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SMARTGUIDE<br />
FRANCE:<br />
DESTINATIONS<br />
TO (RE)DISCOVER<br />
AN INFORMATIVE TOOL<br />
FOR TRAVEL<br />
AND TOURISM<br />
PROFESSIONALS<br />
PLAN SMARTER<br />
NEW IDEAS FOR<br />
THEME HOLIDAYS<br />
DESTINATION<br />
SPOTLIGHTS<br />
REVEALING FRANCE’S<br />
TOURISM SECRETS
EDITORIAL<br />
CONTENTS<br />
<strong>France</strong> and its tourism industry have<br />
showed incredible resilience in the face<br />
of adversity after the tragic events of<br />
2015 and 2016, and are now resolutely<br />
moving forward with resumed growth<br />
in the first months of 2017.<br />
This rebound is not due to chance or<br />
luck. While the destination itself offers<br />
a multitude of strengths, the strategic<br />
choices of the nation’s Destination<br />
Marketing Organisation – <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong><br />
– and the firm political commitment of<br />
the French government at the highest<br />
level are very much at the heart of this<br />
success.<br />
Multiple actions undertaken by <strong>Atout</strong><br />
<strong>France</strong> either in <strong>France</strong> itself or via<br />
its offices around the world towards<br />
industry professionals have, over the<br />
Richard Barnes<br />
Editor-in-Chief<br />
Cleverdis<br />
Creating and Bolstering<br />
a Solid Base for <strong>France</strong>’s<br />
Tourism Industry<br />
past years, helped build a base that’s<br />
solid enough to allow the destination to<br />
cross this zone of turbulence without<br />
too many difficulties.<br />
We are particularly proud to have<br />
worked with <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong> on this<br />
<strong>SMARTguide</strong> for the attention of<br />
tourism professionals - in order to<br />
highlight two great tools, the Poles of<br />
excellence, and destination contracts,<br />
put in place by the French government,<br />
and which will enable all professionals<br />
to encourage their customers to visit<br />
<strong>France</strong> and explain (even more easily):<br />
Why <strong>France</strong>? How to experience<br />
<strong>France</strong>? And which destinations in<br />
<strong>France</strong>?<br />
We hope this <strong>SMARTguide</strong> will be a<br />
useful tool for you!<br />
• Edition, produced by CLEVERDIS, 65 avenue Jules Cantini, Tour Méditerranée, 13006 Marseille, <strong>France</strong><br />
Tel: + 33 442 77 46 00 - Fax: + 33 442 77 46 01 - info@cleverdis.com • www.cleverdis.com<br />
SARL capitalised at Euros 155,750 - RCS Marseille 413 604 471 - VAT FR 95413604471<br />
President & CEO: Gérard Lefebvre, Managing Director: Jean-François Pieri, Production Manager: Jean-Guy Bienfait,<br />
Editor-in-Chief: Richard Barnes, Art Director: Hélène Beunat. With the participation of: Bettina Badon, Nathalie Meissner<br />
• Printing: Möller Druck und Verlag, Berlin, Germany • On cover: © istockphoto, AleksandarNakic • Registration of Copyright March 2017<br />
Information presented in this publication is purely indicative in order to illustrate subjects contained therein. No guarantee can be given as to the accuracy of data or content at time<br />
of printing and thus the latter should not be used to professional or commercial ends. While all efforts have been made as to accuracy and pertinence of content and data contained<br />
in this publication, CLEVERDIS may in no case be held responsible for the consequences, whatever their nature may be, that may result from the interpretation of this data or content,<br />
or any eventual errors therein. All rights are reserved. Any reproduction of the content of this publication, even partial, by any procedure whatsoever, is strictly prohibited without the<br />
prior authorisation of the publisher. Any copy, whether by photography, photography film, magnetic tape, disc or other means constitutes a forgery, liable to punishment under French<br />
law under the legislation of 11 th March 1957 covering copyright. All brands cited in this publication are registered trade marks and/or belong to companies which are their respective<br />
proprietors. The publishers and editorial staff decline all responsibilty as to opinions formulated in this publication by those interviewed or cited therein. Their opinions are entirely<br />
their own, and are included with the understanding that they contain, to our knowledge, no malicious intent. The inclusion of all texts, photographs and other documents supplied by<br />
those included in the report imply the acceptance by their authors of their free publication therein. Documents and photgraphs are not returned. It should be understood that this<br />
publication contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could<br />
be deemed forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include assumptions relating to the timing of the record date. If any of these risks or uncertainties<br />
materialises or any of these assumptions proves incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the expectations outlined in these statements. Cleverdis assumes no obligation<br />
and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements during the period of publication. Photo Credits and Copyright: All Rights Reserved<br />
5. INTRODUCTION<br />
Diversifying <strong>France</strong>’s<br />
Tourism Offer<br />
Christian Mantei,<br />
CEO, <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong><br />
6. TRADE TALK<br />
How travel professionals from<br />
around the world see the “new<br />
dynamic” in <strong>France</strong><br />
8. STRATEGY<br />
Theme Holidays and<br />
Destinations Reloaded!<br />
10. THEME HOLIDAYS<br />
10. CRUISING<br />
11. WINE TOURISM<br />
12. ECOTOURISM<br />
13. GASTRONOMY<br />
14. CULTURAL TOURISM<br />
15. “SAVOIR-FAIRE TOURISM”<br />
16. NIGHTLIFE<br />
17. SUMMER IN THE<br />
MOUNTAINS<br />
18. DESTINATIONS RELOADED<br />
19. BRETAGNE<br />
19. MONT ST MICHEL<br />
20. LOUVRE-LENS<br />
20. THE LOIRE VALLEY<br />
21. NORMANDIE<br />
21. PARIS<br />
22. CHAMPAGNE<br />
22. BURGUNDY<br />
23. BORDEAUX<br />
23. LYON<br />
24. DORDOGNE<br />
24. BIARRITZ<br />
25. THE JURA<br />
25. THE VOSGES<br />
26. THE ALPS<br />
26. MONT BLANC<br />
27. AUVERGNE<br />
27. PYRÉNÉES<br />
28. PROVENCE<br />
28. CÔTE D’AZUR<br />
29. CORSICA<br />
29. FRENCH GUIANA<br />
30. OVERSEAS TERRITORIES<br />
31. CONCLUSION<br />
Jean-François Pieri,<br />
Managing Director,<br />
Cleverdis<br />
<strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover 3
INTRODUCTION<br />
Diversifying <strong>France</strong>’s<br />
Tourism Offer<br />
<strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong> CEO, Christian Mantei – on the organisation’s roadmap<br />
How is <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong> enhancing<br />
the diversity of the French offer<br />
to international visitors? We put<br />
the question to the organisation’s<br />
CEO, Christian Mantei.<br />
In recent years, we have promoted <strong>France</strong><br />
internationally through the prism of<br />
its various destination brands. Indeed,<br />
some of them already enjoy a very strong<br />
reputation, which, thanks notably to their<br />
strong digital footprint, can even top that<br />
of <strong>France</strong> itself in some countries: Paris,<br />
Bordeaux, Champagne, Provence, Alps -<br />
Mont Blanc... It’s a choice that enables us<br />
to develop all of the national territory and<br />
its various assets and thus to allow more<br />
destinations to benefit from the important<br />
tourism potential of our country.<br />
But we also wanted to bring new<br />
destinations to the attention of our<br />
visitors. This is why we came up with the<br />
idea of “destination contracts” currently<br />
applying to 22 places. This device brings<br />
together the key stakeholders in the same<br />
destination around a strategy for tourism<br />
development and a common goal. We<br />
support them in this process in terms of<br />
engineering, observation and promotion,<br />
so that they are able to accommodate<br />
visitors in the best possible conditions.<br />
<strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong>’s 30 international offices<br />
are developing their promotional actions<br />
around the development of global brands<br />
and territories thanks to the destination<br />
contracts and they have particularly high<br />
visibility on <strong>France</strong>’s tourism website:<br />
<strong>France</strong>.fr.<br />
How do you work with international travel<br />
professionals?<br />
As the primary advisors supporting a<br />
destination, tourism professionals are<br />
a priority target of our actions. <strong>Atout</strong><br />
<strong>France</strong>’s teams have a very strong<br />
relationship with them in all of the<br />
markets in which we operate. We also<br />
allow French professionals to benefit from<br />
these excellent relations by organising<br />
prospection in different countries, so that<br />
they can directly present their products to<br />
these choice travel advisors.<br />
Finally, we invite them several times per<br />
year to discover the French offer, notably<br />
organising increasingly popular BtoB<br />
shows in <strong>France</strong>; either generic or related<br />
to a theme (mountain/ski, wine tourism,<br />
etc.), enabling them, in just 2 days, to meet<br />
a maximum number of French suppliers.<br />
These meetings also allow for “fam tours”<br />
to a number of French destinations.<br />
What are the prospects for French<br />
tourism in 2017?<br />
In 2016, <strong>France</strong> welcomed nearly<br />
83 million international visitors (compared<br />
to 85 million in 2015 which was a record<br />
year), with a final quarter showing<br />
encouraging signs of recovery (+ 3.9%).<br />
The beginning of 2017 confirms this trend:<br />
International reservations, including from<br />
the most distant markets, are increasing,<br />
and prospects look good for the coming<br />
3-6 months.<br />
We are thus confident, and even more so<br />
with recent opening (cave of Lascaux IV in<br />
the Dordogne) and future openings (City<br />
of Music on the île Seguin, Arts Museum<br />
in Nantes, Palace Square in Avignon...)<br />
further energising the French offering.<br />
france.fr<br />
<strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover 5
TRADE TALK<br />
How travel professionals<br />
see the “new dyna<br />
Kay<br />
Ellison<br />
International Product<br />
& Contracting<br />
Executive, Thompsons,<br />
Johannesburg,<br />
South Africa<br />
Evelyne Gaudin<br />
Luxury Travel Advisor – En Route Travel –<br />
Santa Monica, CA, USA<br />
While travel advisors in the US continue to promote<br />
<strong>France</strong>, which has always been in the top five<br />
destinations in terms of popularity, it is important<br />
to have this new dynamic created by <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong><br />
in order to interest clients who may have already<br />
been – but are looking for something different.<br />
While Paris has been a main focus – often as “the<br />
world’s most popular tourist destination city”, we<br />
have to think of <strong>France</strong> as being something aside<br />
from Paris. What has been needed is training on<br />
other ideas and destinations in <strong>France</strong>. Of course,<br />
people know the Côte d’Azur, but there are so<br />
many other regions, like Brittany, Normandy, the<br />
Alps, and so on, that should be placed more “front<br />
of house” by agents. Then there is thematic travel.<br />
Wine culture is the number one theme, so we need<br />
to be designing more itineraries around the wine<br />
regions.<br />
Art is another key attraction, as well as existing<br />
beautiful regions like the Loire Valley, which<br />
travellers are not asking for so much anymore.<br />
An emerging market we are finding is that of river<br />
cruises, that give people a chance to discover the<br />
destination at another pace. Each region should be<br />
very honest when telling what they have to offer,<br />
and this is where I believe travel advisors will need<br />
more information. There is always room for more<br />
advisor training.<br />
With the growing worldwide trend for experiential travel, this<br />
initiative by <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong> will give us the tools to promote<br />
cultural events and exhibitions around <strong>France</strong>. While we<br />
already actively promote <strong>France</strong> as a tourist destination, we<br />
will now have additional material to accurately target special<br />
