France Still Top for Tourists
Despite increasing competition for the tourist pound, dollar and euro, France still regularly attracts enormous amounts of visitors from around the world.
According to the World Tourism Organization, France receives more foreign visitors per year than any other country - some 76 million in 2006. This is followed by Spain with 55 million, the US with 50 million and China with 47 million. Italy completes the top 5 with 37 million (just ahead of the UK).
And whilst Time Square was the most visited place in 2006 with 35 million tourist visitors, the top 50 most visited places compiled by Forbes Traveller includes 7 attractions in France:
9. Notre Dame, 12 million
10. Disneyland Paris, 10.6m
11. Sacre-Coeur, 8.2m
15. The Louvre, 7.5m
18. The Eiffel Tower, 6.7m
25. The Pompidou Centre, 5.1m
45. The Palace of Versailles, 3.45m