Indian tourism in France

Why does France attract Indians?

Recent studies show that Indian tourism is booming, particularly in France since 2013. Ashok Pakiam, India consultant for Akteos, explains.

What are Indian tourists looking for in France?

Indian tourism is a recent phenomenon

The notion of "going on vacation" is a recent one in India, barely twenty years old. Firstly, most Indian tourism is concentrated in India. Secondly, the leading foreign destination is Thailand, where the exchange rate is favorable.

The recent phenomenon of Indian tourism in France has emerged with the emergence of a middle class that now has access to credit and can afford to travel further and further afield.

The image of France

France's image is romantic. Paris, with its monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame, remains the most popular destination.

The Indian tourist who travels so far is looking for stories to tell, rather than the discovery of a new culture. They want to return home with lots of photos to show their relatives that they've seen the Eiffel Tower, whereas French tourists are more interested in history and culture.

Indian tourists tend to stay in France for a short time, taking what is known as a "postcard vacation", where they are more interested in images than knowledge.

Unlike the Chinese or other Asian tourists, Indians do less shopping. As they already have their own national luxury brands, they are less attracted to French brands, except in the perfume sector, which is highly appreciated by Indian women.

How is French culture perceived in India?

How do Indians perceive the French?

The French pay attention to their appearance

The French lifestyle is still associated with cheese and wine! The Frenchman is often perceived as a "French lover", romantic and gallant, but also a little libertine. This image has been spread in India mainly through the cinema.

Indians also find that the French take great care with their appearance. They are often surprised by what you wear, and don't understand how women can walk around in skirts and tights in the middle of the cold!

Unlike the French, who are sometimes more attentive to their style, Indians generally dress in a practical way, without being particularly attached to aesthetics or the image they convey.

Do you have any anecdotes about a cross-cultural experience between our two cultures?

Yes, I can tell you two.

The first one that comes to mind has to do with appearance. It relates a situation that occurred in a Paris airport. A rudimentarily dressed Indian tourist enters a store and is about to make a purchase. He turned to the French sales assistant to ask a question about a product. The sales assistant simply didn't answer him, and worse, didn't even speak to him, as if he didn't exist. Vexed and shocked by this disregard, the Indian left the store with a negative image of his time in France. The salesman had taken him for a vagabond.

The second anecdote takes place on the Champs Élysées, where I'm walking with an Indian friend. He spotted a couple with a baby. He approached them and asked if he could take a photo with the baby, whom he found very cute. The French couple were surprised at first, but finally agreed. For Indians, a vacation photo isn't just about monuments and landscapes; it's also about immortalizing faces. Indians attach great importance to relationships. For them, it's essential. I experience this with my French wife when we go on vacation: 90% of her photos are of landscapes and monuments, whereas 90% of mine are of people.

Can you mention any differences between our two cultures?

There are many! Here are three:

• When in France (on a tourist or professional mission), an Indian's stay can quickly become an obstacle course if he can't find Indian grocery stores or restaurants. You have to understand that India is still a very poor country, and for the vast majority of the population, culinary tastes can sometimes be simple and not necessarily open to other cuisines. The other very differentiating factor is that 80% of Indians are vegetarians. In the land of butchers and charcuterie, this can be frustrating. That's what I always tell my participants: put yourself in their shoes!
• Overall, Indians have the impression that there's a lack of hope in France and find human relations rather cold, especially in the service sector where the French can give off an arrogant and contemptuous image. In India, the future belongs to us, and relations are generally jovial and spontaneous.
• Finally, Indians are also shocked by the face of poverty in France. They deplore the fact that beggars are isolated and unsmiling. In India, there is a great deal of solidarity and stronger ties between individuals, especially when it comes to the most destitute.