interest travellers and also broaden the experience of the<br />
average traveller.<br />
Andrea<br />
Heawon<br />
Park<br />
Sourcing Specialist,<br />
Interpark Corporation,<br />
Seoul, Korea<br />
As a travel trade professional, it<br />
is vital to understand the region<br />
and culture in order to approach<br />
potential clients. The main<br />
reason to travel could be to feel<br />
cultural heritage and difference<br />
in-depth, which could nourish<br />
one’s ability to understand<br />
others.<br />
With the initiatives of <strong>Atout</strong><br />
<strong>France</strong> and this “<strong>SMARTguide</strong>”,<br />
I could easily access what I<br />
would like to find out in French<br />
destinations and culture, and<br />
this leads me to persuade<br />
clients to decide to go to <strong>France</strong>.<br />
I believe that there’s nothing<br />
more important than sharing<br />
correct and detailed information<br />
in travel industry. Thank you to<br />
<strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong>, it will definitely<br />
assist me to bring more business<br />
to <strong>France</strong>, as one of the most<br />
favoured destination.”<br />
6 <strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover france.fr
from around the world<br />
mic” in <strong>France</strong><br />
Tim Hentschel<br />
CEO,<br />
HotelPlanner.com & Meetings.com,<br />
London,UK<br />
Rajesh<br />
Nambiar<br />
Executive Vice President,<br />
Ottila International,<br />
Mumbai, India<br />
This is an encouraging initiative from <strong>France</strong> to expose<br />
more of the deeper French culture and the elements<br />
that will give an authentic regional experience of<br />
<strong>France</strong>.<br />
The Government’s strategy can give clear guidelines to<br />
all the stakeholders – tourism boards, local community,<br />
attractions, accommodation providers, DMCs, etc.<br />
about their commitment, involvement and forward<br />
implementation.<br />
For Tour Operators like us promoting <strong>France</strong>, it is<br />
important that we get educated and understand which<br />
are the products and experiences which will appeal<br />
to our markets and develop communication and<br />
programmes accordingly. This is a long-term approach<br />
requiring consistency of efforts and co-operation<br />
between <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong> and its trade partners. This will<br />
definitely increase more niche-business to <strong>France</strong> in<br />
the coming years.<br />
<strong>France</strong> has always been a top group<br />
destination for us in Europe thanks<br />
to its rich history and culture. We’ve<br />
always found that the French Alps<br />
have been popular, as well as the<br />
Bordeaux wine country. Nice and<br />
Biarritz have always been popular,<br />
and of course Paris is one of the<br />
greatest cities in the world.<br />
Overall, <strong>France</strong> can compete with<br />
any country in the world thanks to its<br />
huge diversity of tourism offerings.<br />
It’s great now that <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong> is<br />
highlighting different places and<br />
themes, as this consequently gives<br />
us an opportunity to create a more<br />
dynamic and interesting offering for<br />
our clients.<br />
Each year, people are looking for<br />
something different – even if they’ve<br />
already been to a place – and I<br />
strongly believe that these efforts by<br />
<strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong> will do an important job<br />
in keeping this great nation top-ofmind<br />
when considering destinations<br />
for MICE activities.<br />
france.fr<br />
<strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover 7
STRATEGY<br />
Theme Holidays and Destin<br />
Tools at the service of Travel Agents and Tour<br />
Since the 1980’s, <strong>France</strong> has boasted of<br />
being the #1 global destination in terms<br />
of tourist arrivals. For many around the<br />
world, it’s a place that must be experienced<br />
at least once in a lifetime. In 2015, <strong>France</strong><br />
welcomed 84.5 million international visitors<br />
(a record) and 83 million in 2016, while<br />
the goal is to eventually host 100 million<br />
visitors by 2020.<br />
This success is of course due to the<br />
extremely positive image enjoyed by <strong>France</strong><br />
on the international scene. A strong image,<br />
which distinguishes this nation from other<br />
European destinations, but also thanks<br />
to the implementation of promotional<br />
material and professional training that<br />
aims to create a real “desire for <strong>France</strong>”<br />
among even the most demanding<br />
travellers. For this, the government has<br />
created what it terms “Pôles d’excellence”<br />
(promotion by themes) and “Destination<br />
Contracts”, aiming to promote key internal<br />
destinations that will add true value to the<br />
overall offering.<br />
HOW DOES IT WORK?<br />
The “Pôles d’Excellence” have a role of<br />
highlighting the best ways to experience<br />
and enjoy the destination in different ways.<br />
The following “theme holiday” ideas are<br />
thus officially being included as an official<br />
part of the promotional activity by <strong>Atout</strong><br />
<strong>France</strong>, the Government’s destination<br />
marketing organisation:<br />
cruising<br />
wine tourism<br />
eco-tourism, national parks, bike routes<br />
gastronomy<br />
iconic cultural heritage,<br />
a living heritage: capital of fashion,<br />
design, festivals, major expos...<br />
night tourism<br />
mountain tourism<br />
They specifically highlight the major<br />
vectors of tourism in <strong>France</strong> and help<br />
answer the first question: Why <strong>France</strong>?<br />
In parallel to this, “destinations reloaded”<br />
(Destination Contracts) efficiently<br />
complement the arsenal of tools that add<br />
to the diversity of the French offer. These<br />
are in line with the “destination brands”, a<br />
great promotional success story driven by<br />
<strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong> for several years, launching<br />
veritable global brands with a reputation<br />
abroad that even exceeds that of the <strong>France</strong><br />
itself in some countries. Champagne,<br />
Bordeaux, Alps Mont Blanc, Provence,<br />
Biarritz... their names often lead one to<br />
dream… and the experiences they offer<br />
add to <strong>France</strong>’s brand thanks to their<br />
uniqueness.<br />
These 16 “destination brands” have been a<br />
key general promotional vector for <strong>France</strong><br />
for several years and can offer visitors a<br />
multitude of experiences:<br />
Skiing or hiking in the Alps,<br />
Staying at a winery in Bordeaux or<br />
Burgundy and becoming initiated in<br />
oenology,<br />
Golfing in Biarritz and the Basque<br />
country,<br />
Relaxing with a “wellness” holiday in<br />
Brittany,<br />
Discovering the monuments and<br />
museums of <strong>France</strong>’s cities,<br />
Attending a festival or major sporting<br />
event,<br />
Discovering regional specialities or dining<br />
at the table of a “starred” chef...<br />
On the basis of this experience and<br />
this success, <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong> has created<br />
“Destination Contracts”, which allow<br />
to develop new territories, to continue<br />
this momentum and thus bring new<br />
destinations to attract international<br />
visitors.<br />
There are currently 22 such “destinations<br />
reloaded” that are especially designed<br />
to help professionals respond to the<br />
8 <strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover france.fr
ations Reloaded!<br />
Operators<br />
TRAVEL<br />
PROFESSIONALS<br />
ARE AT THE<br />
HEART OF THE<br />
CONCERNS OF<br />
ATOUT FRANCE<br />
growing expectations of their clients for<br />
authenticity, new experiences within the<br />
destination itself and revealing the different<br />
faces of <strong>France</strong>.<br />
A Destination Contract brings public and<br />
private stakeholders together from the<br />
same destination in order to pool human<br />
and financial means, search for economies<br />
of scale… and this over several years. It<br />
simultaneously covers the structuring<br />
and development of tourism, the quality<br />
of hospitality, promotion on one or several<br />
markets as well as a process of collective<br />
intelligence.<br />
A GREAT ONLINE PORTAL<br />
These two exceptional tools benefit from<br />
the incredible “booster” effect of france.fr,<br />
the internet portal of destination <strong>France</strong>,<br />
created in 2015.<br />
A true showcase of French tourism, the<br />
site allows users from around the world to<br />
find all information on the experiences to<br />
live in <strong>France</strong> and its various destinations,<br />
and this, in 17 languages in the 31 markets<br />
covered by the international network of the<br />
operator.<br />
Specifically highlighted on the site:<br />
global brands and destinations reloaded,<br />
discovery themes (culture, gastronomy,<br />
shopping, well-being, etc.)<br />
major events that bring a destination to<br />
life,<br />
and of course the practical information<br />
on travelling to and around <strong>France</strong> in the<br />
best conditions.<br />
Content from the france.fr site is regularly<br />
relayed on social networks managed by<br />
the agency (more than 5 million followers)<br />
- another key element in the strategy of<br />
<strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong>.<br />
At the same time, <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong> collaborates<br />
very closely with embassies in all its<br />
markets, allowing it to conduct promotions<br />
in 70 countries. To this end, <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong><br />
conducts around 3,000 actions annually<br />
to promote “destinations reloaded” and<br />
theme holidays.<br />
The multichannel marketing strategy of<br />
<strong>France</strong>’s tourism development agency aims<br />
both to raise awareness among the general<br />
public (campaigns, press inserts, actions<br />
on social networks, e-newsletters...)<br />
and the press / influencers through<br />
conferences and the hosting of journalists<br />
and bloggers...<br />
Travel professionals are at the heart<br />
of the concerns of <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong> who<br />
organise workshops for the presentation of<br />
destinations, during which the organisation<br />
promotes meetings between French<br />
suppliers and travel agents from around<br />
the world. <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong> is also present<br />
at shows, conducts its own events and<br />
organises regular fam tours in <strong>France</strong>.<br />
france.fr<br />
<strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover 9
THEME HOLIDAYS / CRUISING<br />
Cruising<br />
FRANCE, MARITIME CRUISE<br />
DESTINATION<br />
<strong>France</strong> is known for both its<br />
design and construction of ships,<br />
a healthy outbound market and<br />
as a host destination for cruises.<br />
<strong>France</strong> counts 32 maritime cruise<br />
destinations offering 84 ports of call.<br />
Marseille is the #1 port with more<br />
than 945,000 annual passengers,<br />
followed by Noumea, Cannes and<br />
Ajaccio, which each received between<br />
300,000 and 350,000 passengers in<br />
2015.<br />
RIVER CRUISES: THE MOST<br />
EXTENSIVE WATERWAY NETWORK<br />
IN EUROPE<br />
<strong>France</strong> boasts the longest navigable<br />
river network in Europe with 8,500<br />
km of waterways. To this can be<br />
added barge-hotels and houseboat<br />
rentals without a licence. Holidays<br />
combining biking and boating, are<br />
also increasingly popular.<br />
MARSEILLE’S<br />
MUCEM<br />
WELCOMES<br />
CRUISE<br />
PASSENGERS<br />
FROM AROUND<br />
THE WORLD<br />
At the entrance to the old Port,<br />
Marseille’s MuCEM (Museum of<br />
civilisations of Europe and the<br />
Mediterranean) is a “must”. Over the<br />
centuries, this has been a place of<br />
passage for countless travellers, but<br />
while it is strongly anchored in the past,<br />
MuCEM is also above all a witness to<br />
the present. A true heritage complex, it<br />
spans 40,000 square meters and houses<br />
no less than a million works, objects<br />
and documents. Beginning with the<br />
history of Mediterranean civilisations<br />
