Ah, Paris! The Eiffel Tower, the shopping, the cafés and grand boulevards… Visiting Paris should be a must on everyone’s bucket list. This month, we are celebrating the launch of Air France’s direct flight between Vancouver and Paris, and the SDE is pleased to have played a facilitator role in the implementation of this project since 2015.
To recognize SDE’s role in the new itinerary, our July logo uses the official flag colours of France. The “D” in the logo has been filled with a red and a white illustration of the Eiffel Tower. To further commemorate this direct flight, the line “YVR – CDG” has been added to the bottom with a simple airplane icon separating the two airport codes.
SDE Takes the Role of Co-Pilot
On March 29th, 2015, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) welcomed Air France’s preliminary flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Three years later, the new non-stop flight marks the beginning of a direct service between Paris and Vancouver. SDE’s role in this initiative has been a key turning point for the province’s tourism and economy, particularly at the Francophonie level. SDE Executive Director Donald Cyr says, “I am delighted with Air France’s decision to offer this international service. This decision strengthens the bridges between our respective business communities, as well as attract new tourists. There is no doubt that there is and will be economic spin-offs on trade, tourism, and British Columbia’s Francophonie.”
Direct Flight Leads to Direct Benefits for B.C.
Great benefits had already been forecast as the introduction of flights between YVR and CDG was being considered in 2015. Earlier that same year, British Columbia’s economy had expanded 3.3%, posting the strongest growth among the provinces of Canada. The direct link between the two cities has not only been a unique business opportunity, but it also offered greater opportunities for travelers, which has generated economic benefits on tourism in the province over the last few years. In fact, according to data from Tourism Vancouver, in 2017, breaking a tourism record for the fourth year in a row, Vancouver had over 10.3 million visitors1. Most impressively, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture estimates that every new daily international flight to YVR creates between 150 and 200 jobs at the airport and in B.C.’s hotels, tourism attractions and businesses2.
Not only do we see tremendous benefits for the economy and tourism, but with 50% of French-speaking immigrants to Canada being born in Europe, there is a real need for the convenience of a direct flight between Vancouver and Paris. We’re happy that our Francophone community continues to benefit greatly from this project, and that many more B.C. residents will have the chance to check Paris off their bucket list. Oh Paris, je t’aime!
2 Source: https://www.e-know.ca/regions/east-kootenay/positive-trends-bcs-tourism-sector/
