French tourism 'still doing well'

In news that may interest those looking at buying into tourist rental property in France, a minister has said the country has managed to sustain its visitor numbers much better than many of its neighbours.

Junior tourism minister Herve Novelli said the country had seen less Americans this summer because of the weak dollar and less Chinese visitors because they were hosting the Olympics, Forbes reports.

However, he continued, more Middle Eastern holidaymakers had come to France, boosting numbers, while tourists from other European countries - including Britain - have remained loyal.

Such news may be a good indicator that the credit crunch has not depressed this market and that France remains very popular both as a tourist destination and a place to buy property.

French property remained the most favoured choice for UK overseas buyers last year, accounting for 25.4 per cent of such purchases, according to figures from the Association of International Property Professionals.