Rental investors advised to look at France

France has been flagged up as a potentially lucrative market for overseas property buyers by ShelterOffshore.com.

According to the website, 82 million foreign leisure travellers visited the European country in 2007 - more than anywhere else in the world.

As a result, it believes that prospective buy-to-let investors could find France an ideal location to consider, as there is high demand for rental accommodation.

ShelterOffshore.com added that a number of other factors, such as concerns over climate change and rising fuel prices could also work in France's favour.

This is because it is highly popular with Britons and easily accessible by means other than air.

Commenting on the country's appeal, ShelterOffshore.com said: "France is already being heralded by real estate experts and property investment aficionados as a hotspot for the future."

The online portal added that the government is currently looking at ways of boosting the tourism industry even further.

This comes after Virgin Trains revealed that "more and more" people are choosing to use the railway as a means of getting to destinations they might previously have gone to by car or plane.