France Market Overview

France has a long-lasting friendship with the United States, and French travelers are repeaters who will explore several regions of the country during their lifetime to discover out of the beaten path destinations. They are especially attracted to the South for its connection to French history, music (jazz, blues, soul, gospel, rock’n’roll…), authentic local food, historic Plantations, and the typically Southern hospitality.

With direct flights from Paris to ATL, CVG and RDU, along with easy one - stop connection, the South has multiple gateways for French travelers.  France is the 3rd largest market for the region in Europe and the forecast is good for continued growth. Tour operators are building more and more tailor made products for their clients, who are interested in Authentic destinations like the South.


France Inbound Tourism Snapshot - Growth Market

France’s population is 67.2 million and is the second most populated country in the EU, with a GDP of 2,57 trillion US$ (+2% in 2017). France is the 5th largest international industrialized economy and the 2nd largest European (EU) industrialized economy. French employees enjoy 6 to 9 weeks of paid holidays per annum and an additional 11 public bank holidays per year. Paris, the capital of France, is the largest city with 12.4 million inhabitants, followed closely by Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse and Nice.
  • The vacation departure rate in 2017 has reached 64%, with a departure abroad at a record of 38% in 2017 (+4 points VS 2016) .
  • The USA is still the number 1 long-haul destination for French travelers: 22% of French travelers wanted to do a road-trip in the USA in 2018.
  • The US department of commerce forecasts 1.78M of French visitors in the US in 2018 with an expected continuing growth for the 5 years to come.
  • 76% of the French travelers are repeaters.


IN MARKET REPRESENTATIVES

Express Conseil

Express Conseil is a travel promotion specialist, assisting international clients in developing communication strategy in the French speaking markets of Europe. With more than 35 years of experience, Express Conseil provides strategic communication and PR positioning, trade show strategy, media campaigns, and press conferences.

Express Conseil
32 rue de Ponthieu,
75008, Paris, France 
Tel. +33 (0)1 76 47 52 42

Coline Chazaux- [email protected]
Barbara Boltoukhine - [email protected]


RESEARCH

France

Visits to the Travel South USA region 2010 - 2020(f)


 

MARKETING & SALES ACTIVITIES

Travel South USA has a year-round investment in travel trade strategies along with earned, owned and paid media to amplify our efforts in-market, including travel trade workshops/training regional road shows, recruitment of tour operators buyers to International Showcase, social media campaigns, cooperative event marketing with Brand USA and cooperative advertising efforts B2C.