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France is a European country located in Western Europe, whose territory also includes islands and territories all over the world. France stretches from the Mediterranean to the North Sea and the English Channel, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean.
France including DOM-TOM is the largest of the European states, covering an area of 632,733.9 km².
On January 1ᵉʳ, 2024, France will have a population of 68.4 million: 66.1 million in mainland France and 2.2 million in the five overseas departments.
Paris, the capital of France, is a major European city and a world center for art, fashion, gastronomy and culture. Its 19th-century urban landscape is criss-crossed by wide boulevards and the River Seine. In addition to monuments such as the Eiffel Tower and the 12th-century Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral, the city is renowned for its cafés and luxury boutiques lining the Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré;with a population of 2.161 million
The French coastline comprises 1,901 km of sandy coastline (35.2% of the total), 1,316 km of marshes and mudflats (23.7%) and 2,269 km of rocky coastline (41%, including 13% of cliffs).
The roof of Western Europe, Mont Blanc (Haute-Savoie) majestically dominates the Mont-Blanc massif, straddling France and Italy. Its new altitude, measured in September 2024: 4,805 m.
France, with its geographical diversity, history and culture, has been the world's leading tourist destination for many years.France, at the crossroads of Europe
France's geographical position places it at the crossroads of Europe.
It is a gateway from northern to southern Europe. At the heart of the European tourism market, France is the gateway to Europe for international tourists.
Today, France is the most visited country in the world, with over 89 million international tourist arrivals in 2018. It ranks third worldwide in terms of revenue behind Spain and the United States of America with 55.5 million euros in 2018 (Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Recovery). If France manages to stay so high in the global rankings, it's thanks to the eclecticism of its tourism offering.
The richness of our cultural and natural heritage
France has managed to hold on to first place thanks to its diversity of geographical landscapes: sea, mountains, countryside, big cities... It has everything to please and can therefore offer all forms of tourism.
This also explains why so many French people choose their country for their vacations.In recent years, other forms of tourism have been developing, such as industrial tourism:
- Food, wine and spirits (60%)
- Arts and crafts (18%)
- Environment and energy (10%)
- Fashion and cosmetics (7%)
- Technological industries (5%)
This type of tourism diversifies a region's offering and creates a new tourist industry. In the field of leisure and business tourism, there is great potential that has yet to be tapped. Through industrial tourism, we find what has made France's reputation: a rich oenogastronomic heritage, as well as our expertise in arts and crafts (particularly in the luxury sector).
France also boasts a rich architectural heritage. Thanks to the richness and diversity of its heritage, 45 sites are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites (39 cultural, 5 natural and 1 mixed). This makes France the 4th country with the most UNESCO-listed sites (2019 source).
Paris attracts a huge number of foreign tourists: over 30 million a year! The city's architecture, museums, the Eiffel Tower, not to mention Disneyland Paris, make it the stuff of dreams. All these places make Paris a major destination for European tourists.
In terms of diversity, every French department is a tourist destination, with its gastronomic and cultural specialties, its natural beauty and its history. France is a country with many faces. It appeals to all publics, all ages. This undoubtedly explains why France is the world's leading tourist destination.
