This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, and is also the year of cultural tourism between China and France. France has always been a popular outbound destination for Chinese tourists. Since the beginning of this year, the number of Chinese tourists visiting France has increased rapidly, and it is expected that French tourism will reach a small peak in the summer.
High summer bookings
The summer travel season is coming, and the Paris Olympic Games is also approaching. The reporter learned from several travel agencies and online travel platforms that the recent popularity of "sports+tourism" in France has continued to rise, and many Chinese tourists plan to visit Paris in the summer, both watching and sightseeing. According to the person in charge of Spring and Autumn Tourism, the number of tourist visa reservations in France increased sharply from July to August, and the number of tourist visa bookings has exceeded that of the same period last year. Flying pig data shows that in the past two months, the number of Chinese tourists applying for visas to France has exceeded the same period in 2019.
According to Ctrip's statistics, since this year, the travel orders of Chinese tourists to France have increased by 197% year on year, with Paris, Nice, Lyon, Marseille and other popular destinations. The person in charge of Qunar said that the bookings of Chinese tourists to visit France have been growing steadily since the second quarter of last year, and the bookings of Chinese tourists to visit France in the first quarter of this year have recovered to the same level in 2019. As of June 7, the number of air tickets booked to France in the summer increased by 80% year on year.
Sun Jie, the head of outbound business for the same trip, said that the number of Chinese tourists to France this year has increased by more than 100% compared with last year when outbound travel resumed. France is one of the most popular destinations in Europe. At present, there is a strong demand for visas to France, and visa applications for summer and winter vacations have been queuing up. At present, the bookings of the summer French tour products of Zhongxin Travel are satisfactory. In the past, the booking cycle of the summer European tour products was entered in the middle and late May, but at the beginning of May this year, the registration of the French tour products has reached nearly 40%. At present, the tour products of one place in France have been sold out.
There are many ways to play in depth
At present, Chinese tourists have changed their travel to France from sightseeing to in-depth experience. People choose to join a group or travel freely in France to visit museums, taste food, watch sports events and experience local life.
According to the person in charge of Tourniu Tourism, the Louvre, Versailles, Eiffel Tower, Orsay Museum, Seine River and Paris Opera House in Paris are the most popular among Chinese tourists. Nice, the seaside resort, Cannes, where the International Film Festival is held, and Mount Saint Michel, known as one of the eight wonders of the world, are also popular destinations. Chinese tourists enjoy lavender in Provence, taste delicious wine in Burgundy, explore ancient castles in the Loire Valley, and ride along the southern coastline of France... According to the statistics of where to go, during the May Day holiday, Chinese tourists have covered more than 20 destinations in France, including Paris, Marseille, Burgundy, Val, and Lorraine.
Han Jie, Chairman of CYTS Travel, said that since this year, Chinese tourists have continued to travel to France. In order to enrich French travel products, travel has added products related to the Olympic Games, as well as in-depth travel products in South France and Upper France. Li Mengran, media and public relations manager of Zhongxin Tourism Group, introduced that this year's in-depth French travel products are more abundant and the travel experience is more unique. In addition to the traditional land routes, French long-distance cruise products have also been added.
Customized tours to France are also increasingly popular. On Ctrip's customized platform, we searched for customized tours such as Van Gogh's footprints and celebrity cafe tours, meeting the diverse needs of tourists. Up to now, the number of bookings for customized tour packages in France in summer has increased by 128% year on year.
More popular Chinese services
The reporter learned from the French Tourism Development Agency that the official Chinese website of the "Olympic Tour" has been launched to provide the latest information, strategies and itinerary planning for Chinese tourists visiting France during the Olympic season, including the viewing and visiting strategies of classic Olympic venues, the exploration of the route of the Olympic torch relay, and the trend playing methods of the main host cities of Olympic events.
Deng Jialin, General Manager of Greater China of the French Tourism Development Agency, said: "Recent surveys show that Chinese tourists have a strong interest in traveling to France. This year, we recommend Chinese tourists to 'slow travel' in new destinations and spend more time exploring France's unique scenery, culture and natural heritage."
France provides more convenient digital services for Chinese tourists. Many places have opened WeChat and Alipay, and UnionPay card payment is also very convenient. Many shops and major hotels in France provide Chinese services, and Chinese tour guides can also be found in major museums.
Deng Jialin introduced that during the Sino French Cultural Tourism Year, hundreds of theme activities were carried out in various fields, such as performing arts, visual arts, cultural heritage, tourism promotion, etc. Tourism plays an important role in the economic development and cultural exchanges between China and France. Deng Jialin said: "We sincerely hope that the number of Chinese tourists will increase this year. In addition, we are also very concerned about their stay in France. Not only in Paris, we hope that Chinese tourists can go to different regions of France, spend a relaxed and happy week or two or even more, and enjoy the unique art of life and real experience."
