France still most popular destination
The number of international tourist arrivals to France rose again in 2001 for the sixth year in a row.
According to Jacques Brunhes, Secretary of State for Tourism, France retained its position as the world’s most visited destination with a total of 76.5 million arrivals, an increase of 1.2% on the year 2000. The increase is in contrast to the global drop in performance in the tourist sector that the World Tourism Organization (WTO) puts at 1.3%, due in part to the terrorist attacks of September 11.
WTO figures indicate that France captured a market share of 11.1% in 2001 compared to Spain, ranked as the world’s number two destination, which received an estimated 49.5 million arrivals giving it a 7.2% share.
Initial estimates drawn from data provided by the Banque de France are that tourism injected 15.5 billion Euros into the French economy last year. The level of spending by overseas tourists in the country rose by 1.1%.
Despite the fall in the number of visitors from America and Japan, France witnessed growth from markets closer to home including Switzerland, Benelux countries and the United Kingdom.
J’aime la France, a worldwide promotional campaign costing 12.6 million Euros, launched at the end of February to give an additional push to tourism to France this year.
A more detailed report on tourism to France in 2001 is available on the French Secretary of State for Tourism’s website (nb. French language only)
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