About two million Chinese tourists will visit France in 2020, taking the second position behind Americans, compared to 600,000 in 2006, according to Paul Roll, director general of the Tourism Office in Paris.

 

Speaking Thursday during a press conference organized jointly with the Printemps Haussmann department store, Roll said "France, and in particular Paris, is the leading European destination for Chinese tourists. They visit the Louvre, the Tour Eiffel, department stores and duty free shops."

 

According to the tourism office, the Chinese spend less on accommodation and food, about 50 euros (US$67.5) per day on average compared with 130 euros for Americans and 144 euros for the Japanese. But they spend more on shopping, about 197 euros on average compared with 80 euros for Americans and 132 euros for the Japanese.

 

According to Didier Lalance, director general of Printemp department store, Chinese tourists spend between 9 million and 10 million euros per year in the store, out of the overall turnover of 550 million euros.

 

In his view, the Chinese clients who visit the store currently are "much younger than in the past, between the age of 30 and 40 on average, are more educated and have an increased purchasing power."

 

The Chinese tourists spend around 700 euros, about 58 percent of their overall voyage budget, Lalance added.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2007)