from the Neolithic period, it takes us up<br />
to the present day through the Gallery of<br />
the Mediterranean, a semi-permanent<br />
exhibition space. Varied programming<br />
also involves discussions, performances<br />
and film screenings.<br />
By the Mediterranean sea,<br />
the MuCEM, inaugurated<br />
in 2013, is linked to the<br />
Fort Saint Jean<br />
© Catout-<strong>France</strong> Robert Palomba<br />
USPs<br />
• Caters to all types of clients<br />
(couples, families, seniors).<br />
• Ease of access and connections.<br />
• Dynamic excursions “off the beaten<br />
path”.<br />
KEY FIGURES<br />
<strong>France</strong> has the second maritime<br />
territory in the world.<br />
The Mediterranean is<br />
the #1 French cruise<br />
region with 2.16 million<br />
passenger arrivals in stopovers and<br />
557,000 departing passengers.<br />
8,500 km of fluvial waterways<br />
“IMPRESSIONIST” CRUISES<br />
To discover Normandy in a different way<br />
and enjoy some romantic moments, what<br />
better than a cruise on the Seine? During<br />
the Honfleur musical and impressionistic<br />
cruise in Rouen, a guide relives the history<br />
of Impressionism on the Seine, with, as a<br />
background, music from their time of the<br />
Impressionists.<br />
A discovery cruise of Rouen on the other<br />
hand allows one to navigate the most<br />
beautiful loop of the river Seine, in the<br />
midst of scenery that inspired the great<br />
Impressionists. It is also possible to take<br />
a cruise by outboard boat, Mastercraft<br />
or Cape Camarat, in order to appreciate<br />
the beauty of the Seine in a different<br />
way: pass the locks, discover the chalk<br />
cliffs and the cave habitats, admire the<br />
surrounding valley while the off barge<br />
that characterises the region’s economic<br />
wealth glides by.<br />
Seine valley<br />
© Rouen Vallée de la Seine<br />
10 <strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover france.fr
THEME HOLIDAYS / WINE TOURISM<br />
<strong>France</strong>’s<br />
top<br />
growing<br />
regions<br />
reveal their<br />
secrets<br />
At the cross-roads of cultural and<br />
gastronomic tourism, wine tourism<br />
allows the visitor to discover<br />
outstanding French wines, visit<br />
the vineyards and to meet the<br />
winegrowers.<br />
Bordeaux, Champagne, Burgundy...<br />
just some examples of names that<br />
have made <strong>France</strong> so famous on the<br />
international stage when it comes to<br />
wine. French wines are renowned<br />
globally for their quality and<br />
diversity, and are indeed one of the<br />
key attractions of this nation, also<br />
thanks to the breathtaking beauty of<br />
its winegrowing regions.<br />
ALSACE: A LAND OF VINEYARDS AND<br />
TRADITIONS FOR MAKING FAMOUS WINES<br />
The vineyards of Alsace offer a range<br />
of exceptional wines. Rich in history<br />
and architecture and boasting a unique<br />
landscape, they hold a range of varied<br />
events all year round.<br />
Protected by the natural barrier of the<br />
Vosges Mountains, the vineyards of<br />
Alsace benefit from a unique climate<br />
and a variety of different grape-growing<br />
districts. The Alsace Wine Route,<br />
one of the oldest in <strong>France</strong>, crosses<br />
different wine districts. Whether on<br />
foot, along the vineyard tracks and<br />
discovery walking routes, or by bike on<br />
the Vineyards Cycle-way, trips through<br />
the wine districts reveal the work of the<br />
winegrowers and the art of the Alsace<br />
wines. Meetings with winegrowers and<br />
wine tasting along the way pleasantly<br />
punctuate a walk or ride through this<br />
land of traditions and wines.<br />
© Zvardon conseil - Vins d’Alsace<br />
© Julia Hasse<br />
USPs<br />
The quality of the wines,<br />
Diversity of terroirs,<br />
Unique expertise underlined by the<br />
recent ranking of the vineyards of<br />
Burgundy and Champagne on the<br />
UNESCO world heritage list.<br />
• Dedicated website<br />
visitfrenchwine.fr<br />
“LES VISITES HENNESSY”:<br />
THE 360° COGNAC EXPERIENCE<br />
KEY FIGURES<br />
10,000 cellars<br />
More than 10,000 cellars open to the<br />
public in <strong>France</strong>.<br />
7.5 million<br />
visitors each year -<br />
including 3 million international<br />
visitors.<br />
A world leader in Cognac, Hennessy has<br />
reinvented its visitor tours, offering a<br />
dynamic and multi-sensorial experience.<br />
Les Visites Hennessy offer five different<br />
types of visits, responding to all tastes<br />
and requirements, ranging from discovery<br />
tours lasting one and a half hours, for<br />
novices, to a full day behind the scenes of<br />
the company, for connoisseurs.<br />
A cruise on the Charente River provides<br />
an unusual start to the new Hennessy<br />
tours at Cognac. Experts welcome the<br />
visitor on board for a private visit in a<br />
small group to the heart of the Hennessy<br />
universe. Refined, aesthetic and inspiring,<br />
this new tour, which follows the rhythms<br />
of the making of cognac, stimulates<br />
the sensations, between surprise and<br />
enchantment. The only producer to have<br />
a Tasting Committee, Hennessy opens the<br />
doors to its workshop where you discover<br />
the secrets and different stages of the<br />
production of Cognac.<br />
france.fr<br />
<strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover 11
THEME HOLIDAYS / ECOTOURISM<br />
Ecotourism<br />
Far from the madding crowd, an<br />
increasing number of international<br />
tourists are seeking an authentic,<br />
responsible holiday, bringing them<br />
closer to nature. They are looking<br />
for alternate means of transport,<br />
and are happy to take their time to<br />
discover the diversity of <strong>France</strong>’s<br />
regions and to meet and mingle with<br />
the locals.<br />
USPs<br />
• Diversity of <strong>France</strong>’s countryside,<br />
adding to the quality and<br />
importance of ecotourism circuits;<br />
• 80% of <strong>France</strong> remains rural: a<br />
veritable natural asset;<br />
• Numerous forms of tourism<br />
are centred on “soft” itineraries<br />
(cycling, hiking or on horseback),<br />
privileging accommodation in close<br />
proximity with the nature and local<br />
populations.<br />
KEY FIGURES<br />
More than<br />
10,000 km<br />
of cycle-ways and green-ways<br />
(up to 21,000 km of itineraries<br />
by 2020).<br />
65,000 km of<br />
long-distance<br />
hiking trails<br />
and 115,000 km of walking<br />
and hiking tracks.<br />
2,500<br />
establishments and<br />
associations catering for equestrian<br />
tourism and 350 centres officially<br />
recognised by the French Equestrian<br />
Federation.<br />
© P.Forget - CRT Centre-Val de Loire<br />
10 NATIONAL PARKS<br />
Recognised on an international level<br />
as of territories of exception, <strong>France</strong>’s<br />
national parks embody excellence in the<br />
preservation of biodiversity. They offer a<br />
combination of outstanding land and sea<br />
areas and constitute spaces that bring<br />
together exceptional natural, cultural<br />
and landscape heritage.<br />
The Mercantour national park owes<br />
the diversity of its landscapes and the<br />
richness of its natural and cultural<br />
heritage to its unique geographic<br />
location, at the crossroads of the Ligurian<br />
influences: alpine, Mediterranean and<br />
Provencal. The territory of the national<br />
park, which runs from its landlocked<br />
valleys to the metropolis of Nice, boasts<br />
nearly 8,200 living species.<br />
Blois<br />
“Loire à Vélo” is a unique, already muchtravelled<br />
itinerary. Highly accessible and<br />
easy to ride, it alternates between quiet<br />
roads, green ways, no-thoroughfare<br />
lanes, cycle tracks and paths that overall<br />
include 300 stopping places for cycle<br />
tourists. Loire à Vélo takes the rider<br />
through the Loire Valley (included on<br />
the World Heritage Listing as a living<br />
cultural landscape), a harmonious<br />
alliance between mankind and nature. The<br />
châteaux, towns and villages, the river and<br />
its culture, winegrowing and gastronomy<br />
all fit perfectly into this magnificent<br />
landscape.<br />
National parks (la Vanoise, Port-Cros,<br />
the Pyrénées, the Cévennes, the Ecrins,<br />
the Mercantour, Guadeloupe, Reunion<br />
Island, Guyana and the Calanques) cover<br />
varied land and sea areas and represent<br />
almost 9.5% of French territory (60,728<br />
km²). Every year, they attract more than<br />
8.5 million visitors.<br />
Parc national du Mercantour<br />
“LOIRE À VÉLO”:<br />
A 800KM<br />
FREEWHEELING<br />
CRUISE<br />
BIVOUACKING<br />
IN CYCLING SHELTERS<br />
On the “Loire à Vélo” cycling trail, 12<br />
campsites offer cyclists the chance to stay<br />
over for a night in an amazing hut on stilts<br />
with breakfast included!<br />
This simple and cheap form of<br />
accommodation, made of sustainable<br />
materials (wood and canvas), provides the<br />
basic needs of travelling cyclists with a<br />
comfortable sleeping space.<br />
© Nico4nicolas<br />
12 <strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover france.fr
THEME HOLIDAYS / GASTRONOMY<br />
Gastronomy<br />
French gastronomy remains a<br />
«flagship» of global cuisine; a<br />
benchmark of excellence and rigor.<br />
It’s a savvy blend of heritage and<br />
know-how, an expression of human<br />
creativity resulting from the alliance,<br />
assembly or sublimation of flavours,<br />
with wonderful harmony between<br />
wines and dishes. Each region of<br />
<strong>France</strong> invites the visitor to enjoy<br />
its specialities through moments of<br />
sharing and conviviality, in the image<br />
of French gastronomy, inscribed on<br />
UNESCO’s intangible heritage list of<br />
humanity since 2010.<br />
USPs<br />
GOÛT DE / GOOD FRANCE<br />
BRINGS TOGETHER 2,000 CHEFS,<br />
2,000 MENUS, ON 5 CONTINENTS<br />
Orchestrated by the Ministry of<br />
Foreign Affairs and Development<br />
and the chef Alain Ducasse, Gout de<br />
/ Good <strong>France</strong> brings together up to<br />
2000 restaurants in 150 countries<br />
to celebrate French gastronomy on<br />
March 21, every year since 2015. In<br />
each participating restaurant, the<br />
event, in the form of a dinner, pays<br />
tribute to the excellence of French<br />
cuisine, its capacity for innovation<br />
and the values it conveys: sharing,<br />
pleasure, and the respect of “eating<br />
well”, one’s contemporaries and<br />
the planet.<br />
• French gastronomy, a centuriesold<br />
legacy: in <strong>France</strong>, the history<br />
of gastronomy dates back to the<br />
Gauls, who developed a cult of<br />
good food and drink that has been<br />
perpetuated over the centuries.<br />
• A cuisine that’s constantly evolving:<br />
new trends, creativity of the chefs,<br />
new cooking methods catering for<br />
globalised tastes, and support for<br />
sustainable development.<br />
• French “art de vivre”: holidays<br />
enriched by meetings with<br />
producers at the local markets or<br />
with French chefs who, on a daily<br />
basis, transmit their passion and<br />
love of their profession.<br />
KEY FIGURES<br />
158,500 restaurants<br />
and cafés<br />
57% of “gastronomes”<br />
prefer merchant hosting or staying<br />
with friends or family (as opposed to<br />
37% of the total population)<br />
52% of “gastronomes”<br />
prefer long holidays<br />
DIJON:<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
CITY OF<br />
GASTRONOMY<br />
& WINE OPENS<br />
IN 2019<br />
Future International<br />
City of Gastronomy & Wine<br />
2019 will mark a turning point in the history<br />
of Dijon, capital of Burgundy. The year will see<br />
the opening of a remarkable new 600-hectare<br />
urban complex including cultural and<br />
tourism-related facilities (shops, restaurants,<br />
bars & hotel), an eco-district and a cinema<br />
complex, the CIGV, being built at a cost of<br />
around 200 million Euros.<br />
It is on the historic site of the old general<br />
hospital in Dijon edified in the 16th, 17th and<br />
18th centuries that these cultural activities<br />
will take place. Excellent accommodation<br />
will be just as much a part of the scenery, as<br />
a 4-star hotel of 125 rooms will be located<br />
in historic buildings located just south of the<br />
site.<br />
france.fr<br />
<strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover 13
THEME HOLIDAYS / CULTURAL TOURISM<br />
Cultural<br />
Tourism<br />
CARCASSONNE<br />
2 WORLD HERITAGE SITES<br />
Discover the most beautiful<br />
