FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2015
ATOUT FRANCE, France’s tourism development agency will once again have a large presence at the Cruise Shipping Miami tradeshow this year, taking place March 17-19 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. With over 900 exhibitors from 127 participating countries, and some 11,000 attendees annually, Cruise Shipping Miami is one of the world’s largest and most significant tradeshows of its kind. Exhibiting at booth 959, Atout France will bring together a diverse roster of French cruise destinations placing an emphasis on French Mediterranean ports, river cruises and French overseas regions. Visitors to the booth will also be treated to specialty wines and cuisine with traditional French breakfast, hors d'oeuvres, desserts and wine being served all three days.
Atout France’s objective is to continue to grow France as a major, international cruise destination and a variety of partnering ports will be represented at booth 959. Participating French Mediterranean ports include those of the French Riviera, the Island of Corsica, Marseille Provence, Port of Sète, and Var Provence. River cruises will also be represented by CroisiEurope and French overseas regions will be highlighted by French Guiana.
Atout France will close the tradeshow, on Thursday, March 19, from 11am-2pm, with a special apéritif à la française at the booth to observe Good France (Goût de France), a global culinary iniatiative that day, meant to celebrate French cuisine with over 1,300 restaurants participating worldwide. France’s booth will offer an additional menu featuring such delights as chicken skewers marinated in white wine, tarragon, olive oil and aioli sauce, and fresh salmon tartare as well as desserts and cabaret-inspired entertainment.
France continues to be the number one tourism destination in the world, attractive some 84.7 million international tourists in 2013 alone. French ports remain equally popular, as that year also saw an estimated 2.2 million cruises guests visit French ports. The cruise industry in France alone, contributed around $1.135 billion to the domestic economy, making it the fifth largest cruise industry in Europe. France is fourth in terms of passengers transported.