Indian tourists find France as the most attractive European destination. According to the French ambassador Alexandre Ziegler, the number of Indian travellers is expected to cross eight lakhs as of 2018.
On April 25, Mr Ziegler said that over seven lakh Indian tourists visited France in 2017, twice the number compared to 2014.
Visa applications over the past five years registered an increase of over 180 per cent, the envoy said at a seminar on tourism cooperation between India and France.
In 2018, the number of visa applications grew by 15 per cent as compared to 2017, underpinned by over 43 per cent increase in applications from south India (Consulate of Puducherry), he said.
Noting a “striking upsurge”, Ziegler said it demonstrates that France is ever growing in popularity and that the country is “now the #1 European destination for Indian tourists”.
Describing it as “just the beginning of a trend”, he said: “We are very honoured to witness this upward trend and it is a priority to facilitate Indian tourism in France.”
He said since 2015, the Embassy has been issuing visas within 48 hours.
“In fact, last December, the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs himself highlighted that our priority was to build up French expertise on welcoming Indian tourists in France,” the Ambassador said.
A seminar with French professionals will be held soon in Paris, with a special focus on welcoming MICE (Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) trips and Indian weddings, he said.