treasures offered by an exceptional<br />
cultural destination, <strong>France</strong>: from<br />
tourist sites and monuments to<br />
museums and exhibitions, a myriad<br />
of theatre, concert and dance<br />
seasons, new generation museum<br />
spaces and exceptional parks and<br />
gardens. <strong>France</strong>’s cultural sites are<br />
places where art and culture come<br />
to life: visit a museum, attend a<br />
festival, visit an exhibition, follow in<br />
the footsteps of famous people... By<br />
night or by day, heritage and culture<br />
are there for the taking during one’s<br />
trip to <strong>France</strong>.<br />
The Medieval City of Carcassonne<br />
(3rd – 14th centuries) is the largest<br />
medieval site in Europe on the UNESCO<br />
World Heritage list. Built over the<br />
ruins of a roman fortress, the “Cité” of<br />
Carcassonne became famous during the<br />
crusades against the heretics, when the<br />
city was one of the headquarters of<br />
Occitan Cathars. Nowadays, behind<br />
the walls composed by a double<br />
ring of ramparts and 52 towers and<br />
barbicans, the castle sits overlooking<br />
the surrounding area. The Old City offers<br />
visitors an intricate network of narrow<br />
streets with small terraces, quaint cafés,<br />
charming restaurants and hotels as well<br />
as numerous cultural events throughout<br />
the year.<br />
Near the Bastide Saint-Louis, the Canal<br />
du Midi, built in the 17th century to link<br />
the Atlantic and Mediterranean, flows<br />
through a region steeped in history. A<br />
boating holiday on the Canal du Midi is a<br />
unique experience to find “serenity”.<br />
© <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong> - Nathalie Baetens<br />
USPs<br />
• A myriad of cultural sites that tell<br />
the story of <strong>France</strong>.<br />
• The “French National Monuments”<br />
organisation is in charge of nearly<br />
100 monuments all over <strong>France</strong> –<br />
castles, abbeys, pre-historic caves<br />
and archaeological sites – and<br />
manages world-famous sites that<br />
are registered on the UNESCO<br />
World Heritage list.<br />
• A huge choice of places where art<br />
and culture come to life<br />
MANKIND IS<br />
EVOLVING –<br />
AT THE MUSÉE<br />
DE L’HOMME<br />
IN PARIS<br />
A journey through the<br />
discovery of Mankind,<br />
from its origins to its<br />
future<br />
The Galerie de l’Homme<br />
© MNHN - Jean-Christophe Domenech<br />
KEY FIGURESS<br />
Over 40,000 monuments<br />
and protected sites<br />
41 cultural sites classified<br />
by UNESCO<br />
8,000 museums<br />
Nearly 500 festivals<br />
The Musée de l’Homme presents<br />
prehistoric, biological and cultural<br />
anthropology collections all in the same<br />
place, as well as being a centre for<br />
teaching and research on the evolution<br />
of Mankind and society. The exhibition<br />
draws on priceless collections: fossils<br />
of Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon men,<br />
Paleolithic statuettes, anatomical waxmodels...<br />
The prehistoric and anthropologic<br />
collections at the Musée de l’Homme in<br />
Paris are among the largest in the world.<br />
You will find both elements of knowledge<br />
and understanding, and also discover<br />
that other cultures have different<br />
approaches to these questions, different<br />
reflections on our cultures, and other<br />
responses to them.<br />
A PLACE TO DEBATE,<br />
AN OPEN SPACE FOR ALL<br />
This privileged place addresses the<br />
major questions of Human Science<br />
today. Enjoy vast areas of exchange and<br />
activities: atrium, auditorium, resource<br />
centre, and educational workshops.<br />
14 <strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover france.fr
THEME HOLIDAYS / “SAVOIR-FAIRE TOURISM”<br />
“Savoirfaire”<br />
Tourism<br />
Marseille’s soaps, Limoge’s<br />
porcelain, perfumes of Provence,<br />
Guérande sea salt or the collections<br />
of the fashion houses in Paris…<br />
just some random examples of the<br />
immense diversity of French knowhow,<br />
or “savoir-faire”. With <strong>France</strong>’s<br />
reputation for excellence already<br />
renowned around the globe and<br />
the image of <strong>France</strong> as a nation of<br />
luxury and “art de vivre”, greatly<br />
contributing to the nation’s appeal,<br />
many a visitor comes today to<br />
investigate the techniques, skills,<br />
traditions and functions of a craft or<br />
industrial sector; through workshop<br />
and enterprise visits.<br />
USPs<br />
• Caters to all types of travellers:<br />
individual and groups, young and old,<br />
groups of friends and family guests.<br />
• Very broad diversity of the sectors of<br />
activity concerned and geographical<br />
locations.<br />
• An authentic experience, including<br />
discovery of the territory and<br />
encounters with the locals; an<br />
original and lively way to discover<br />
<strong>France</strong>.<br />
HARVESTING SALT FROM THE SEA<br />
Welcome to the heart of the salt marshes,<br />
where professionals take you discover<br />
how the famous Guérande salt forms and<br />
is harvested. The guides – salt workers<br />
themselves – speak with a passion for<br />
their work and offer 15 different tours<br />
according to the desires of the visitor:<br />
family walks for all ages, guided theme<br />
EDF –<br />
MARCKOLSHEIM<br />
HYDRAULIC POWER<br />
STATION<br />
walks, hiking in the heart of the Marais...<br />
Meeting with a “paludier” (salt worker)<br />
proud of his “flower of salt”, sharing<br />
recipes, or walking with a naturalist<br />
guide - great connoisseur of edible plants<br />
and an expert on birds - who come by the<br />
thousands to the Guerande peninsula…<br />
All moments of sharing.<br />
© CRTB - BOURCIER Simon<br />
KEY FIGURESS<br />
French art workshops and<br />
businesses attract more than<br />
12-million visitors each<br />
year, including one million<br />
foreigners.<br />
In 2012, more than 5,000<br />
companies opened their<br />
doors to the public in<br />
<strong>France</strong>. Among them, half are open<br />
to the public throughout the year.<br />
Craft work represents about<br />
20% of visits.<br />
Situated on the Rhine, Markolsheim was,<br />
in 1961, the first “garland” hydroelectric<br />
development (the dam, locks and<br />
hydroelectric plant placed along a short<br />
deviation of the River, and not on its main<br />
course).<br />
The façade of the plant displays a fresco<br />
by the Alsatian artist Daniel Diminsky and<br />
in its engine room we find a monumental<br />
fresco by Paul Clair. Outside, a gazebo<br />
allows operators to overlook the locks,<br />
through which around 16,000 boats pass<br />
per year. Lifting one’s eyes skywards,<br />
Falcons Kestrels, Jackdaw and Swallows<br />
can be seen nesting in the station’s<br />
buildings...<br />
The visit allows the visitor to understand<br />
the history of the development of the<br />
Rhine -- how hydroelectric operation<br />
and navigation can live side-by-side, and<br />
to learn more about the environmental<br />
measures being deployed by EDF (#1<br />
producer of electricity in <strong>France</strong> – and the<br />
world), to protect the biodiversity of the<br />
river and the island of Marckolsheim.<br />
france.fr<br />
<strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover 15
THEME HOLIDAYS / NIGHTLIFE<br />
Nightlife<br />
Good Night? …<br />
Sure Was!<br />
From the masquerade parties<br />
of yesteryear to the Cancan of<br />
the cabarets, Guinguettes on the<br />
banks of the Marne, the ferias<br />
of the southwest, from the bus<br />
palladium to the white nights, <strong>France</strong><br />
has distinguished itself over the<br />
centuries by the wealth and diversity<br />
of its nocturnal activities.<br />
The offering in terms of nightlife is<br />
today extremely varied, with halls<br />
of international renown or the<br />
hybrid venue – a blend of coffee<br />
house, restaurant, show stage and<br />
exhibition hall, offering a festive and<br />
cultural spectacle - from the concert<br />
halls to the countless clubs across<br />
the nation.<br />
“NUITS SONORES” FESTIVAL IN LYON<br />
A celebration of electronic music, the<br />
“nuits sonores” (sound nights) bring<br />
together in Lyon, for 5 days and 4 nights,<br />
DJs from <strong>France</strong> and around the world.<br />
This is the #1 French festival of<br />
independent electronic music, and it<br />
is also an important European event.<br />
In unusual places, through the streets,<br />
night or day, Lyon vibrates to the sound<br />
of electronic music. Meeting, sharing,<br />
discovery and musical festivity are on<br />
the programme of this celebration which<br />
makes a point of maintaining a spirit of<br />
urban conviviality, with “audio aperitifs”,<br />
“sound naps”, electronic circuits and<br />
the discovery of emerging regional and<br />
international artists, with the Village des<br />
Nuits Sonores offering countless free<br />
events.<br />
Family friendly events include the Sunday<br />
Park - open to all, closing the festival<br />
in an affable atmosphere. There’s also<br />
a “Mini Sonores” Festival for the young<br />
ones.<br />
USPs<br />
• An abundant offer of excellent<br />
quality, both in Paris and provincial<br />
zones<br />
• A French night offering that is both<br />
festive and cultural<br />
• Quality of venues (set design,<br />
design, architecture) which makes<br />
<strong>France</strong> an international reference<br />
in the field<br />
KEY FIGURESS<br />
150,000 restaurants<br />
and 45,000 bars,<br />
cafés and clubs<br />
1,425 festivals<br />
organised each year<br />
LA BELLEVILLOISE:<br />
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, CULTURAL<br />
MIX AND AVANT-GARDE<br />
The Bellevilloise was originally the first<br />
Parisian cooperative founded in 1877<br />
aiming to give modest people access to<br />
political and cultural education.<br />
Since its reopening, La Bellevilloise, an<br />
independent and multidisciplinary Parisian<br />
centre of culture, installed in the former<br />
“maison du peuple” (house of the people),<br />
dedicates more than 2,000 m² to all forms<br />
of expressions and practices: innovative<br />
artistic approaches, new cultural and<br />
social practices, presentations, but also<br />
festive media ideas and creations...<br />
With concerts, shows, exhibitions,<br />
projections, parades, but also a club and<br />
a café, places to meet and exchange, the<br />
Bellevilloise plunges the visitor into the<br />
culture of Paris.<br />
It is also a place of architectural heritage, as<br />
an open stage to the local neighbourhood,<br />
not forgetting the restaurant’s “olive tree<br />
hall” and its panoramic terrace overlooking<br />
the capital...<br />
16 <strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover france.fr
THEME HOLIDAYS / SUMMER IN THE MOUNTAINS<br />
Summer<br />
in the<br />
Mountains<br />
Far-reaching landscapes, clean air,<br />
natural heritage, local gastronomy...<br />
<strong>France</strong>’s Mountain regions offer a<br />
huge number of opportunities for<br />
summer activities when it comes to<br />
resting and relaxing.<br />
The diversity of the countryside and<br />
leisure activities on offer add to the<br />
appeal, encouraging international<br />
tourists to stay longer.<br />
USPs<br />
• Clear differentiation between<br />
different mountain regions,<br />
attracting a great diversity of<br />
clients;<br />
• Highly developed infrastructure<br />
and excellent accommodation<br />
capacity;<br />
• A rich cultural and festive offering,<br />
in perpetual development.<br />
WATER, SKY OR LAND - SUMMER<br />
FOR EVERYONE IN THE PYRENEES<br />
Rafting, trout fishing, paragliding, via<br />
ferrata, mountain biking and little tourist<br />
trains - the Pyrenees has something for<br />
everyone in the summer.<br />
One can go rafting, canyoning, or try<br />
“hydrospeed” in one of the numerous wild<br />
rivers: Neste d’Aure, the Gave de Pau, the<br />
Défilé de la Pierre-Lys in the Aude area,<br />
or the Nive in the Basque country. For<br />
lovers of land-based activities, there are<br />
sporty adventures with a mountain bike<br />
on mountain trails, petrifying descents<br />
on reconverted ski slopes or climbing<br />
trails to some of <strong>France</strong>’s most beautiful<br />
locations. Via ferrata proposes thrilling<br />
sensations, with vertiginous overhangs.<br />
And one mustn’t forget the little trains,<br />
“Au Bonheur des Mômes”<br />
such as La Rhune which celebrated its<br />
