Q&A Let’s get to know the new FELCA members: UNOSEL France

At the beginning of 2026, Felca welcomed UNOSEL, the French Association of Agents. The following is a Q&A session to learn more about UNOSEL.

UNOSEL was founded in 1978. It is an association that promotes language stays, summer camps, and educational school trips, and works to improve the quality and safety of these programs, notably through a quality label.  The association currently has 52 labeled brands, which are organizers of language stays, school trips, and summer camps.

Who is the president and who are the members of the UNOSEL board of directors? 

Isabelle Favrot is the president, Peter Gins the vice president, Xavier Obert the treasurer, Antoine Bretin the secretary. The members of the Board are:  Marc CHEVAChevallier, Olivier Ducelier, Olivier Tetart, Christophe Gariglio, Romy Michel and Laurent Pasquet.

What actions has UNOSEL taken recently? What are your plans for 2026? 

We are organizing a public event on March 18, 2026, on the theme: Between empowerment and reassurance—what is the right balance in youth education?  Our next annual conference will take place in Venice from the 18th to the 20^th of November 2026.

The French market: Current and future trends. 

The French language travel market is going through a difficult period.  Enrollments have been declining for several consecutive years, both for group departures from France and for individual programs. Only long-term stays appear to be bucking the trend, though they still remain a very small minority in France. Amidst this transformation, organizers are exploring new avenues to attract customers.

Why did you decide to join FELCA? 

Precisely because the European market is experiencing a decline, we felt it necessary to broaden our circle of reflection to share trends and potential developments, and collectively raise the bar.

In your opinion, what could be a goal for FELCA in the near future? 

To conduct an international study to understand the expectations of participants, as well as the reasons for non-participation. Based on this study, conducting awareness campaigns in schools to encourage innovation and better meet the new market demands.

What problem would you like FELCA to solve for UNOSEL members that you cannot solve yourselves?

We would be interested in having FELCA or its member associations participate in our events.