Cannes 2011 – The city is yours
‘The City is Yours’ – Cannes launches new tourism marketing strategy for 2011
Under the slogan the ‘City is Yours’, Cannes has launched a new strategy for tourism this year, designed to lure more tourists from around the globe to the beautiful and exclusive French Riviera town.
Isabelle Gainche, the new Commercial and Marketing Director at the Palais des Festivals, recently announced there is to be a fresh drive for tourists to Cannes, and the positive slogan is aimed at demonstrating to visitors the diversity Cannes has to offer, particularly within the business and leisure sectors.
Being an already popular holiday destination for many Europeans and Americans, Cannes is now concentrating on using its positive image as a means of promoting itself in countries such as India, Russia, Brazil and China. The new tourism strategy also aims to decrease Cannes’ association as just being a location on the super-rich can afford.
In light of the economic downturn, this year Cannes is to launch a City Pass, giving holders discounts on hotels and many tourist attractions in the area.
Cannes has gained its global notoriety with its annual Film Festival, and now the town wants to extend its reputation as being the destination of highly exclusive events, by creating an ‘event dynamic’, which will include at least 15 major events being held in the town each year.
The 2011 marketing strategy also aims to expand Cannes’ recognition to more remote destinations by operating Earth TV in the town, which will broadcast live footage of the resort via two HD cameras, to anywhere in the world.
Isabelle Gainche also announced that there is no be almost 150 actions to take place globally, such as workshops and cocktail evenings, intended to promote Cannes to both leisure and business visitors. Attracting more gay tourists is also high on the town’s new marketing agenda, with the launch of the Cannes Rainbow initiative.
Ms Gainche described the general aim of the ‘City is Yours’ campaign, as targeting, what she refers to as ‘Generation Y’ – 20-35 year olds who are regular users of the internet and social networking sites.