90 th anniversary in 2014, the Artouste in<br />
the Ossau valley, or the incomparable<br />
Train Jaune - the famous “Canary”: 63<br />
kilometres and a 1,200-metre ascent,<br />
passing through the Bolquère station at<br />
an altitude of 1,592 metres.<br />
KEY FIGURESS<br />
Each year, <strong>France</strong>’s<br />
mountain regions attract<br />
€5bn in tourist<br />
investments.<br />
These regions welcome<br />
more than<br />
30 million hotel<br />
nights annually,<br />
including more than 8 million nights<br />
for foreign visitors.<br />
To this, one can add<br />
9.7 million nights<br />
in open-air<br />
accommodation<br />
and 3.7 million international clients<br />
in mountain B&Bs.<br />
FUN FOR KIDS AT GRAND-BORNAND<br />
In the heart of the Massif of Aravis, Haute-<br />
Savoie, located in le Grand-Bornand, we<br />
find an authentic mountain village of 400<br />
century-old chalets located on the great<br />
Alpine road. In summer, this station hosts<br />
the traditional “Au Bonheur des Mômes”<br />
(happiness of the kids) festival, the first<br />
such cultural event in Europe dedicated to<br />
young audiences.<br />
From one edition to another, the festival<br />
continues its exploration of the fabulous<br />
creative possibilities on offer for young<br />
audiences and opens its horizons to other<br />
artistic disciplines. If this festival is like no<br />
other, it’s because it ignores prejudices,<br />
celebrating cultural diversity in all its<br />
forms while keeping a festive spirit.<br />
In addition, workshops, exhibitions,<br />
entertainment, games and children’s<br />
books are all part of the fun... 6 days of<br />
amusement for all the family!<br />
france.fr<br />
<strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover 17
Top French destinations<br />
DESTINATIONS RELOADED<br />
The Channel<br />
Louvre-<br />
Lens<br />
(p20)<br />
Brittany<br />
(p19)<br />
Mont<br />
Saint-Michel<br />
(p19)<br />
Normandy<br />
(p21)<br />
Loire<br />
Valley (p20)<br />
Paris<br />
(p21)<br />
Champagne<br />
(p22)<br />
The Vosges<br />
Mountains (p25)<br />
Burgundy<br />
(p22)<br />
The Jura<br />
(p25)<br />
The<br />
Destination<br />
contracts<br />
Atlantic Ocean<br />
The Dordogne<br />
Bordeaux Valley<br />
(p23)<br />
(p24)<br />
Biarritz<br />
(p24)<br />
Pyrénées<br />
(p27)<br />
Auvergne<br />
(P 27)<br />
Lyon<br />
(p23)<br />
Provence<br />
(p28)<br />
Mont Blanc<br />
(p26)<br />
Alps<br />
(p26)<br />
Côte<br />
d’Azur<br />
(p28)<br />
Mediterranean<br />
Sea<br />
Corsica<br />
(p29)<br />
French<br />
Guiana<br />
(p29)<br />
The islands<br />
of Guadeloupe<br />
Martinique<br />
The island<br />
of La Réunion<br />
Tahiti and its<br />
islands New Caledonia St Martin<br />
Destinations Reloaded<br />
With the signing of “destination contracts”<br />
with the French Government, no less than<br />
22 internal destinations, covering the<br />
entire territory, are working towards a<br />
harmonisation and coordination of efforts in<br />
order to greatly improve their promotion on<br />
the world stage.<br />
Authenticity, discovery and sharing are at<br />
the heart of this new tourism paradigm that<br />
will result in a “reloaded” understanding or<br />
viewpoint of these destinations, covering<br />
the amazing diversity of their offering with<br />
a honing of information in such a way that<br />
travel professionals can “cut through the<br />
clutter” and get a clear picture of what<br />
they can sell and how they can sell it.<br />
Consequently, travellers will be better<br />
served as their desires will be matched with<br />
a great deal more precision.<br />
The following pages are a foretaste.<br />
18 <strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover france.fr
Brittany: an Open<br />
Gate to the Atlantic<br />
® Kanuman shutterstock<br />
Spectacular seascapes,<br />
intimate bays, welcoming<br />
valleys, spellbinding moors<br />
and groves, and the sensual<br />
lines of vast dunes... the<br />
scenery changes at every<br />
turn. Here, earth and the<br />
sea are interwoven, as are<br />
open spaces and human<br />
activity, infinity and softness.<br />
The Breton soul is reflected<br />
in its contrasts. This wealth,<br />
which feeds the imagination<br />
and the local dynamism, is<br />
carefully protected.<br />
AN INCREDIBLY<br />
VARIED COASTLINE<br />
With a total of 1,772 km<br />
coastline, Brittany presents<br />
a remarkable variety of<br />
seaside landscapes: rocky<br />
cliffs, sandy or pebble<br />
beaches, islands, salt<br />
USPs<br />
marshes and estuaries. A<br />
land of myth and folklore,<br />
this is also a region whose<br />
forests rustle to legends<br />
such as King Arthur and the<br />
Knights of the Round Table<br />
and Merlin the enchanter.<br />
From the Emerald Coast<br />
to the Gulf of Morbihan,<br />
passing by the fortress city<br />
of Saint-Malo, the superb<br />
resort town of Dinard, the<br />
Aber Ildut, which is the<br />
dividing line between the<br />
channel and the Atlantic<br />
Ocean, the Iroise sea<br />
and its many islands, the<br />
Harbour of Brest, the bay<br />
of Douarnenez, or Carnac<br />
and its lines of dolmens<br />
and menhirs… there are<br />
countless opportunities for<br />
adventure and discovery.<br />
• Extremely varied coastal scenery punctuated with<br />
numerous characteristic ports.<br />
• A unique climate, tonic effect, the quality of the sea<br />
water: Brittany is the quintessential rejuvenating<br />
destination to regain energy and serenity.<br />
• Countless iconic festivals (Trans Musicales meetings<br />
in Rennes, Interceltique Festival in Lorient, Festival of<br />
old ploughs, etc.).<br />
Rennes (RNS), Nantes (NTE)<br />
© CRTB -BERTHIER Emmanuel<br />
Mont-Saint-Michel<br />
and its Bay: A Unique<br />
Historic Site and<br />
Natural Setting<br />
UNESCO world heritage<br />
site, Mont-Saint-Michel<br />
and its Bay enable visitors<br />
to admire a breath-taking<br />
maritime landscape. Its<br />
spring tides hold the<br />
record in <strong>France</strong> in terms<br />
of amplitude, with water<br />
entering the bay at an<br />
impressive pace over a<br />
patchwork of polders and<br />
mussel farms, allowing the<br />
mythical architectural work<br />
to be reflected across the<br />
immensity of the sea.<br />
Discovering Mont-Saint-<br />
Michel and its Bay is an<br />
exceptional experience,<br />
as is meeting the locals!<br />
Visitors can observe<br />
USPs<br />
bottlenose dolphins, taste<br />
the saltmarsh lamb, learn<br />
to cook on an old sailing<br />
ship, cross the bay on foot,<br />
discover old Corsair towns<br />
such as Saint-Malo and<br />
Granville, enjoy oysters,<br />
visit an archipelago such<br />
as the Chausey Islands,<br />
make their own shortbread,<br />
or discover craftworks in<br />
copper and tin. The visitor<br />
is invited to live his or her<br />
own experience.<br />
With safe, quiet roads<br />
wending along the<br />
coastline, crossing wild<br />
moors skirting pretty<br />
beaches, Mont-Saint-<br />
Michel and its Bay are ideal<br />
for cycling.<br />
• Site of the biggest spring tides in continental Europe.<br />
• The Mont-Saint-Michel abbey offers an exceptional<br />
ensemble of buildings representing different styles<br />
from the Middle Ages.<br />
• A paradise for hikers with emblematic routes such as<br />
the Way of St. James or the customs trail, enabling<br />
them to discover breath-taking landscapes!<br />
A<br />
<br />
Rennes, Brest or Quimper stations<br />
Paris (CDG, ORY), Nantes (NTE)<br />
<br />
Rennes Station<br />
france.fr<br />
<strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover 19
DESTINATIONS RELOADED<br />
Le Louvre-Lens:<br />
a Crossroads of Time,<br />
Civilization, Art and<br />
Culture<br />
Sound and light show<br />
at the Royal Château of Blois<br />
© C. Mouton - CRT Centre-Val de Loire<br />
A beautiful building in<br />
the heart of the mining<br />
basin, the Louvre-Lens (a<br />
decentralised wing of the<br />
Paris Museum) has already<br />
hosted more than two<br />
million visitors since 2012.<br />
Built on the site of a former<br />
mine, the Louvre-Lens<br />
exposes and explains the<br />
masterpieces of the past,<br />
through these treasures<br />
of humanity that allow one<br />
to better understand the<br />
present and to look towards<br />
the future.<br />
Cradled in light, the Gallery<br />
of Time is exhibiting, for 5<br />
Gallery of Time<br />
years, the masterpieces of<br />
the Louvre in the Museum<br />
of the Louvre-Lens. All<br />
civilizations and techniques<br />
are represented, thus<br />
embracing the chronological<br />
and geographical extent<br />
of the collections from<br />
the Louvre Museum. The<br />
Gallery of time is organised<br />
into 3 main periods: 70<br />
works from antiquity, 45<br />
from the middle ages and<br />
90 modern-day works. And<br />
the Gallery of time changes:<br />
each anniversary of the<br />
inauguration of the Museum<br />
sees a renewal of the works.<br />
The Loire Valley:<br />
Cradle of French History<br />
With its promise of “a trip to <strong>France</strong>”,<br />
the Val de Loire is an area that boasts<br />
many of <strong>France</strong>’s top assets<br />
Extending from the Loiret<br />
to the Loire estuary,<br />
encompassing the river itself,<br />
the UNESCO-listed Loire, the<br />
Royal Loire and its Châteaux,<br />
are the cradle of <strong>France</strong>’s<br />
history, with spectacular<br />
gardens and vineyards.<br />
NIGHT-TIME EVENTS AT<br />
THE LOIRE’S CHÂTEAUX<br />
At nightfall, the lights of<br />
the châteaux reflect in<br />
the Loire, inspiring the<br />
visitor’s imagination.<br />
The illuminations vary<br />
with a dreamlike quality<br />
from château to château,<br />
sometimes dancing to the<br />
narrations of storytellers and<br />
Renaissance music rhythms.<br />
Such is the magic of the<br />
sound and light shows staged<br />
at the Royal Château of Blois<br />
and Château of Amboise.<br />
These shows provide a fresh<br />
aspect to the scheduled<br />
night visits under the stars,<br />
such as the Chaumont-sur-<br />
Loire International Garden<br />
Festival, the Chenonceau<br />
night-time walk or the “Night<br />
of a Thousand Lights” in<br />
Villandry.<br />
USPs<br />
• Exhibition of masterpieces from the Louvre, works<br />
of antiquity, the middle ages and the modern era in<br />
a single space.<br />
• The historical mining center of Lewarde enables<br />
one to better understand the mine, its miners, its<br />
camps, its slag heaps, and its generations who worked<br />
underground.<br />
• Local trends: Michelin star chefs, award-winning<br />
beers, ripened cheeses... the surroundings of the<br />
Louvre-Lens museum offer a swathe of gastronomic<br />
experiences.<br />
USPs<br />
• 21 châteaux qualified as “Grands Sites du Val de<br />
Loire”.<br />
• “La Loire à vélo”: an immense 800-kilometre cycle<br />
tourism route.<br />
• The Loire Valley vineyards: 50 appellations,<br />
thousands of producers, the greatest diversity of wines<br />
in the world<br />
(CDG, ORY), Nantes (NTE), Tours (TUF)<br />
Lille (LIL), Paris (CDG, ORY)<br />
Paris<br />
<br />
Lens Station<br />
<br />
Orléans or Tours Station<br />
20 <strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover france.fr
The Normandy-Paris<br />
Region: the Geographic<br />
Heart Of Impressionism<br />
Paris:<br />
The Extended City<br />
Gazing at the same<br />
sights that inspired the<br />
impressionists can be a<br />
wonderful basis for touring<br />
the Normandy-Paris region.<br />
The Impressionists<br />
revolutionised art in the<br />
19th century and today<br />
their works rank among<br />
the world’s most popular<br />
cultural references. These<br />
“realist” artists abandoned<br />
their studios to work<br />
outside. They moved to<br />
Barbizon in the forest of<br />
Fontainebleau, and gathered<br />
in Honfleur and the resorts<br />
of the Alabaster coast and<br />
the ‘Cote Fleurie’. Using<br />
the railway or sailing<br />
along the river Seine, the<br />
impressionists found new<br />
subjects in Paris, Ile-de-<br />
<strong>France</strong> and in Normandy.<br />
This vast area still bears the<br />
imprint of the key players:<br />
Claude Monet, Auguste<br />
Renoir, Edgar Degas,<br />
Alfred Sisley, Vincent van<br />
Gogh, Eugène Boudin,<br />
Gustave Caillebotte, Berthe<br />
Morisot...<br />
The story of the<br />
impressionists opens the<br />
way for new discoveries<br />
and experiences: the places<br />
where they lived, today open<br />
to the public, paintings<br />
famous throughout the<br />
