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France: The world's top tourist destination (again)

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The long term health of the French property market appears to be in good shape as our Gallic neighbours emerged as the world's most popular tourist destination for 2006, replicating its success the previous year.

Some 78 million foreign travellers visited French soil last year, a rise of 2.7 per cent on the year before, the country's tourism ministry told reporters in Paris today, according to DPA.

But the key statistic unveiled by the French authorities was that total revenues raised from foreign tourists rose by 2.5 per cent and now reach €34 billion (£22 billion).

A major slice of this income is imparted to the accommodation industry as tourists always need a place to stay, and with France's ongoing popularity among high-spending travellers, it appears that the rental market remains as lucrative as it has ever been.

The majority of visitors to France came from Europe; the number of Spanish, Dutch and Swiss continued to rise but interestingly travellers from further afield are also choosing the country as the site of their vacations.

Since many of the former countries in the communist bloc of Eastern Europe joined the EU, they have experienced a high level of economic growth, thus putting money in the pockets of those who wish to travel.

Tourist numbers from the east rose sharply last year and visitors from China also increased "strongly", according to the French ministry.

China is currently one of the world's fastest growing economies and is expected to become a global superpower with the economic capacity to rival the US in the coming decades, thus an influx of tourists from the communist country could pave the way for a growing trend in the future.

One of the most visited French regions in recent years is Languedoc-Roussillon, which has been often touted as the top hotspot for capital appreciation in the country.

The French associated body of real estate agencies (FNAIM) named the region as the top for long term growth, with prices rising by 10.3 per cent in the first quarter of last year, reports HomesGoFast.com.

Furthermore, Trisha Mason, founder and managing director of VEF French Property, said: "It is anticipated that 30 per cent more people will move to the Languedoc region over the next 20 years so for potential capital growth, anything in this region makes a sensible buy."

Situated in the south of France, Languedoc-Roussillon stretches along the Mediterranean coast, providing a warm climate all year round and has some of the country most startling countryside further inland.

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