(Yicai) Oct. 15 -- France's Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region aims to deepen cooperation with China through the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps, regional officials said during a visit to Shanghai.

“The prospect of the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in the French Alps provides a compelling shared horizon,” Geoffrey Mercier, director of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tourism Board, told Yicai. "We want to use this momentum to build professional relationships that will continue well beyond the event."

The region in southeastern France hopes to forge closer ties between Chinese and French ski resorts, ski schools, tourism operators and related businesses, focusing on ski instruction, visitor services, safety and service quality, Mercier said.

Home to some of the world's leading ski destinations and the sites of three previous Winter Olympics, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes sees the games as an opportunity to build on its 40-year partnership with Shanghai, the first between a French region and the Chinese city.

Over the next 40 years, the region, home to Lyon and Saint-Étienne, and Shanghai will deepen trade and economic ties and explore opportunities in healthcare, new materials and technological innovation, according to Philippe Meunier, vice president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Council.

The two sides also plan to strengthen ties between universities and research institutions through student and researcher exchanges and joint projects, Meunier said. They will also expand vocational training partnerships by sharing expertise and specialized skills.

Chinese Tourism Market Offers Growth Opportunities

Tourism is another growing area of cooperation. China is now Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes' fifth-largest long-haul tourist source market, with Chinese visitors recording 68,000 hotel stays last year, up 10 percent from 2024, according to Mercier.

While organized tours dominated Chinese travel to France before 2022, independent trips have since gained ground. More than half of Chinese visitors traveled independently last year, while group tours accounted for around 20 percent, Mercier said.

To cater to changing preferences, the regional tourism board plans to introduce more personalized travel products.

“Our ambition is to work with Chinese travel professionals to develop stays suited to different visitor profiles: a first family experience of snow and skiing, an active holiday for experienced outdoor enthusiasts, or a trip combining mountains, wellness and the French way of life," Mercier said. "We also want to develop spring, summer and autumn experiences centred on hiking, cycling, lakes and villages.”

Better transport links are another priority in attracting Chinese visitors. With no direct flights from China, travelers must currently connect via Paris or continue by train to reach the region.

The tourism board is considering direct flights between Shanghai and Lyon, which would make the French Alps more accessible to Chinese tourists, Mercier said.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Emmi Laine