world exhibited in museums<br />
with outstanding collections,<br />
festivals and prestigious<br />
temporary exhibitions.<br />
Impressionists’ island, Chatou<br />
© D.Blondin - CRT Paris Ile-de-<strong>France</strong><br />
Paris lives, Paris moves,<br />
Paris abounds: new trends<br />
appear and push back the<br />
limits of the city. In this new<br />
dynamic, many professionals<br />
offer original, innovative and<br />
unique tours and activities.<br />
DISCOVER THE LESSER-<br />
KNOWN PARIS!<br />
Cosmopolitan Paris - a<br />
melting pot of communities:<br />
stroll through the colourful<br />
avenues of the Asian, African<br />
or Indian neighbourhoods,<br />
for shopping, tastings and<br />
activities.<br />
Artistic Paris - the discovery<br />
of street art, architecture,<br />
and contemporary art:<br />
Vitry-sur-Seine in Saint-<br />
Denis, from 10th to the 18th<br />
districts, on foot or by bike!<br />
Just as original: marvelling<br />
over the 30’s architecture<br />
of Boulogne-Billancourt,<br />
or the ultra-modern<br />
skyscrapers of La Défense.<br />
Essential: guided visits of the<br />
contemporary art galleries<br />
and artists’ studios, from<br />
Pantin to Fontenay-sous-<br />
Bois.<br />
Festive Paris - by day and by<br />
night: from jovial guinguettes<br />
to throbbing electro festivals,<br />
from the vaulted cellars to<br />
the trendiest rooftops, Paris<br />
never stops dancing!<br />
© Paris Ville Augmentées<br />
USPs<br />
USPs<br />
• At the same time follow in the impressionists’<br />
footsteps, and contemplate their works in exceptional<br />
museums.<br />
• Organised routes are visual reproductions of the<br />
paintings in the very places where the artists once<br />
placed their easels…<br />
• A particularly powerful cultural experience.<br />
• Tree-lined, flowering escapades in places that are part<br />
of the city’s heritage: the gardens and parks of Paris<br />
provide greenery, coolness and outdoor entertainment.<br />
• Underground Paris, haunted Paris, its secret<br />
alleyways, its unexpected vines: the city reveals its<br />
mysteries to the delight of the curious visitor.<br />
• City of music on Seguin Island (opening spring<br />
2017): the “musical Seine” will be available for the<br />
organisation of concerts and events: a musical set<br />
with a total surface close to 38,000m²<br />
Paris (CDG, ORY), Rouen (URO)<br />
<br />
Rouen, Le Havre and Caen stations<br />
<br />
Paris (CDG, ORY)<br />
6 main stations (Lyon, Nord, Saint-Lazare, Est,<br />
Montparnasse, Austerlitz)<br />
france.fr<br />
<strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover 21
DESTINATIONS RELOADED<br />
Moulin de Verzenay<br />
Champagne: a Land<br />
of Effervescence<br />
and Authenticity<br />
© F. Canon<br />
Burgundy: where<br />
Water and Wine<br />
Flow From the<br />
Source<br />
© © Alain Doire - Bourgogne Franche-Comté Tourisme<br />
The vineyards, houses<br />
and cellars of Champagne<br />
are registered on the<br />
UNESCO world heritage<br />
list in the category “cultural<br />
landscapes”. Three<br />
constituent parts which<br />
embody the “terroir” of<br />
Champagne and combine<br />
the functions of living<br />
environment, working<br />
environment and a showcase<br />
of traditional know-how. They<br />
are at the heart of creation<br />
of the ultimate reference in<br />
effervescent wine making<br />
methods. A product of<br />
excellence, Champagne is<br />
recognised as the universal<br />
symbol of celebration,<br />
reconciliation or partying.<br />
MEANDERING BETWEEN VINEYARDS<br />
AND HILLSIDES, THE CHAMPAGNE TOURIST ROUTE<br />
To discover the wines of<br />
Champagne, there’s nothing<br />
better than to follow the<br />
tourist route of Champagne<br />
that stretches for about 700<br />
kilometres in the Marne, the<br />
Aubre and the Aisne with<br />
about 80 reception points.<br />
Champagne offers 8 wellsignposted<br />
circuits that<br />
lead to some magnificent<br />
viewpoints of authentic<br />
villages, old monasteries<br />
and imposing castles and<br />
churches. And to understand<br />
what makes this unique<br />
brew, there’s nothing like<br />
opening the cellar doors to<br />
meet the winemakers and<br />
share their passion.<br />
The 1,247 “Climats” of the<br />
Burgundy wine growing<br />
region (including Montrachet,<br />
Romaneée-Conti, Clos de<br />
Vougeot, Corton, Musigny,<br />
Chambertin) are classified on<br />
the UNESCO World Heritage<br />
list. Only in Burgundy, and<br />
nowhere else on earth, has<br />
the desire to connect wine<br />
with the land that produces<br />
it been taken so far, and in<br />
such a refined fashion. Not<br />
to mention the exceptional<br />
architectural heritage that<br />
lies within the wine growing<br />
region, in towns such as<br />
Dijon and Beaune.<br />
THE CANALS OF BURGUNDY<br />
With over 1,000 km of<br />
navigable waterways,<br />
Burgundy is also the ideal<br />
region for boating.<br />
The “Canal de Bourgogne”<br />
is the best known of the<br />
Burgundy canals. It is also<br />
the longest (242 km) and<br />
bears the greatest number<br />
of locks (189). The Yonne<br />
River runs through several<br />
Burgundy towns of great<br />
interest. The Canal du<br />
Nivernais links the Seine<br />
river basin to that of the Loire<br />
over a 174-km stretch dotted<br />
with 110 locks. The “Canal<br />
du Centre” links the Saône<br />
valley to that of the Loire.<br />
Its 112-km stretch is dotted<br />
with 61 locks and runs along<br />
several not-to-be-missed<br />
sites.<br />
USPs<br />
• Nearly 500 champagne makers, labelled “Vineyards<br />
and discoveries”, offer carefully selected services<br />
and benefits.<br />
• 700 kilometres of signposted tourist routes<br />
• 2,000 kilometres of signposted hiking routes<br />
and more than 100 hiking circuit.<br />
Paris (CDG, ORY), Reims (RHE)<br />
USPs<br />
• Five “Routes des Vins” dotted with wine cellars,<br />
restaurants and sites dedicated to vineyards.<br />
• Canals offer a different way to discover Burgundy, at a<br />
slower pace and enjoying its many attractions.<br />
• Different ways of discovering Burgundy by water:<br />
houseboats, barge hotels, cruise ships, boat tours.<br />
<br />
Châlons-en-Champagne, Reims and Champagne-Ardenne<br />
TGV Stations<br />
Paris (CDG/ORY), Lyon (LYS)<br />
Creusot TGV Station<br />
22 <strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover france.fr
City of Wine<br />
© Casson Mann<br />
Lyon: the Capital<br />
of Gastronomy<br />
Bordeaux:<br />
between Vineyards<br />
and Ocean<br />
Bordeaux, capital of<br />
southwestern <strong>France</strong>,<br />
is distinguished by its<br />
exceptional eighteenth<br />
century architecture,<br />
earning it, 200 years ago<br />
already, the nickname of<br />
“little Paris” and, more<br />
recently, its inclusion on<br />
UNESCO’s world heritage<br />
listing. Its recent urban<br />
developments make it a<br />
city where life is pleasant,<br />
where gastronomy, culture<br />
and shopping are celebrated<br />
in style. The gateway to the<br />
most prestigious vineyards<br />
of fine wines of the world,<br />
the long beaches of the<br />
Atlantic and the Valley of<br />
the Dordogne, Bordeaux<br />
is much more than a city.<br />
It is a cradle of humanity.<br />
Many discovery tours and<br />
gourmet walks are offered<br />
to taste the local products,<br />
particularly the wines.<br />
Since June, 2016, Bordeaux<br />
has boasted a contemporary<br />
monument perfectly<br />
illustrating the image of<br />
a city dedicated to the<br />
precious nectar: the “City<br />
of Wine”. A living centre<br />
of sensory experiences<br />
revolving around wine, this<br />
site dedicated to the nectar<br />
as living heritage offers a<br />
global approach to wine<br />
cultures in their universal,<br />
cultural and symbolic<br />
dimensions.<br />
In the 17 th century, Lyon’s<br />
cuisine was a family affair:<br />
modest “home style” cooks<br />
offering a simple and<br />
generous cuisine. Their “bas<br />
morceaux” remain today<br />
one of the traditional dishes<br />
of food lovers who frequent<br />
the famous “Bouchons” of<br />
Lyon. Thus, Curnonsky, “the<br />
Prince of gastronomes”,<br />
stated already in the 19th<br />
century, “Lyon is the capital<br />
of gastronomy”.<br />
Today, the tradition of the<br />
“Bouchons” is perpetuated<br />
by a new crop of Lyon<br />
chefs who cultivate the<br />
same values: conviviality,<br />
simplicity, generosity,<br />
and the flavours of fresh<br />
produce. Lyon also owes<br />
much to Paul Bocuse,<br />
Chef among the Chefs,<br />
whose cuisine is highly<br />
reputed – having been<br />
crowned for 50 years with<br />
3 Michelin stars.<br />
VISIT “THE SECRETS<br />
OF LYONNAISE CUISINE”<br />
From the “mâchon des<br />
Canuts” to the “gamelles<br />
des mères”, this guided tour<br />
through the streets of the old<br />
Lyon and its river peninsula<br />
reveals the secrets of<br />
heritage and gastronomy<br />
in Lyon. On the programme<br />
are chefs’ anecdotes, going<br />
backstage at a traditional<br />
Bouchon, and – of course<br />
some tasting!<br />
USPs<br />
• Bordeaux Fête le Vin: the #1 wine tourism event in<br />
Europe... an exceptional programme that includes a<br />
bunch of simultaneous festivals!<br />
• The wine route - comprising Bordeaux, Bergerac and<br />
Armagnac.<br />
• Médoc Ocean (Lacanau, Carcans & Hourtin):<br />
50 km of ocean beaches and two lakes, as well as<br />
more than 120 km of cycle tracks..<br />
USPs<br />
• An exceptional offer with more than<br />
4,000 restaurants<br />
• The label “Les Bouchons Lyonnais”, guarantees<br />
respect for the products, recipes, the specificity<br />
of the Lyon cuisine, atmosphere and hospitality<br />
• The international city of gastronomy<br />
(opening early 2019).<br />
Bordeaux (BOD) Bordeaux-Saint-Jean Station Lyon (LYS) Lyon-Perrache Station<br />
france.fr<br />
<strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover 23
DESTINATIONS RELOADED<br />
The Dordogne:<br />
a Shared Heritage -<br />
Accumulated over the<br />
Millenia<br />
Moliets<br />
®cdtLandes_BDugros<br />
Lascaux cave<br />
© Denis Nidos<br />
Biarritz:<br />
the Golfer’s<br />
Paradise<br />
The Dordogne Valley covers<br />
a vast area in the southwest<br />
of <strong>France</strong>, beginning in the<br />
mountains of the Massif<br />
Central and ending in the<br />
plains to the east, near<br />
Bordeaux.<br />
It’s an area to which time<br />
has been kind; rich in scenic,<br />
architectural, historic,<br />
cultural and gastronomic<br />
traditions and heritage.<br />
CAVES AND CHASMS,<br />
ENTERING THE<br />
UNDERWORLD<br />
The great beauty of the<br />
Dordogne Valley is not only<br />
to be found above ground<br />
in its rolling hills, dramatic<br />
gorges, fertile dells and<br />
unspoilt landscapes, but<br />
also underground, where the<br />
limestone geology has led to<br />
the formation of magnificent<br />
caves over millions of years.<br />
The Lascaux cave at<br />
Montignac, named as a<br />
UNESCO World Heritage site<br />
in 1979 is home to some of<br />
the great masterpieces of<br />
prehistoric art. The newly<br />
opened Montignac-Lascaux<br />
International Parietal Art<br />
Centre (CIAP) contains a<br />
reproduction of almost the<br />
entire original cave created<br />
using the most up-todate<br />
virtual and imagery<br />
technology.<br />
In the golfing world, Biarritz<br />
holds a special place.<br />
Recognised as an<br />
outstanding international<br />
golf destination, the regions<br />
surrounding Biarritz – the<br />
Basque Country and the<br />
Landes – nestled between<br />
ocean and mountains,<br />
attract golfers from around<br />
the world. From Biarritz to<br />
Moliets, Saint-Jean-de-Luz<br />
to Pau, in the south of the<br />
South-West, 16 golf courses<br />
are less than an hour’s drive<br />
from Biarritz.<br />
Biarritz has a long history<br />
with golfing – the Golf du<br />
Phare was created in 1888<br />
and has always been a golf<br />
destination highly prized by<br />
enthusiasts of this sport.<br />
Moreover, the Pau Golf Club<br />
was the first course to have<br />
been designed in continental<br />
Europe in 1856.<br />
Depending on one’s wishes,<br />
shape or level, a course<br />
can be chosen with sea or<br />
mountain view, in the heart<br />
of the city or among the<br />
pines, gently hilly o<br />
USPs<br />
• A Rich Past: With a history going back several<br />
millennia, the Dordogne Valley offers a veritable<br />
journey through the ages, from its prehistoric caves to<br />
