The French government has launched a strategy to position itself as the main cruise destination, targeting especially the Chinese market. The strategy includes a plan for air transport, which contemplates the opening of direct long-haul routes In secondary airports in France, we are talking about Toulouse, Bordeaux, Marseille, Lyon or Nice, so that these face the growth in international tourist arrivals that is expected in the coming years.
In the year 2030, 1.000 billion additional tourists are expected in the world, this is double the current figure handled by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
France expects to receive 15 million more tourists in 2020, of which 80% will come from long distance.
China is starting in the cruise market and forecasts indicate that between 2020 and 2025, there will be more Chinese traveling aboard megayachts and luxury ships than Americans. A trend is expected, which already characterized the North American market a few years ago, for which after having traveled through the Caribbean they moved to Europe.
At present the Chinese are already cruising in the China Sea, then they will go to Europe, and then to the Caribbean. At least that is how the French government believes the Chinese market will behave.
Nowadays France is the first tourist destination in the world and the second maritime territory after the US, counting on its overseas colonies, it is also one of the leaders in the construction of mega cruise ships. However, it is only the sixth destination for cruise ship shipments. The strategy that is being considered now is to invest in ports so that they have the capacity to receive cruise ships and especially those that come from distant destinations, such as China.