-destination travel is also creating a role for rail connectivity within European itineraries.
Rail Europe highlighted the ability to travel seamlessly between European countries by rail, allowing tourists to experience local and scenic aspects of their journey. For travellers looking to combine multiple destinations in a Europe itinerary, rail travel can form part of the overall experience.
France sees opportunity in Indian MICE demand
MICE emerged as another growing segment highlighted by French exhibitors at Explore France 2026.
Several exhibitors noted that MICE demand from India is growing, with newer sectors such as electronics manufacturing and finance considering France as a potential MICE destination.
Fabrice LAVERGNE from Convention Bureau, Southern France, urged corporates to consider the convention bureau and experience a blended Indo-French hospitality proposition.
Hotels adapt to Indian traveller demand
Accommodation remains an important part of the overall traveller experience, with French hotel representatives highlighting different approaches to serving international guests.
Isabelle Legros, Owner, Hotel Plaza Elysees, said the four-star Paris property focuses on providing service while creating a homely feeling for guests.
Anne Dugenetay, who manages sales and marketing for multiple hotel portfolios in France, highlighted a portfolio of 10 hotels across five French cities, including Paris, Nice, Cannes, Bordeaux and Strasbourg.
The portfolio includes both traditional properties and hotels that provide Indian culinary experiences to guests, reflecting the growing demand from Indian travellers and the effort to meet their requirements.
Shopping adds another layer to the French experience
Shopping remains an important component of the France itinerary, spanning luxury brands as well as more accessible souvenirs and collectibles.
Galeries Lafayette offers a range extending from premium brands such as Chanel to memorable souvenirs. Indian travellers can also make payments through UPI, adding convenience to the shopping experience.
With destinations, experiences, MICE, hospitality and shopping all forming part of the showcase, Explore France 2026 presented a broader picture of the French tourism offering for the Indian travel trade.
The event also underscored the growing emphasis on destinations beyond conventional itineraries, with French regions and cities seeking to build their presence among Indian travellers through differentiated experiences.
Shreya Bansal is a reporter at TravTalk India, covering the travel and tourism industry. She brings a keen eye for emerging trends, trade developments, and the stories shaping the travel landscape. Through in-depth reporting and on-ground insights, she connects industry stakeholders with news that matters. Beyond travel, Shreya has a growing interest in the premium lifestyle space, particularly the world of fine jewellery and is eager to explore the craftsmanship, culture, and commerce that define luxury living.