Hyderabad, August 11, 2026: The National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM), Hyderabad, organised a special interaction on “Strengthening Indo-French Cooperation in the Fields of Tourism & Hospitality”, aimed at promoting academic, professional and institutional collaboration between India and France in Tourism and Hospitality sectors.

The programme was inaugurated by Mr. Marc Lamy, Consul General of France in Bengaluru and Administrator of the State, French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, as the Chief Guest.

Smt. Vani Prasad, IAS, Chairperson, NITHM and Special Chief Secretary, YAC&C Department, Government of Telangana, presided over the programme. In her address, she emphasised that stronger relations between nations are built not only through diplomatic engagements but also through people-to-people interactions, cultural understanding and shared experiences.

“Friendship between nations is not only about diplomatic relations. It is also about people meeting, interacting, understanding one another and learning from each other,” she said, highlighting the important role of food, gastronomy, culture, tourism and hospitality in bringing communities and countries closer.

She observed that cultural exchanges provide opportunities to discover new perspectives while sharing the richness of one’s own heritage. Such interactions, she said, enable people to appreciate similarities, celebrate differences and build stronger relationships between nations and communities.

Encouraging the students and faculty of NITHM to actively participate in international cultural engagement, Smt. Vani Sri Prasad said that every interaction, conversation and cultural exchange can contribute to strengthening friendship and understanding between India and France. She also encouraged the students to interact freely with the distinguished guest, ask questions and make the most of the opportunity to learn about French culture and society.

She further stressed that cultural exchange should be a two-way process, through which India can showcase its diverse rich traditions, heritage, cuisine, tourism and cultural diaspora while gaining a deeper appreciation of French culture and the French way of life.

Prof. V. Venkata Ramana, Director, NITHM, highlighted the importance of international collaboration in preparing students for an increasingly global Tourism and Hospitality industry. He also stressed the greater need for faculty and students to pursue joint research projects and collaborate with leading French industry partners and academic institutions, while also promoting French language training.

Key Highlights of Mr. Marc Lamy’s Address

During his interaction with the students and faculty, Mr. Marc Lamy highlighted several important dimensions of the growing relationship between France and India:

• Strengthening France–India Relations: France continues to deepen its economic, educational, cultural and people-to-people ties with India.
• Hyderabad as a Key Hub: Hyderabad has emerged as an important centre for French investments and collaborations, particularly in aerospace, pharmaceuticals, hospitality and technology.
• French Global Companies: Major French companies such as Sanofi, Airbus, Safran and Accor have a strong presence and growing engagement in India
• “Art de Vivre” and Cultural Exchange: The French side highlighted French lifestyle, gastronomy, hospitality, culture, cuisine, pastry and tourism as important areas of cultural exchange.
• Growing Career Opportunities: India’s rapid economic growth and expanding middle class are creating significant opportunities for students and young professionals in hospitality, tourism, culinary arts and related sectors.

• Promoting French Culture: Alliance Française plays an important role in promoting the French language, culture, cuisine and cultural programmes in Hyderabad.
• Promoting Telangana Globally: France appreciates Telangana’s efforts to promote its tourism, cinema, theatre and cultural heritage on the international stage.
• Academic and Student Exchanges: France expressed readiness to support internships, academic exchanges, cultural programmes and educational opportunities for Indian students and faculty.
• Two-Way Cultural Exchange: The interaction emphasised that cultural engagement should work in both directions—introducing French culture and lifestyle to India while also promoting Indian and Telangana culture in France.
• Message to Students: Students were encouraged to take advantage of opportunities for international exposure, internships, education, professional development and cultural exchange. He stressed students to learn different languages which will give them a leverage to work internationally. The future holds lot of opportunities for students and there is no dearth of jobs.

Mr. Lamy emphasised that France–India friendship is built through people, education, culture, business and shared experiences—not only through governments.

The interaction provided an important platform for exchanging ideas on tourism education, hospitality management, skill development, cultural tourism, sustainable tourism and opportunities for Indo-French collaboration. The discussions also highlighted the potential for greater engagement between academic institutions, tourism stakeholders and industry professionals in India and France.

The programme reflects NITHM’s commitment to providing its students and faculty with international exposure and meaningful global partnerships, thereby contributing to the growth, innovation and international competitiveness of India’s tourism and hospitality sector.

The event also provided an opportunity for NITHM students and faculty to interact directly with Mr. Marc Lamy and gain valuable insights into France’s tourism ecosystem, international hospitality practices, French culture and lifestyle, and avenues for future academic and professional collaboration.

About NITHM

The National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM) is an autonomous institute established by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and the Government of Telangana, under the aegis of the YAT&C Department, Government of Telangana. The institute is dedicated to excellence in tourism and hospitality education, training, research and industry engagement, with a focus on preparing skilled professionals for the rapidly evolving global tourism and hospitality sector.

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