INNTO France: The future of Tourism in French higher educationEsthua leads the new Network of National Institutes in Tourism

The May 30, 2024 de 00:00 à 00:00

Following the announcements made by the then French Prime Minister Jean Castex as part of the Destination France plan, the University Tourism Schools Network - comprising the universities of Angers, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Toulouse Jean-Jaurès, Côte d'Azur (Nice), Savoie Mont-Blanc (Chambéry) and Gustave-Eiffel (Marne-la-Vallée) - was officially launched on 30 May in Paris at the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Members of the Innto France network in Paris on 31 May this year.

INNTO France is the result of a group led by ESTHUA - the National Institute of Tourism of the University of Angers - and accompanied by 5 other French universities - IREST at Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne, ISTHIA at Toulouse Jean-Jaurès, IAE at Savoie Mont-Blanc and IFIS at Gustave-Eiffel and the University of Côte d’Azur.

After two years of work and joint effort from the six universities, the support of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, as well as institutional and professional players of the sector, the name of the network was made official at its launch in Paris on Thursday 30th May 2024: National Institutes of Tourism, INNTO (Instituts nationaux de tourisme). “The aim is to meet the demands of the industry players and promote the tourism sector as a career field”, says Françoise Grolleau, President of the University of Angers. “Among the concrete achievements we have already made, we can underline the 811 places we have created in both new and current training courses.”

INNTO France - a revolution in French higher education in tourism

More than just a network, INNTO France is now a real brand that will be implemented in 5 French universities from September 2024. Jean-René Morice, Director of ESTHUA - National Institute of Tourism and the institution behind the project, had the honour of making the announcement. The objectives of INNTO France are clear: to increase the visibility and attractiveness of tourism education, to develop research and innovation in tourism and, of course, to imagine the tourism of the future. Above all, these objectives respond to a strong demand from the professional world: "Young people don't always recognise the diversity of professions in the world of tourism. If we want to develop the attractiveness of our professions, we need to have excellence and present it to young people, and this is possible through associations such as this one," explains Jean-Virgile Crance, President of the “Confédération des acteurs du tourisme” and a strong supporter of the project.

A Network of 6,000 students

INNTO France is the first project of its kind in France for tourism courses. It offers courses that are genuinely recognised by the sector, which accounts for almost 8% of France's gross domestic product. The collective approach is rooted in the realities of the field with more than 6,000 students across the country and close to 100 courses.

Jean-René Morice, current Director of Esthua, presides over the board of the INNTO France network, which connects the national institutes of tourism – that remain linked to their respective universities. The network has been granted eight million euros to develop its activities, which aim to improve visibility among students, institutional players, and professionals; to create a common policy to promote university courses and research in tourism in France and abroad; and to carry out common actions in connection with teaching and research. 

The founding members strongly believe that students trained within the INNTO France network will be the future players in responsible and sustainable tourism, capable of meeting the challenges of tomorrow. These include the challenges posed by climate and health crises, geopolitical instability and recruitment difficulties, amongst others. In light of this, the founding members intend to step up their efforts in the coming years and there has already been interest from several French universities. The story of INNTO France is just beginning!

Meet the INNTO France network at the International & French Travel Market (IFTM) fair at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in Paris from 17 to 19 September 2024.