This week saw the 21st edition of Grand Ski – the annual French snowsports event exclusively for the trade.   This year saw 460 tour operators and agents from 17 markets around the world meet up with 238 exhibitors. Grand Ski was held in Annecy for the third consecutive year and will move to Chambery for 2013-2015. France has sights set on the global top spot Last year, at the opening of Grand Ski, the French Secretary of State for Tourisme, Frederic Lefebvre, spoke of his desire to replace the United States at the top of world ski league table. Unfortunately with 53.2 million skier days in the 2010/11 season, France remained in 2nd place behind the United States (60m), although ahead of Austria (51.2m). The lack of snow took much of the blame for this, but the French industry is aware that Grand Ski is the best opportunity to build growth in international markets, which represent 25% of their overall business. Britain still the largest overseas market Despite the large fall in UK travellers to French ski resorts, Brits remains the most common overseas visitors to French resorts. The Russian market is growing fast however, particularly in Les Trois Vallees.  Apparently [...]