Is France inventing gastronomic tourism? The country that receives the most visitors each year in the world has had a new attraction for a few months: the price of its products sold in supermarkets.
While inflation reached 9.1% in the euro zone in August, including 10% in Belgium, 10.3% in Spain, 9% in Italy, 8.8% in Germany, France is quite except with a rate of 6.5%.
In consumer goods alone, a NielsenIQ study revealed in June that French prices rose by far the least in Europe in 2022. A development that has not gone unnoticed by foreign consumers living near the French border.
The images of German or Belgian customers coming to France to do their shopping to pay less are a good example of an economic reality. According to NielsenIQ, while sales increased by 5.4% in French mass distribution this summer compared to 2021, the increase is stronger in border areas. The turnover of border stores (those located 20 km or less from a neighboring country) increased by an average of 7.5%.
The Swiss and Luxembourgers in the lead
Apart from Spain (Andorra continues to be an attractive center due to its taxation), all border areas have seen their activity progress more strongly than the national average.
Sales are up 5.7% on the German border, 7.4% near Italy, 7.5% with Belgium, 9.1% with Switzerland and even +10.8% in stores close to Luxembourg. In these last two countries, the standard of living is higher than in France and prices in stores are higher, even excluding inflation.
A growth that sometimes even reaches the most tourist areas. Because the summer of 2022 was generally favorable for consumption and tourism in France. And not just on the coasts.
If Paris is at the head of the best-oriented departments, it is above all thanks to its tourist districts, which have seen their turnover grow by +32%.
In detail, the Bay of Somme shows a growth of +11%, while the points of sale on the Normandy coast saw their turnover increase by +9% compared to last summer. The La Baule/Pornic area and the Vendée coast continue in the ranking, also with above-average increases (+7%).
The terrible fires in July in Gironde, on the other hand, penalized tourism in this part of the Atlantic coast. Grocery stores in the Arcachon basin area are the only tourist areas that have not progressed this summer.
Source: BFM TV
