Photo: Courtesy of Atout France, France Tourism Development Agency
Beijing News (Reporter Qu Tingyi) On October 16, the French Tourism Agency, together with Auvergne & Rhône-Alpes and Club Med, discussed the information and trends of the global mountain forest and ice holiday holiday market at the French Embassy in China, as well as the rapid growth of ice and snow holiday development in the Chinese market.
In 2019, the size of the ice and snow holiday market increased to 151 million person-times
According to the 2019 Club Med Asia Pacific Ice and Snow Report, the size of the ice and snow holiday market this year increased to 151 million person-times, an increase of 10% year-on-year, higher than the average growth rate of the tourism market of 6%, highlighting the huge potential of the ice and snow holiday industry. Xavier Desaulles, CEO of Club Med's Asia Pacific Marketing & Sales Division, said that when travelers from asia-Pacific region visit snow resorts, they seek more than just skiing or snowboarding, but also 75% of visitors want to experience local food and beauty.
The 2019 Club Med Asia Pacific Snow and Ice Report also notes that the Alps of Europe remain a popular choice for snow holidays. Not only are 77% of respondents planning to travel to Europe on their next winter trip, but more than 90% of travellers from India, Indonesia, Thailand and China are looking forward to going to Europe for snow and ice holidays in the next three years, with France and Switzerland tied for top destinations.
Regarding the growth and development of the ice holiday market in China and across the Asia-Pacific region, Henri Giscard D'Estaing, Global President of Club Med, believes that "it is becoming a trend for Chinese tourists to seek a variety of experiences. With the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics approaching, China's ice and snow holidays and related industries will usher in an unprecedented momentum of development. ”
Photo courtesy of Club Med Mediterranean
In order to meet the growing demand of tourists, Club Med is not only renovating and expanding the original mountain resort, but also gradually opening up and planning new mountain resort destinations. Club Med will implement the "one village a year" expansion plan in the French Alps, it is understood that the new Club Med Mountain Sampens Resort and Club Med Les Alk Resorts in the Alps have been put into operation in the past two years, and the reconstructed and upgraded Club Med Lapudez Resort will also open in December this year.
In addition, in 2021, Club Med will open resorts in Zhangjiakou, Hebei, Changbaishan, Jilin and Taicang (near Shanghai) in Hebei, China. This winter, Club Med will also continue its in-depth cooperation with the world's largest ski school, the French National Ski School (ESF), to unveil three new ski academies in the country.
Auvergne & Rhône-Alps, which has hosted three Winter Olympics
Auvergne & Rhône-Alpes, located in the east of France, has the world's largest ski area, with 173 ski resorts in the region receiving 40 million visitors a year. It is also the world's number one winter sports destination, with the Winter Olympics hosted in the region three times, and in the winter of 2019, it will also host the Alpine Skiing and Freestyle Skiing World Cup and the world's largest sled dog competition.
Roland Kemi, deputy general manager of the Auvergne & Rhône-Alps Tourism Committee, said that the region invests nearly 900 million euros in tourism development and construction every year, which is used to continuously upgrade various tourism hardware facilities and tourist service experiences. Whether it's the world's tallest open-air viewing cable car, the summit terrace on Pointe Dud, or the "Skywalk", it's a great snow and ice experience.
From skiing to electronic music festivals, experience a variety of snow tourism
At the same time, Auvergne & Rhône-Alps has long been committed to creating a diversified tourist destination, providing a richer choice for different groups of tourists such as family-friendly tours, young people, sports enthusiasts and ski enthusiasts, beginners. There is a kids' ski club, child-managed services, a beginner's ski area and a wide range of snow sports, as well as snowshoeing, dog sledding, ziplining, mountain paragliding, mountain biking and more. In addition, the French Ski School Group offers courses for children and skiers of all levels, taught in special pedagogical methods.
Deng Jialin, general manager of the China office of the French Tourism Development Agency, believes that the Snow Tour in France is by no means limited to skiing. Auvergne & Rhône-Alpes has more than 30 restaurants in the Alps alone that have been selected for the Michelin Guide, and the local specialties of Broctian cheese and Savoie wines are very representative of French cuisine. It's also a haven for outdoor art – art events such as la Folie Douce parties and the Tomorrow's World Electronic Music Festival in Abdulez are unique in the snow and ice.
Beijing News reporter Qu Tingyi
Edited by Li Zheng Proofreader Li Shihui
Photo courtesy of The French Tourism Agency Atout France, Club Med