The figure is an increase of 4% over 2006, which keeps it ahead of its closest rival Spain, who received 59 million visitors, an increase of 1.7%.

The global total includes 14 million visitors not staying in France as their final destination, but this still leaves France ahead of Spain with 68 million final destination tourists.

Around half of these visitors came from Britain, Germany and Belgium. Whilst the number of German visitors went down last year, those from Britain rose by 7%, a figure no doubt boosted by the Rugby World Cup that took place in France.

Not only are Brits the largest group of tourists to France, but they are also the biggest spenders, spending on average €2854 per household, against the average of €2206.

There was also an increase in visitors from the USA, up by 7%, accounting for 4% of all visitors to the France. However, as numbers in the fourth quarter were adversely affected by an unfavourable dollar/Euro exchange rate it is anticipated there will be fewer from the US in 2008.

Despite the growth in visitor numbers last year, there remains concern by the French Government that international competition for tourists is getting tougher, and that France ‘can no longer merely cash in on past achievements’ according to the French Ministry of Tourism.

It is noteworthy, for instance, that although visitor numbers went up by 4% last year, this did not keep pace with the growth in world tourism, which rose 6%, according to the World Tourism Organization (WTO).

Of equal concern to policy makers is that the market share of France in world tourism went down from 11.3% in 2000 to 9.4% in 2006, with the growth in tourism to Asia (and China in particular) being the emergent threat.

Not surprisingly, it is visitors from Asia who are particular target for the French Government, a goal that was dealt a major blow recently when tourist companies in China agreed a boycott of France, following angry demonstrations against the passage of the Olympic torch through Paris. The fact that the Mayor of Paris also later made the Dali Lama an honorary citizen of the city did not helped matters.

Against the backdrop of a tougher market and the need to capture the growing Asian market, the Government is embarking on a tourism strategy labelled ‘Destination France’ with message that reflects the importance of tourism to the French economy – le toursime au coeur de notre croissance.

Elements of the new strategy include development of the low-cost travel offer to France, improving visa access, improvement in tourism information centres, investment in the hotel industry, and an overhaul of its outdated four-star hotel rating system. Final details of the proposed strategy are awaited.