The French Consulate in Vancouver is investing to encourage British Columbians to vacation in France by helping to host a dinner at Le Crocodile in the lead-up to Air France launching new scheduled nonstop flights between Vancouver and Paris later this month.
The March 19 dinner is part of an initiative called Goût de France, or Taste of France, whereby 1,500 restaurants around the world each host a traditional French dinner that will have as similar a menu as possible.
“We’re promoting French gastronomy as we realize that this is one of the top reasons that people visit France,” French Consulate communications advisor Alice Dubot told Business in Vancouver.
The consulate is able to import French wine to B.C. without paying tax when the wine is used for “charitable and special events,” according to the Canada Border Services Agency.
Some of the proceeds from each of the Goût de France dinners go to a local non-government organization that promotes health or the environment.
So, the consulate is providing French wines to the dinner as a way to keep prices for the 90 or so tickets down to an all-inclusive $120.
The dinner is also held on the eve of the March 20 International Francophonie Day, which is the day around the world that is intended to celebrate the French language and culture.
“We want to have more of an exchange between Western Canada and France so that’s why were having these events,” Dubot said.
Demand for nonstop flights between Vancouver and France is strong and has fueled flights from charter airlines, such as Air Transat, on a seasonal basis. Large, scheduled operators, however, have stayed on the sidelines.
Air France will launch its nonstop, seasonal service between Vancouver International Airport and Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport on March 29.
It will fly three times per week until May 4, when it will bump its frequency up to five times per week.
On September 13, the airline will reduce its frequency back down to three times per week throughout the winter.
“Our customers have long been asking for Air France’s non-stop direct flights to Paris,” Vancouver Airport Authority CEO Craig Richmond said in November, when the flights were first announced.
“We recently surveyed Metro Vancouver residents and results showed Paris as the number one requested destination from YVR.”
Air France will operate a Boeing 777-200 aircraft that has 309 seats, including 35 in business class, 24 in premium economy and 250 in economy.
The flights leave Paris at 10:35 a.m. and arrive in Vancouver at 11:50 a.m. the same day. The planes then refuel and are ready to leave Vancouver at 2:00 p.m. so they can arrive in Paris at 8:35 a.m. the next day.
The new service is estimated to add $13.7 million in gross domestic product, $8.8 million in wages and 248 jobs to the B.C. economy.
