Transforming Travel: Can French Tech Lead the Way?

So, from May 6th to 9th, 2024, Dubai's World Trade Centre is going to be buzzing with the Arabian Travel Market exhibition. And guess what? Seven top-notch French companies from the tourism and travel sector are going to be there, showcasing their latest stuff at the "Choose France Pavilion" in the Travel Tech Hall. This is part of France's plan to really make its mark in the global tourism market during this 31st edition of the ATM.

This year, the theme is all about "Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship." They're really pushing for more innovation, more sustainability, and of course, more success in the travel industry. France is stepping up to the plate, showing off its expertise in tourism, which is a pretty big deal, considering it makes up about 7 percent of the country's GDP.

Let's talk about these French companies that'll be there. We've got Cabanon with their cool tents and folding caravans, FeelCity's Coq-trotteur platform for personalised tourist itineraries, LaCollection with digital art displays from top museums and artists, Luniwave reducing water and energy use in hotels, mTrip making travel tech smarter, Optionizr with innovative payment solutions, and L’Escale Royale bringing luxury houseboat stays to the table.

And let's not forget France's leadership in global tourism. These companies are all about innovation and sustainability. They're using fancy tech like NFTs to personalise travel experiences, eco-friendly materials for accommodations, and they're always looking ahead to future trends.

Axel Baroux, the French Trade & Invest commissioner, is pumped about ATM 2024. He's all about deepening connections and showing off French tech and sustainability practices. And it's paying off – France saw a 12 percent increase in tourism revenue in 2023, hitting 63.5 billion euros. That's no small feat!

Now, let's shift gears to the UAE. Their tourism sector is booming too, adding nearly AED 167 billion to the GDP in 2022. And it's only expected to grow, reaching around AED 264.5 billion by 2027. With all this growth, there's a lot of job opportunities too – around 770,000 jobs expected by 2027.

The UAE and France are a match made in tourism heaven. They're teaming up for mutual growth and development, with the UAE being a hotspot for French innovation and investment in the tourism sector. The UAE's got policies and incentives in place to make sure this partnership keeps flourishing, with databases and support for small and medium-sized tourism enterprises.

French companies are bringing their A-game to ATM 2024, and the UAE is the perfect place for them to shine and grow.