Tourist spending on the rise in France

Despite the worldwide recession in recent years, tourist spending is still up in France, thanks in large part to the luxury boutiques and the country’s reputation for haute couture fashion, reports Quotidien du Tourisme.

According to Global Blue, a company that specializes in helping tourists get their tax refunds, foreign visitors are spending more in France than ever. In 2010, tourist tax refunds were up 35 percent over 2009. So far in 2011, spending is up 28 percent over this time last year.

China, Brazil, Japan, Russia and the U.S. are responsible for 47 percent of all tourist tax refund requests in France, suggesting that visitors from these countries are doing most of the spending. China and Brazil, in particular, are growing at a rapid rate, with spending up 60 percent and 56 percent respectively.

The high-end boutiques in France – like Parisian flagship stores from major fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Cartier, Hermes – are credited with drawing fashionistas from around the globe and giving the country a worldwide reputation as a leader in fashion and style.