France is Top Tourist Destination
78 Million Visitors Spent Time in France in 2006
About 78 million foreigners headed to France in 2006, making it the top tourist destination in the world once again.
From the lights of Paris to the glitz and glamor of the French Riviera, France is a tourist destination. In fact, it is the tourist destination.
Once again, France is the top tourist destination in the world with 78 million people heading to the country in 2006. Only about 60 or so million people live in France, and about 2 million of them are employed in hotels, bars, restaurants, cafes and other entities supported by tourists.
France’s visitor numbers were boosted by tourists from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain and east European countries. According to the Tourism Ministry, the Chinese have been heading to France more in recent years. About 600,000 Chinese spent time in France this past year. The Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping spent his formative years in Montargis, France, and the town is promoting this bit of history to lure Chinese visitors.
The Languedoc-Roussilon region, which borders Spain and Andorra, along with the Mediterranean sea, was one of the most popular areas in France this past year. Of course, Paris still attracts its share of visitors. The Louvre Museum alone had a record number of visitors – 8.3 million – in 2006. And who are we kidding? St. Tropez remains a big hit among the Pamela Anderson/Kid Rock crowd.
Aside from the sun worshippers and cultural tourists, France also draws a number of religious tourists, mostly to Lourdes. Since the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes to Bernadette Soubirous in the 19th century, more and more tourists have headed to the small market town in the Pyrenean foothills. Recently as many as 5 million tourists have made the pilgrimage.
France is expected to remain a top tourist destination, partially because of its world famous sites such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, and partly because of its major festivals, including the Nice Carnival (Feb. 16-March 3), the Cannes Film Festival (May 16-27) and the “Fête de la Musique,” which happens all over France on June 21. There are also a number of sporting events that bring visitors to France: The Paris Marathon is set for April 15, the French Tennis Open is May 27 through June 10 in Paris and the Tour de France will be held July 7 through the 29.
Spain was the second most popular tourist destination, although forecasters are saying that China will surpass Spain by 2010 and France by 2020, making it the No. 1 destination in the world.
So, France is the No. 1 destination, but what's the rest of the story?
