French Travelers Opt for Greece

French travelers are choosing Greece among their top four choices for summer holidays this year, according to feedback collected at the Salon du Tourisme held last week at Paris’ Porte de Versailles.

However, Greece is facing rising competition from the new destinations of Romania, Iran, Tunisia and Cyprus. According to data, a small percentage of the French will be traveling abroad this summer at 16 percent, while 47 percent will remain within the country and 37 percent will stay at home citing economic reasons.

”With regards to customer interest and sales for the summer holidays, the leading choices are Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy. Followed by the US, Cuba and Canada as a stable tourist choices. We are also seeing newly emerging destinations such as Iran and Cyprus and a slight comeback of Tunisia,’’ Marianne Santernagkor, director of the Salon du Tourisme, told Le Figaro daily.

Meanwhile, according to the same Le Figaro report, the majority of well-off French travelers are seeking innovation, culture and adventure at new destinations while tour operators are constantly looking for new experiences to keep up with the changing demands.