Top 5 main destinations for Britons heading to France
Wine-loving Brits are flocking to France this year, with almost half of them heading there specifically to sample French wines. Among the travelers, 8 out of 10 people plan to visit the country's best wine regions.
Almost every second tourist (49%) plans to indulge in wine tasting or visit the vineyards directly. This is evidenced by a survey conducted by Scott Dunn, a specialist in luxury travel, as reported by nottinghampost.com.
More than three-quarters (79%) of visitors will go to popular wine regions, including Provence, Bordeaux, Normandy, Burgundy, Champagne, and the Loire Valley. Almost one-fifth (17%) will sample the delights of Bordeaux, known as arguably the world's largest red wine region. It is followed by Provence (16%), where fans can taste delicate rosé wines.
Burgundy will be visited by 10% of vacationers who can enjoy the profiles of chardonnay and pinot noir, while 8% will head to the Loire Valley for dry white wines.
Finally, Champagne, which is just a two-hour drive from Paris, will be visited by 6% of people who want to taste the delicate flavors of the luxurious drink of the same name.
A fifth of vacationers (22%) will head to Normandy, known for its first-class ciders and calvados that pair well with the region's gastronomy.
More than a third of Brits (34%) plan to spend a vacation in France this year, with almost a quarter (24%) traveling there for the first time.
Last year, just under 100 million tourists visited this European destination, and this figure is set to surpass that in 2024, making France the most visited country on earth by 2025.
Ria Santamaria, a travel consultant for Europe at Scott Dunn, says that the "huge love of French wine and cuisine" among the British is contributing to the rapid growth in bookings as vacationers seek to "develop their palate."
Scott Dunn's research surveyed 2,000 Brits to find out how many of them will grab their berets and swim across the English Channel this summer and why.
The survey found that almost half (40%) of Brits are indulging their sophisticated tastes and visiting the country for the food offered in restaurants. Wine tasting in Burgundy was also named in the top list of desires for 2024, as well as visiting the many regional food markets in France.
Almost one-third (29%) of British shopaholics go there to satisfy their desire to spend money, while 28% go to visit vineyards and try local drinks. History buffs are especially attracted to Normandy this summer, as 2024 will mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day celebrations.
Top 5 most popular destinations in France in 2024:
- Paris (30%)
- Normandy (22%)
- Bordeaux (17%)
- Provence (16%)
- Côte d'Azur / French Riviera (15%)
Burgundy (10%), Marseille (9%), the Loire Valley (8%), and Champagne (6%) were also popular choices.
Earlier, Travel Wise wrote that non-EU citizens will have to pay a tourist tax to enter France. Such requirements apply to short-term C-type visas.
