THE Paris Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB) is on its fourth sales mission to South-east Asia with 18 participating exhibitors, the largest delegation to date, a sign of the potential that the region’s markets hold despite a global economic slowdown.
This is also the first time the roadshow was extended to Singapore, besides the traditional cities of Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Bangkok.
Clement Laloux, director of marketing, PCVB, who was in Kuala Lumpur on March 14, said: “Singapore is an (airline) hub in South-east Asia. With a small population base, it may not have the volume, but there are quality tourists whom we want to reach out to, people who will spend a lot.”
Laloux described 2015 as a “good year” with a 5 to 10 per cent visitor growth from South-east Asia compared to the previous year, a majority of whom travelled for leisure.
He further characterised incentive travel from Asia to Paris as “developing quickly”, especially from China. Laloux cited Amway China as an example, who had recently sent 1,400 delegates on a seven-night programme to Paris.
Even though incentive groups from South-east Asia are far smaller than from China, with an average of 50 to 200 people per group, they are just as important, said Laloux.
He added that the South-east Asian markets have evolved over the last five years with a growing number of FIT visitors staying in Paris to feel the pulse of the city, rather than be in the outskirts to save on accommodation costs.
Asked for his forecast in 2016, he said: “I hope we will see the same growth, but it is too early in the year to tell.”
