The organisation in charge of promoting France as a destination
Created in May 2009, “Atout France” the new France Tourism Development Agency result of the merger of Maison de la France, an Economic Interest Group (EIG) created in 1987 and operated under the supervision of the Ministry of Tourism, with ODIT France (French Tourism Engineering Agency).
This new Tourism Development Agency will be a single operator of the French government in the tourism sector to promote and to develop French tourism activities in the international arena as well as in the field of training and education.
In Singapore, Atout France South East Asia carries out the majority of its promotional activities jointly with partners, which gives a stronger scope of actions. Each year, more than 100 different projects are realised to promote France as a tourist and business destination to consumers, to the trade and to the media.
France, the first incoming destination in the world
With 79.3 million tourists in 2008, tourism has become one of the key industries in France. Tourism contributes 6.6% towards France’s GDP, but in regions like the Ile de France (Paris and surroundings) or Provence/the French Riviera, the contribution is closer to 15%.The major markets are still Europe and America but Asia has been growing over the past 10 years (Japan, China, Taiwan) and about 400,000 persons from South East Asia (mainly Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia) have visited France in 2008 (estimation).
Franceguide.com, official portal for tourism to France
Atout France website franceguide.com, the official portal for promoting French tourism, provides an overview and presentation of the whole range of France’s tourism products and services. It is translated into 15 languages including 4 Asian languages. Franceguide.com offers useful information to prepare a trip to France (listing of official websites for visas, airlines…etc.), contacts of Atout France’s members and details on upcoming events in France. Franceguide.com offers an efficient search engine and an online reservation system too.
The South East Asian portal, franceguide.com/sg, features the latest news about the destination for the South East Asian traveller, suggests itineraries, carries links to major French tourism partners (hotels, resorts, land transport providers, restaurants, museums…etc.) and runs various online campaigns and travel offers, specific to the traveller of the region. The website, which attracts 12,000 monthly visits, also contains two separate sections dedicated to the media and to the travel trade professionals.