its medieval castles.<br />
• The Most Beautiful Villages of <strong>France</strong>: the Dordogne<br />
Valley is home to an enchanting variety of picturesque<br />
villages that have kept their authentic French country<br />
charm.<br />
• The beautiful “GR” (Grand Randonnée) walking trails<br />
and the St. James Way converge towards Rocamadour.<br />
USPs<br />
• The golf courses of Chiberta, Seignosse, Hossegor,<br />
Moliets, Biarritz le Phare, Arcangues and Chantaco<br />
are ranked in the top 10 South-West golf courses by<br />
the 2016 edition of Fairways magazine.<br />
• The new “Golf Pass Biarritz Destination” lets one play<br />
two to eight courses at amazing prices.<br />
• The various workstations of the International Training<br />
Centre and Golf of Ilbarritz allow complete training<br />
according to one’s strengths or weaknesses..<br />
Bordeaux (BOD)<br />
<br />
Brive, Figeac, Souillac, Gourdon and Cahors Stations<br />
Biarritz (BIQ), Bordeaux (BOD)<br />
<br />
Biarritz, Dax and Bayonne Stations<br />
24 <strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover france.fr
The Jura:<br />
the Different Face<br />
of the Mountains<br />
© INFRA ADT BAS-RHIN MASSIF DES VOSGES - DFA7425<br />
The Vosges Mountains:<br />
Nature in All its Glory<br />
Along the French-Swiss<br />
border, the Jura mountains<br />
offer visitors a relaxing<br />
break with the discovery<br />
of nature’s secrets via<br />
a number of activities.<br />
With majestic and varied<br />
landscapes, the quiet of<br />
the mountain here takes on<br />
its true sense. Preserved,<br />
almost always wild, rich<br />
with an exceptional flora and<br />
wildlife, the Jura offers an<br />
ideal destination to admire<br />
and contemplate nature<br />
in all its forms; offering<br />
sensations of freedom of<br />
movement for the clientele<br />
accustomed to an urbanised<br />
environment.<br />
USPs<br />
THE MOUNTAINS OF THE<br />
JURA, NORDIC BY NATURE<br />
In winter, snow covered<br />
slopes and plateaus here<br />
create one of the largest<br />
Nordic areas of Europe,<br />
composed of wide open<br />
spaces, of ski stations<br />
(Métabief, Les Rousses,<br />
Mont-Jura) and village<br />
resorts.<br />
Travelling solo, duo or<br />
as a tribe, one can skate,<br />
snowshoe, try ski jumping<br />
or a biathlon for the more<br />
energetic, or meet with the<br />
sled dogs, to live a unique<br />
experience.<br />
• A nature preserved from major tourist flows<br />
• Numerous lakes streams and rivers that make the<br />
region a paradise for fishing, but also for gastronomy.<br />
• The “Great crossing of the Jura”, for lovers of the<br />
great outdoors: hiking (400 km), cross-country skiing<br />
(175 km), on rackets (135 km), mountain bike (380<br />
km), road bike (360 km) or on horseback (over 500<br />
km).<br />
The Massif des Vosges is<br />
a territory that’s unique in<br />
its genre, with its unspoilt<br />
nature, peatlands, and<br />
original wildlife such as<br />
the lynx, chamois or the<br />
grouse, in deep forests of<br />
conifers, without forgetting<br />
its inhabitants, generous<br />
and hospitable by nature.<br />
The Vosges region has<br />
demonstrated resistance<br />
to all adversities: climate,<br />
history and the passage<br />
of time. It offers a host of<br />
activities and discoveries<br />
on the themes of simplicity,<br />
authenticity and sharing.<br />
20,000 KM OF WELL-MAINTAINED AND SIGNPOSTED<br />
TRAILS CRISSCROSS THE MASSIF<br />
A map of the “Massif des<br />
Vosges” resembles an<br />
adventure book where<br />
anything is possible.<br />
Walking or riding, alone or<br />
with family, in expert version<br />
or in discovery mode, over<br />
short or long distances, on a<br />
day trip or for several days,<br />
USPs<br />
for wine-tasting, relaxation<br />
or exploration… or even<br />
just botanical discovery... In<br />
addition to the pleasures of<br />
hiking are more hedonistic<br />
pleasures such as gourmet<br />
stops in cottages, huts,<br />
guesthouses, hotels or<br />
farm-hostels...<br />
• An accessible and authentic mountain region which<br />
generously offers itself to all lovers of walking or<br />
cycling, regardless of their levels.<br />
• Castles, parks and gardens: the numerous mediaeval<br />
castles provide splendid viewpoints over the valleys.<br />
And parks, arboretums and gardens are scattered<br />
throughout the mountains like so many colourful<br />
Gardens of Eden.<br />
• The myriad establishments of every shape and size will<br />
welcome you for succulent, simple fare or fine dining.<br />
Lyon (LYS),<br />
Dole (DLE)<br />
Train stations of Besançon TGV<br />
or Lons-le-Saunier<br />
<br />
Strasbourg (SXB)<br />
<br />
Epinal or Saint-Dié-des<br />
-Vosges Station<br />
france.fr<br />
<strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover 25
DESTINATIONS RELOADED<br />
Crossing<br />
The Alps<br />
© GTA MYA<br />
Major routes through<br />
the Alps allow visitors to<br />
discover this fabulous area<br />
regardless of the preferred<br />
travel mode: walking on<br />
the GR5, the great alpine<br />
hiking trail, or on the Via<br />
Alpina; on a bike, for an<br />
epic adventure through<br />
the passes of the Tour de<br />
<strong>France</strong> following La Route<br />
des Grandes Alpes or a<br />
more hedonistic route over<br />
the Lavender route; on a<br />
mountain bike on Chemin<br />
du Soleil and its 1,000 km<br />
of mountain bike trails or<br />
on special route suitable<br />
for electric bikes.<br />
USPs<br />
LA ROUTE DES GRANDES<br />
ALPES, A PRESTIGIOUS<br />
TOURIST ITINERARY<br />
Fully open from June to<br />
October, La Route des<br />
Grandes Alpes is the most<br />
beautiful mountain road<br />
charges available to drivers,<br />
motorcyclists and cyclists.<br />
From the banks of Lake<br />
Léman to the shores of<br />
the Mediterranean Sea,<br />
this incredible tourist road<br />
invites one to travel through<br />
territories of exceptional<br />
natural and cultural<br />
heritage. Following these<br />
winding roads, the visitor<br />
will find breath-taking<br />
landscapes at altitude, and<br />
cultural and local specialties<br />
in the valleys.<br />
• Meeting and sharing experiences with other travellers<br />
and local inhabitants.<br />
• The possibility to modulate one’s circuit à la carte, in<br />
linear or looped format.<br />
• Services adapted to travellers: types of<br />
accommodation, price levels, meals, assistance...<br />
depending on activities and budgets.<br />
Lyon (LYS), Grenoble (GNB)<br />
Thonon-les-Bains St.<br />
Mont Blanc:<br />
the “Roof” of<br />
Europe… and Summit<br />
of French Tourism<br />
With majestic nature and a<br />
territory of discoveries and<br />
adventures, Mont Blanc is<br />
more than the summit of<br />
<strong>France</strong> and the highest point<br />
in Europe: it is quite simply<br />
legendary.<br />
A tourist destination par<br />
excellence, Mont Blanc and<br />
its 14 municipalities and<br />
resorts draw their potential<br />
from their multiple, common<br />
and shared richness in<br />
terms of tourism: natural<br />
and architectural heritage,<br />
traditional know-how,<br />
gastronomy and local<br />
products, cultural life,<br />
winter and summer sports,<br />
hiking, shopping, events,<br />
with a strong appeal right<br />
throughout the year.<br />
USPs<br />
• Key attractions: outstanding sites<br />
offering unique experiences.<br />
• Open-air sports and leisure<br />
activities throughout the year.<br />
• Heritage and culture: local men<br />
and women to explain, guide,<br />
and reveal all the riches of their<br />
heritage.<br />
Discover, after 20 minutes<br />
of ascent, the Summit of the<br />
Aiguille du Midi, more than<br />
3,800 m above sea level.<br />
The more adventurous can<br />
try the unique experience<br />
of the “Pas dans le Vide”,<br />
inaugurated in December<br />
2013.<br />
The Destination Mont Blanc,<br />
it’s also the little red rack<br />
railway that leads to the<br />
Sea of Ice or the Brevent<br />
cable car, at 2,500 m<br />
altitude, which allows one to<br />
observe Chamonix and the<br />
mountains.<br />
By joining the Megeve<br />
altiport, one can also soar<br />
over this land of peaks,<br />
needles and domes with a<br />
small plane.<br />
<br />
Lyon (LYS),<br />
Grenoble<br />
(GNB)<br />
<br />
Chamonix<br />
Station<br />
26 <strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover france.fr
Auvergne:<br />
Nature At Its Most<br />
Impressive<br />
Auvergne’s volcanoes: sleeping<br />
giants in the heart of <strong>France</strong><br />
The Chaîne des Puys is a<br />
volcanic area stretching<br />
out for more than 30<br />
km and located in the<br />
centre of Europe’s largest<br />
regional nature park: the<br />
Parc Naturel des Volcans<br />
d’Auvergne (the Auvergne<br />
Volcanoes Nature Park).<br />
There’s nothing more<br />
relaxing than hiking or<br />
simply strolling freely<br />
through this marvellous<br />
open, natural area.<br />
One of Auvergne’s most<br />
famous volcanoes, the<br />
Puy de Dôme, offers an<br />
unbeatable view across the<br />
Chaîne des Puys and the<br />
surrounding landscapes.<br />
In the heart of the Auvergne<br />
Volcanoes Park, Vulcania<br />
is a theme park where<br />
children and adults can<br />
learn about earth sciences<br />
in a fun and interactive<br />
environment. Attractions<br />
include “5D” films, motion<br />
platforms, interactive<br />
exhibitions and Le Ballon<br />
des Puys, a tethered helium<br />
balloon offering a 150m high<br />
view of the Chaîne des Puys.<br />
Vulcania is the front door to<br />
discover the volcanoes of<br />
Auvergne, according to the<br />
Lonely Planet guide.<br />
® Gérard Fayet<br />
4 Seasons<br />
In The<br />
Pyrénées<br />
The wintry charms of the<br />
Pyrénées and its 38 ski<br />
resorts are well-known.<br />
A huge variety of activities<br />
is available, from skiing<br />
or snowboarding in the<br />
different resorts, to climbing<br />
icy waterfalls for the more<br />
adventurous, paragliding,<br />
snowshoeing, and even<br />
family sleigh outings.<br />
Summer is also renowned<br />
for the many walking trails<br />
which are among <strong>France</strong>’s<br />
most popular. But the<br />
Pyrenean year is more than<br />
just these two star seasons.<br />
In the spring, when the<br />
melted ice reinvigorates<br />
the waterways, the<br />
Pyrénées turns into a trout<br />
fisherman’s paradise.<br />
And don’t miss the<br />
beginning of autumn<br />
adorned with red garlands<br />
for the Indian summer,<br />
like nothing you’ve ever<br />
seen before – the blessed<br />
season for mushrooms.<br />
Autumn is also a rare time<br />
for communion with nature,<br />
when you can hear the<br />
stag bell in the Louron or<br />
Barousse valley, and catch<br />
sight of herds of doe.<br />
© Pyrénées / A. Molteni<br />
USPs<br />
• The “Panoramique des Dômes”, a train with<br />
panoramic windows providing amazing views of the 80<br />
volcanoes of Auvergne.<br />
• The natural lakes in the craters are “must-see”<br />
natural features.<br />
•The natural site of the Volvic Impluvium (where the<br />
region’s famous mineral water takes its source) offers<br />
hikes and summer activities for the whole family.<br />
USPs<br />
• Variety: the soul, nature, culture, sharing of ways of<br />
life, breath-taking landscapes, stories to tell.<br />
• Unity: link between Mediterranean, Atlantic, <strong>France</strong><br />
and Spain: a unity of places and a meeting of peoples.<br />
• Nature: the mountain is a source of vitality and wellbeing<br />
(preserved nature, clean air, spring water, natural<br />
lifestyle, healthy foods).<br />
<br />
Lyon (LYS),<br />
<br />
Clermont Ferrand (CFE)<br />
Montluçon,<br />
Clermont-Ferrand<br />
<br />
Tarbes-Lourdes (LDE),<br />
Toulouse (TLS)<br />
Pau or Perpignan Stations<br />
france.fr<br />
<strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover 27
DESTINATIONS RELOADED<br />
“Art de Vivre”<br />
Provence Style<br />
Menton Lemon Festival<br />
Les Baux de<br />
Provence<br />
© C. Chillio - CRT PACA<br />
Pride... In Provence, it’s<br />
definitely not a sin… and with<br />
good reason: surrounded<br />
by the Mediterranean Sea,<br />
the Alps and the Rhône,<br />
Provence is a region<br />
full of sunshine, mild<br />
temperatures and generous<br />
lands.<br />
Many renowned<br />
personalities have been<br />
seduced by this region, not<br />
to mention artists like Van<br />
Gogh, Cézanne and Picasso.<br />
The visitor can walk in<br />
their footsteps in Aix-en-<br />
