Tourism, a key sector of the economy

Major sector of the French economy, tourism contributes over $ 54 billion in revenue in hotels, shopping, recreation, etc. Tourism contributes to the vitality of the national economy and generates almost a million jobs, many jobs for young people.

France is probably the country with the highest density of monuments, museums, festivals but also picturesque and remarkable places. It has become, since the 1990s, the first tourist destination in the world, ahead of the United States and Spain (revenue side, France is still after both countries, with 54.5 billion euros in 2011).Premier organization for promoting France as a tourist destination, the National Agency Trump France has set ambitious goals.

Tourism in France, it is also close to a million direct jobs and many companies (more than 270,000). And an entire industry, hotels and cafes and restaurants, which closely depends on the contribution of tourism.

The extension of mass tourism, attraction to sunny areas and coastline, the development of winter sports, tourism generated a variety of facilities and attracted large development programs, both on the coast that in the mountains, in the decades from 1960 to 1980: Snow level 1964 Mission Racine for Languedoc-Roussillon, interministerial committee for development of the Aquitaine coast (MIACA), etc. Such arrangements, objects large national plans, have significantly changed the economy of these areas through infrastructure and home made equipment. Number of tourist areas are serviced by communication channels broadband (highways, rail lines at light speed, airports, ..), which are often saturated in holiday periods. Mountain 1985 Act and the Coastal Law of 1986, the first, allowed to respond to a request for protection of the natural environment in these acquired tourism areas.

In a global and highly competitive industry in Europe, the French policy is actively working to increase the added value of tourism by enhancing both its natural and cultural assets but also by developing emerging trends such as business tourism or sectors "niche" (cruises, religious tourism ...). Also priority to development of tourism overseas, which have huge advantages: the most beautiful lagoons and wildest in the world, beaches, mountains and unique local flavors.

Going on holiday, a social requirement

The primary factor behind the massive development of French tourism is the advent in 1936 of paid leave, including their gradual elongation five weeks in 1982 The French employees therefore now have five weeks of paid leave, and more often for those who enjoy "days off" (reduction of working time). Early on, the government, the voluntary sector and businesses through their committees of employees have worked to facilitate the departure of the French on holiday. Assistive devices were created initially as holiday check, ensuring a certain equality before the holidays including low income, and make holidays a social right which our citizens are very attached.