Corrected and confirmed figures for travel to France in 2014 are in. France hosted 83.7 million foreign visitors and 3.2 American visitors. With an overall increase to date of 6% in the number of us arrivals for 2015 year—with some regions like Alsace or Cognac country reporting double-digit growth) “2015 is looking like a record year for France” to quote French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Laurent Fabius
A few factors explain this very positive trend:
• A high favorability rating of France by Americans according to a recent Gallup survey,
• No slowdown of partner investments
• And a very favorable exchange rate
“The outlook for 2016 is also encouraging, because there is major news and significant developments for travel to France, from new non-stop flights to the French West Indies and new cultural institutions, to major anniversaries and events,” said, Anne-Laure Tuncer, Director USA of Atout France. The news Ms. Tuncer is referring to include new Norwegian non-stop flights to Martinique and the Guadeloupe Islands starting December 3, 2015, a big soccer fest this summer, Euro 2016, the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s arrival in France, the inauguration in June of a huge wine center in Bordeaux, the reopening of the Franco-American Museum in Blérancourt—a sentimental favorite and the ongoing 100 anniversary of WWI.
There is also major news from France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Laurent Fabius.
Tourism accounts for 7.5% of France’s GDP and that is something that Laurent Fabius takes very seriously. The measures he announced in past two years, including those this October are intended to reach a goal of 100 million foreign visitors by 2020 and significantly boost international receipts.
A FEW MEASURES:
In order to welcome in optimal conditions and offer a diversity of accommodations to meet the goal of 100 million visitors: 1 billion dollars will be invested in the following way:
- 500 million euros in low-interest loans for hotels owners to renovate and for new constructions
- 400 million euros for local infrastructure and services like high-tech improvements, Wi-Fi availability, ports)
- 100 million in loans for small industry businesses
Infrastructure improvements will include:
• Charles-de-Gaulle Airport (CDG) connections to Paris • Renovation of the Gare du Nord hub of the Eurostar & Thalys
Sampling of the measures taken for the welcome, entertainment and wellbeing of our guests :
• Businesses in international tourism zones allowed to stay open on Sundays. – the first such zones have already been identified for Paris and the Paris region.
• Already implemented in Paris by the SNCF (French National Railroads) and the RATP (Paris Transit Authority,) are multi-lingual announcements in the city’s rail stations and main Subway lines in and out of the city.
• In paris, measures taken in 2014 for the reinforcement of security and policing in major tourist zones has already produced significant results in the first 7 months of 2015: muggings are down 20% and pick-pocketing by 30%
And finally France has a new name for the official website for travel information to France: www.france.fr, which, for U.S. visitors will be us.france.fr
“All these developments, are encouraging for the French Travel Industry and for those of us who promote travel to France, as we do at Atout France,” said Anne-Laure Tuncer; she went on to say: “We are looking forward to sharing our way of life and the new developments that will take place in 2016, with our American friends. In regard to the tragic events that occurred in Paris on Friday, November 13, we will report back on any impact that may affect travel to France, and keep you informed on any measures taken by the French Government.