According to Xinhuanet.com, China's rapid economic development and increasing consuming power makes France, the world's No. 1 tourist destination, have more expectations of China's high-end outbound tourism market.

At the sixth tourism promotion fair held by the Maison de la France (MDLF, the French Government Tourist Office) on Tuesday, MDLF China Office Director Jean-Michel Harzic said that next year, MDLF will actively adopt various measures to prolong Chinese tourists' stay in France. It will offer high-quality tourist routes to attract business travelers.

This tourism promotion fair attracted 49 members from 35 tourism-related organizations around France, including transportation authorities, regional, provincial and municipal tourist offices, hotels, department stores and other relevant departments.

France is the largest tourist destination of the world. It has a population of 60 million but receives as many as 75 million inbound tourists every year.

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2005)