Tourism in France

Tourism in France

France attracted 81.9 million foreign tourists in 2007 (surpassing its population), a 3.8% increase compared to 2006, making it the most popular tourist destination in the world.cite web|title=Le tourisme international en France en 2007|language=French|publisher=Directorate of Tourism, Government of France|url=http://www.tourisme.gouv.fr/fr/z2/stat/tis/att00018288/TIS_EVE2007_2008-5.pdf|accessdate=2007-06-05] This 81.9 million figure excludes people staying less than 24 hours in France, such as northern Europeans crossing France on their way to Spain or Italy in summer.

France offers mountain ranges, coastlines such as in Brittany or along the Mediterranean Sea, cities with a rich cultural heritage, châteaux (castles) like Versailles, and vineyards. Tourism is accountable for 6% of the country's income (4% from French tourists travelling inside France and 2% from foreign tourists), and contributes significantly to the balance of payments.

Paris

Paris, the capital city, attracts tourists with museums such as the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay, and attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the cathedral of Notre-Dame, the Disneyland Paris.

Other parts of France

In the eastern parts of France there are skiing resorts in the Alps. Notable French cities are Avignon with the Popes' palace, Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Nice, Orléans, Saint-Benoît-du-Sault on the Loire River, Toulouse on the Garonne, Strasbourg on the border with Germany, Nantes and Lyon.

All over France rental accommodations and hotels are available. For example, the English like to spend their summers in the Dordogne valley, the Spanish vacation in Biarritz and St Jean de Luz on the Basque coast, and the Irish often visit Lourdes. Tourists also travel to see the annual cycle race, the Tour de France.

France's Mediterranean beaches on the French Riviera, in Languedoc-Roussillon, or in Corsica, are famous. Away from the mainland tourists are French Polynesia (especially Tahiti), the Caribbean islands Martinique, Guadeloupe and others.

References

External links

* [http://www.franceguide.com/ French Government Tourist Office] en
* [http://about-france.com/ About-France.com - Tourism and general information about France, ] en


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • FRANCE — (Heb. פְרַאנְצִיָּה and צָרְפַת), country in Western Europe. This entry is arranged according to the following outline: from the first settlements unil the revolution the roman and merovingian periods from the carolingians until the eve of the… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • France — /frans, frahns/; Fr. /frddahonns/, n. 1. Anatole /ann nann tawl /, (Jacques Anatole Thibault), 1844 1924, French novelist and essayist: Nobel prize 1921. 2. a republic in W Europe. 58,470,421; 212,736 sq. mi. (550,985 sq. km). Cap.: Paris. 3.… …   Universalium

  • Tourism in present-day nations and states — Information on tourism by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. The entries are listed below.compactTOC2 NOTOC A… …   Wikipedia

  • Tourism in Spain — was developed during the last years of Francisco Franco’s dictatorship, when the country became a popular place for summer holidays, especially for tourists from the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Scandinavia. Since then Spain has been the… …   Wikipedia

  • Tourism in Quebec — Tourism is the fifth largest industry in Quebec. In total, 29,000 companies are involved in the industry, generating 130,000 direct and 48,000 indirect jobs. [ [http://www.bonjourquebec.com/medias/quebecbref/index.php?langue=en Bonjour Québec… …   Wikipedia

  • Tourism in Indonesia — is an important component of the Indonesian economy and an important source of foreign exchange revenues. With a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands,cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the world… …   Wikipedia

  • Tourism in Peru — began developing in the 1990s with the stabilization of the economy and the build up of tourist infrastructure. Nowadays tourism makes up the nation s third largest industry behind fishing and mining. [… …   Wikipedia

  • Tourism in Réunion — Tourism is an important part of the economy of Réunion, an island and French overseas departement in the Indian Ocean. Despite its many tourism assets, the island s tourist attractions are not well known. Tourist numbers Tourism is a major… …   Wikipedia

  • Tourism in Cyprus — Tourism occupies a dominant position in the economy of Cyprus.[1] Cyprus Tourism In 2006 it was expected to contribute 10.7% of GDP. in real terms it generated CYP£2,598.2 mn (US$5,445.0 mn) (annual 2006). total employment was estimated at… …   Wikipedia

  • Tourism in Belgium — is one of Belgium s industries, and its accessibility from elsewhere in Europe still makes it a popular tourist destination. The tourist industry generates 2.8% of Belgium s Gross Domestic Product and employs 3.3% of the working population… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”