Picture above: Nice. Picture courtesy Nick Karvounis
Q: What was your first job and what did you learn from it that you still use today?
A: My first job was as an editorial manager for a scientific and technical journal on the conservation of the French coastline called “LARUS.”
I learned that consultation is the best way to work, whether within your own team or with external partners. I learned that decision-making and planning should be based on studies and science. I learned that even with the right information, sometimes the right decisions are not made.
This was 30 years ago and due to my inability to effect change, I changed careers. However, I learned that the balance between economic development, the well-being of populations and environmental preservation is fundamental for sustainable development.
Q: What’s the first thing you do when you start a new position?
A: I observe and listen; some things are transferable from one country to another, while others are not.
The culture of each country is different; the geography and history of a country are very important for understanding the social and economic dynamics of the country.
Q: What advice would you give someone wanting to start a career in travel now?
A: To travel, to continue being amazed by each journey in order to convey that passion.
To put yourself in the shoes of your client, to understand their fears and concerns, to reassure them and to be able to advise them on the best travel experience based on their own experience as a traveller and to encourage them to always step a little bit further beyond their comfort zone.
Picture above: Cannes. Picture courtesy Diane Picchiottino
Q: What did the pandemic teach you about yourself?
A: Happiness is being with family no matter what happens, but confinement is hard to endure.
If the unexpected no longer exists, boredom sets in. Professional encounters and travel allow you to question yourself and learn about others and yourself – it’s inevitable.
Q: If you hadn’t gone into travel, what career path might you have taken?
A: I would have liked to work in a national park for the preservation of the environment and the culture associated with these natural spaces, working in concert with local populations to enhance their heritage and create economic benefits that allow them to live in harmony with their ancestors.
Q: How do you think the travel industry is looking at this moment in time?
A: The tourism industry is in a phase of stabilisation this year. Inflation in most wealthy countries is gradually forcing people to control their travel budgets after two years of “revenge tourism.”
There is also still a shortage of qualified personnel in many tourism-related jobs, which prevents many companies from growing quickly.
Atout France has also participated in a campaign to promote tourism careers to inspire younger generations to train and pursue careers in the tourism industry.
Q: Who would you most like to sit next to on a plane, living or dead?
A: Living preferably! I would say Jane Goodall, Marie Curie, Simone Veil or an athlete, a female role model, to learn from their experiences.
Picture above: Dinard. Picture courtesy Thanh Ly
Q: What are some of your favourite spots around the world and why?
A: Near a river or an ocean, because water brings life and has concentrated human activity for millennia. Without water, there is no civilisation and I believe we have much to learn from ancient civilisations about water management and sharing.
Water also inspires many painters, especially during a period I particularly love – Impressionism, with Monet, Delacroix, Sorolla…
So from Dunkirk to Saint-Malo, passing through Dinard, Le Havre, Noirmoutier, the Dune of Pilat, Biarritz, Sète, Marseille, Nice, Cannes – all these cities are so different, yet all connected by a sea or an ocean.
Q: What is your best travel story?
A: My arrival in Senegal 30 years ago on the day of the biggest pilgrimage of the year for a trip that was half humanitarian, half personal.
Without having communicated with my colleagues, I found myself alone at an airport, without money and without a phone, and managed to find a trustworthy person by staying positive, not naive, and travelling 350 kilometres through the bush to reach my destination safely, all with good faith.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about working for Atout France in Australia?
A: I hope to bring all my experience to work as a team on renewing our action plan, creating new attractive operations for our French and Australian partners, which will increase the promotion of French territories throughout the year.
The goal is to promote more French regions, activities and expertise to increase the number of Australian and New Zealand tourists visiting France.