Provence, in Arles, or in the<br />
back country, taking a path<br />
of heritage from antiquity to<br />
modern times.<br />
Olive oil, truffles, and<br />
prestigious wines such<br />
as Chateauneuf-du-Pape,<br />
Côtes du Rhone or Côtes de<br />
Provence are also treasures<br />
of the Region.<br />
The sun shines on average<br />
300 days a year here,<br />
reflected in the colorful<br />
and fragrant dishes of<br />
Provence: an authentic<br />
and multicultural cuisine.<br />
Crossroads of Europe<br />
and the Mediterranean, a<br />
mixture of genres is found<br />
in the Provençale cuisine<br />
with flavors of East and<br />
West marrying happily.<br />
White, rosé and red wines<br />
add to the conviviality, giving<br />
a taste of the sweetness of<br />
life that reigns here.<br />
The Côte d’Azur:<br />
Event Central!<br />
The Nice Carnival, the<br />
Menton Lemon Festival,<br />
the Cannes Film Festival,<br />
MIPTV and MIPCOM, the<br />
Roc d’Azur cycling event in<br />
Fréjus, the Nice-Cannes<br />
Marathon the World<br />
Cardiology Congress or<br />
Jazz in Juan are just a<br />
few examples of the 6,000<br />
events each year on the<br />
Côte d’Azur centred on<br />
culture, sport and business<br />
tourism, making this<br />
destination the largest open<br />
air theatre in Europe.<br />
In order to accompany the<br />
best tourists, destination<br />
Côte d’Azur has created<br />
a website specifically for<br />
travel professionals --<br />
www.cotedazur-stays.com<br />
-- to directly connecting<br />
the major events of the<br />
region to a responsive<br />
accommodation offer.<br />
This site aggregates “stays<br />
& internships” around<br />
major sporting and cultural<br />
events of the Côte d’Azur.<br />
When it comes to sport, the<br />
site has a double vocation<br />
- events and «affinity» (i.e.<br />
cycling / mountain bike /<br />
trail / running / triathlon /<br />
training, etc).<br />
USPs<br />
• A wealth of architectural heritage, cities of exception,<br />
a rich cultural offering<br />
• Provençale cuisine, with unique flavors: simple and<br />
healthy<br />
• A rich and diverse offering of nature, leisure and<br />
sporting activities<br />
USPs<br />
• Almost 100 sporting event offers around 30 events.<br />
• 30 cultural event offerings + 20 “garden” offers: stays<br />
exclusively garden oriented, culture and gardens,<br />
regional & cross-border tours.<br />
• A catalogue presenting all new sports stays<br />
associated with Riviera events in a B-to-B-to-C logic<br />
will be unveiled early March 2017.<br />
Marseille (MRS)<br />
<br />
Marseille Saint-Charles Station,<br />
Aix-en-Provence or Avignon TGV<br />
Stations<br />
Nice (NCE)<br />
<br />
Cannes, Antibes & Nice Stations<br />
28 <strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover france.fr
Corsica: Rendez-vous<br />
in Terra Nostra<br />
No-one can deny that<br />
Corsica is the greenest,<br />
most spectacular, most<br />
varied and most beautiful<br />
of all the Mediterranean<br />
islands. From north<br />
to south, east to west<br />
and from the sea to the<br />
mountains, the visitor is<br />
taken aback by the island’s<br />
varied landscapes, with<br />
smart coastal towns<br />
contrasting with secluded<br />
inland villages on this<br />
hugely diverse island.<br />
The many sites and<br />
monuments dotted all<br />
over Corsica bear witness<br />
to the island’s history and<br />
vibrant, open culture, which<br />
is supported by centuries<br />
of tradition and kept alive<br />
by the island’s sense of<br />
identity expressed through<br />
song, music and local arts<br />
and crafts.<br />
A PARADISE FOR<br />
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY<br />
LOVERS<br />
Whether hiking along<br />
some of the most beautiful<br />
footpaths in the world,<br />
mountain biking through<br />
unspoilt forests, horse<br />
riding on some of the<br />
island’s 2,000 kilometres<br />
of bridle paths, or scubadiving<br />
in coral reefs, the<br />
visitor will soon realise<br />
that Corsica is the perfect<br />
playground for adventurers<br />
and sports enthusiasts of<br />
all levels. Above all, Corsica<br />
has unique landscapes<br />
waiting to be discovered –<br />
a single region boasting a<br />
multitude of treasures.<br />
© <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong> - Emmanuel Valentin<br />
French Guiana:<br />
Ecotourism Paradise<br />
By unrolling the green<br />
carpet of its Amazon<br />
rainforest (8 million<br />
hectares) on 90% of the<br />
territory, French Guiana<br />
reserves its charms and<br />
mysteries for those who<br />
take the time to discover it<br />
in the only traditional way:<br />
the waterways.<br />
Crisscrossed in every<br />
direction by rivers large<br />
and small, this destination<br />
offers soft adventure<br />
accessible to all lovers<br />
of nature and authentic<br />
encounters. Visitors can<br />
glide along the Maroni<br />
River in a dugout canoe,<br />
discovering the pleasures<br />
of sharing the culture and<br />
way of life of the peoples<br />
of the river - Amerindian or<br />
bushinenge ethnic groups.<br />
Days punctuated by the<br />
river flow thus offer a whole<br />
different set of emotions,<br />
strong images and silent<br />
immensity.<br />
In addition to its rivers,<br />
Guiana has surprises with<br />
its many nature reserves<br />
such as the swamps of Kaw<br />
which spread on nearly<br />
100,000 hectares.<br />
This paradise of grass and<br />
water that crosses the<br />
Kaw River, with a mountain<br />
backdrop, is the realm of<br />
3 species of caimans and<br />
countless birds, including<br />
the Great Egret, Cocoi<br />
Heron, Black Jacana or the<br />
Hoatzin.<br />
© Artur Warchavchik<br />
USPs<br />
• High-quality tourism based on excellent<br />
accommodation and infrastructure.<br />
• The “Corsica Made” label promotes Corsican identity<br />
through food, culture, heritage and the island’s way of<br />
life.<br />
• An accessible destination throughout the year thanks<br />
to direct flights from 33 cities in <strong>France</strong> and 36 cities<br />
around Europe.<br />
Ajaccio (AJA), Bastia (BIA), Calvi (CLY)<br />
Ajaccio, Bastia, Bonifacio, L’Île Rousse, Porto Vecchio,<br />
Propriano<br />
USPs<br />
• An exciting place for the observation of nature, easily<br />
accessible with commentary by fauna and flora experts.<br />
• History: memories of a penal colony, whose classified<br />
vestiges can be visited on St. Lawrence or the Salvation<br />
islands off the coast of Kourou.<br />
• Thrills guaranteed with an invitation to experience the<br />
launch of an Ariane rocket!<br />
Cayenne (CAY)<br />
france.fr<br />
<strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover 29
OVERSEAS TERRITORIES<br />
© <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong> - Eric Larrayadieu<br />
<strong>France</strong>’s Overseas Territories:<br />
a Foretaste of Paradise!<br />
Do you know that <strong>France</strong> has twelve<br />
overseas islands and territories in the<br />
world’s most beautiful places? They are<br />
home to 80% of <strong>France</strong>’s biodiversity,<br />
with breath-taking landscapes, a crossbred<br />
historical and cultural legacy with<br />
American, African, Indian and Kanak<br />
origins... and world-renowned savoirfaire<br />
as in the case of the Pearls of Tahiti,<br />
Martinique rum, vanilla from Reunion<br />
Island. With their tropical or subtropical<br />
climates, these exotic destinations are<br />
ideal when winter arrives in Europe.<br />
THE CARIBBEAN<br />
7,000 km to the west of the European<br />
continent, we find the French West<br />
Indies - Saint-Martin, the islands of<br />
Guadeloupe, Martinique - great “get<br />
away” destinations in which to relax. On<br />
the islands of Guadeloupe or Martinique,<br />
the richness of the marine natural parks<br />
and rainforests makes these islands a<br />
destination of choice for a diving holiday<br />
or hiking. Saint-Martin offers beautiful<br />
pristine beaches and shopping lovers<br />
won’t be disappointed. Creole culture<br />
prevails, with a true festive spirit!<br />
INDIAN OCEAN<br />
9,345 km from Paris, Reunion Island –<br />
an overseas “department” – combines<br />
the exoticism of a distant destination<br />
with the safety of a French region. For<br />
holiday makers looking for the outof-the-ordinary,<br />
exchanges, emotions<br />
and sensations, the Reunion is truly<br />
enchanting.<br />
PACIFIC OCEAN: NEW CALEDONIA,<br />
TAHITI AND ITS ISLANDS<br />
<strong>France</strong> in the heart of the Pacific: these<br />
beautiful archipelagos will satisfy anyone<br />
looking for a deserted beach on which to<br />
spend a romantic holiday, a playground<br />
for water sports or a place that touches<br />
and surprises, not forgetting their Pacific<br />
Island culture and reputed friendliness.<br />
Fort-de-<strong>France</strong> (FDF), Point-à-Pitre (PTP),<br />
Saint-Martin <br />
(SFG), Saint-Barthélemy (SBH),<br />
La Réunion (RUN), Papeete (PPT),<br />
Nouméa (NOU)<br />
TRANSPORTS<br />
AIR TRANSPORT<br />
With nearly 160 airports,<br />
<strong>France</strong> is one of the<br />
champions of Europe,<br />
counting 1/3 of the total<br />
number of regional airports<br />
(460 airports within the EU).<br />
RAIL TRANSPORT<br />
The French rail network<br />
is the largest in Europe<br />
with 30,000 km of lines<br />
in metropolitan <strong>France</strong>.<br />
Train stations have direct<br />
relays with regional<br />
bus companies and<br />
offer travellers a bike<br />
rental service through<br />
its network of certified<br />
“accueil vélo” partners. In<br />
addition, the SNCF has,<br />
over the past few years,<br />
implemented conventions<br />
with 30 Airlines, allowing<br />
people to travel on both<br />
modes of transport with<br />
a single ticket, easily<br />
reaching major regional<br />
cities.<br />
BUS TRANSPORT<br />
Since 2015, regular new interregional<br />
bus routes have<br />
been created thanks to the<br />
liberalisation of transport<br />
markets. These new offers,<br />
proposed by transporters such<br />
as Ouibus, Transdev or Flixbus,<br />
allow passengers to travel to a<br />
number of destinations that were<br />
previously difficult to reach.<br />
30 <strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover france.fr
CONCLUSION<br />
Jean-François<br />
Pieri<br />
Managing Director<br />
Cleverdis<br />
Increasing Awareness<br />
of <strong>France</strong>’s Assets<br />
By their very essence, our activities as<br />
a consulting company and suppliers of<br />
high added-value information (what we<br />
term “Information Intelligence”), brings<br />
us to study, analyse, comprehend and<br />
then put into perspective information<br />
that can facilitate the work of<br />
professionals from around the world<br />
for whom we work.<br />
Our publications aim to be veritable<br />
communication platforms on a global<br />
level between the different actors of<br />
the ecosystem of travel, tourism and<br />
hospitality, and to achieve this, we<br />
are constantly listening with great<br />
attention to the needs and initiatives<br />
of those operating on all fronts. This<br />
unique position on a global level allows<br />
us to assess the relevance of each tool<br />
or initiative with regard to the identified<br />
needs.<br />
We had followed with interest the<br />
creation and then implementing the<br />
Poles of Excellence and the Destination<br />
Contracts by <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong>. These two<br />
concurrent initiatives respond to a<br />
real need on the part of the market to<br />
increase awareness of the assets of<br />
<strong>France</strong> as a whole and to discover new<br />
destinations within <strong>France</strong> itself.<br />
We are therefore particularly pleased<br />
to have been able to participate in<br />
fostering a better knowledge of these<br />
factors and to present them according<br />
to a methodology that is ours, in the<br />
form of a real decision making tool,<br />
brief but comprehensive, highlighting<br />
clear USPs and Key Figures.<br />
Thanks very much to all those who<br />
have helped us achieve this work<br />
- in particular <strong>Atout</strong> <strong>France</strong> and<br />
the different players from these<br />
destinations who can look forward to<br />
strong tourism development. We also<br />
thank the Travel Advisors who shared<br />
with us their feelings towards these<br />
new tools.<br />
france.fr<br />
<strong>France</strong>: Destinations to (re)discover 31