With 84.7 million foreign tourists in 2013, France remains the most visited country in the world
France welcomed 84,7 million foreign tourists in 2013 which makes it once again most visited country in the world According to a new study.
This figure exceeded that of 2012 by 2%, and means that when it comes to attracting foreign visitors, France easily beats the United States and Spain who received 69.8 and 60.7 million foreign visitors each.
The study, published this Monday by DGCIS (General Directorate of Industry and Services Competitiveness) and the Bank of France, demonstrates that France has defeated the number of 83 million visitors (2012). According to the report, France has experienced an increase in the number of European tourists, from 1.2% on the previous year, drawn by German and British visitors, although the number of tourists from Belgium, Luxembourg and Italy and Spain (as opposed to the crisis) has decreased.
After a sharp decline in 2012, North American tourists returned, with a number of visitors crossing the Atlantic rising 5.8% . However, the largest boom was observed in Asian visitors, with an increasing number of Chinese tourists almost a quarter .
Asian tourists on the rise
Asian tourists were in fact 4.5 million, up 13%, including a number of Chinese visitors 23.4% or 1.7 million. According to the report, "their attraction for France has been proven for several years: the arrivals of Chinese tourists doubled between 2009 and 2013. »
But the report also points to bad points for the French tourism sector. Although the study revealed that visitors extended their stay in France, from an average of 6.9 to 7.1 nights per visit, it is noted that the number of nights spent in commercial accommodation increased less quickly, tourists seeking to stay with the family, friends or take apartment rentals at the home to save money.
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