In Greecethe inhabitants are tagging graffiti. In Italyau Portugal and in Spainthey use water pistols and mass manifestations.
While Anti-tourism feeling begins to spread throughout Europe, a country is distinguished by its relative silence. This is the most visited country in the world :
France.
Although it welcomes around 100 million travelers each year, France rarely makes the front page of the newspapers for tourism -related protests – a striking contrast with its neighbors, who are increasingly expressing their frustration in the face of overcrowded cities, the increase in rents and reprehensible behaviors.
There is no unique reason for France to avoided the return of the stick, and the fears that such a return of the stick occurs are not unfounded. But a commitment to sustainable tourism, solid infrastructure and a strategy aimed at distributing visitors between regions and seasons all have a role to play.
France played the long -term game
Unlike many countries that are trying to slow down today mass tourismFrance began preparing the field several years ago.
Atout France, the country’s tourism development agency has made sustainability a central element of its strategy. As part of a ten -year roadmap, the Destination France plan, the government affected 1.9 billion euros in 2021 to encourage more ecological and more responsible trips.
These are Favor the train to short-coated flightsto invest in medium -sized cities and to encourage visitors not to be satisfied with the usual destinations, such as Paris or Nice.
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The country has redoubled any efforts this year by committing to invest in more ecological tourism, more inclusive And more digital. Tourism officials hope that this investment will result in longer stays, fewer crowds and more enriching experiences.
“The French authorities have been investing in sustainable tourism for years,” said Veronica Diquatro, president of B2C and the offer at Omio, a travel engine for Europe.
“The emphasis is now put on the improvement of the quality of tourist experiences, the distribution of the number of visitors throughout the year to fight against surcourism and the highlighting of ecological, digital, social and inclusive tourist practices.”
The power of trains
France has one of the most extensive rail networks in Europe – 28,000 kilometers of railways, including 2,800 kilometers of high -speed lines.
“France is one of the most accessible countries for rail tourism,” explains Ms. Diquatro.
Cities of only 20,000 inhabitants have a station, she explains. Thanks to high speed, it is possible to get from Paris to Marseille in three hours.
This type of access changes tourist patterns. It also changes policies.
In 2023, France will prohibit formally interior flights On certain routes which can be traveled in less than two and a half hours by the train. Although its impact on the climate is not clearthis measure nevertheless stimulated train trips and probably encouraged trips to regions that could have been overlooked.
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Tourists are dispersed to design
Where L‘Spain At the Costa Brava and Italy Venice, France has … everything. And that’s exactly how the country likes it.
“Tourists are dispersed in France”, explains Marine Prat, designer of travel and professional events at Loire Secrets. “They don’t go to one place. They travel to several regions.”
This is partly explained by history: France has always presented itself as a country of regions. It is also a matter of history. Of the Loire castles to Christmas markets in Alsaceeach region offers its own type of tourism and the infrastructure that goes with it.
“More and more people want to travel off the beaten track. They want to see different regions – not just the classics, such as Paris, Normandy and the South of France,” adds Ms. Prat. “From now on, they can see on Instagram that it is possible to go to an hour and a half from Paris and easily discover charming villages, gastronomy and very dynamic cities.”
A cultural advantage
Perhaps less obvious, France’s legacy in terms of welcoming foreigners could bear fruit today.
“France has been a crossroads of cultures for centuries,” explains Marine Prat. “It is completely normal for people to be visited [la France]… this is an important element of our economy. “
This long tradition of reception, associated with a solid Tourist infrastructurehas probably helped to isolate France from some of the problems observed elsewhere.
And the public is more and more numerous. As Ms. Prat points out, arrivals from new markets such as India, Southeast Asia, Australia and Africa have increased in recent years. They find more activities outside the big cities and revolve around them.
“We are trying to sell more local experiences,” she explains. “We are very involved in our region. We want to promote more biological or biodynamic winegrowers, more local and organic foods, and people who work in this direction”.
Ms. DIQUATTRO says that her business data confirms this.
“Travelers often choose Paris as the first destination. But from there, they diversify, adding that Marseille and Strasbourg develop quickly, thanks to best connections And more experiences to live when travelers arrive on the spot.
Can regulations counter reprisals?
France has not escaped friction. Strikes frequent – railway, aerial Or others – are always part of the national rhythm. Engorgement and confuse could also be imminent problems.
In the meantime, last year’s Olympic Games have drawn attention to the “Light City” that more than 50 million people visited Paris during 2024 alone.
At the beginning of the summer, the inhabitants of Montmartre began to sound the alarm against the crowds. “People come for three hours, have fun, buy a beret or a pancake and leave, as if they were in an amusement park,” a resident told Reuters.
The authorities hope that the regulations will avoid the worst.
While short -term vacation rentals have triggered Housing crises in cities like Lisbon and Barcelonathe authorities were more prompt to act in France.
Under a law adopted last year (the law), local communities can caps holiday rentalsreduce the number of nights during which residences can be rented (from 120 to 90) and inflict fines on owners who do not respect the rules.
Whether it is laws regulating short -term rentals or a master plan for more sustainable growth, the French system seems to hold out. In the era of excessive tourism, the country’s secret weapon may well have planned this moment from the start.