Lille promoted in SZ as World Design Capital

Denis Tersen, director general of Lille Metropole, World Design Capital 2020, gives a presentation. Photo courtesy of the organizer

A promotional event marking Lille having been named World Design Capital 2020 was held at OCT Art yesterday, gathering media and tourist agencies from South China. The event was part of the five-day French-Chinese Encounters of Design jointly hosted by French Trade Commission and the Consulate General of France in Guangzhou.

"The number of tourists from Shenzhen to France in 2018 saw a rapid growth of 10 percent compared with 2017. This important figure helps maintain the position of France as the most popular tourist destination in Europe for Chinese tourists. However, Lille, a beautiful city in northern France, is not well-known to Chinese tourists," said Jérémy Vanhooren, vice consul of the Consulate General of France in Guangzhou.

Vanhooren explained that Lille is endowed with rich tourism resources. It has rich culture and history, and an abundance of architecture and tourist attractions. The city, at the heart of Europe, enjoys convenient transport. It’s only 80 minutes away from London, one hour from Paris and 35 minutes from Brussels.

"Why do we say that France is the No. 1 tourist destination in the world? Because in 2018 it received nearly 90 million tourists. Among them, over 2 million were from China. South China, and Shenzhen in particular, is an important market," said Boris Viallet, tourism promotion manager of the France Tourism Office in China.

Boris Viallet, tourism promotion manager of the France Tourism Office in China, speaks at yesterday's event.

"Lille is a destination suitable for free walkers. There are many tourist resources worth exploring," Viallet said, adding that the launch of a direct flight linking Shenzhen with Paris has made it easier for tourists in Shenzhen and its surrounding areas to reach Europe.

Denis Tersen, director general of Lille Metropole, World Design Capital 2020, gave a presentation about Lille as the World Design Capital 2020. In October 2017, Lille Metropole was designated as World Design Capital after being shortlisted along with Sydney.

Lille Metropole 2020 is a design-driven process of change based on the model of open innovation. Beginning in 2017, Lille Metropole has been engaging regional stakeholders, including companies, local authorities, citizens, training and research institutes, and cultural destinations, in a grand design initiative. The aim is to identify innovative and sustainable solutions, and assist in such experimentation through design management.

Every World Design Capital identifies and develops a yearlong program of unique design events relevant to their city and their citizens, which sets out to achieve local objectives while attracting local audiences, international visitors and the press. The Lille 2020 program includes theme-based exhibitions entrusted to world-renowned curators.

In addition to such local events, each World Design Capital also organizes eight World Design Capital Signature Events in partnership with the World Design Organization.

The World Design Capital (WDC) is designated every two years by the World Design Organization to recognize a city’s innovative use of design to strengthen economic, social, cultural and environmental development.

Through a yearlong program of design-related events, WDC provides a platform to showcase the best practices in design-led urban policy and innovation, increase civic engagement, and attract business and tourism.

First launched in Turin (Italy) in 2008, WDC has also been awarded to Seoul (South Korea) in 2010, Helsinki (Finland) in 2012, Cape Town (South Africa) in 2014, Taipei in 2016 and Mexico City in 2018.