Atout France, the national French tourism development agency, has announced the launch of France.fr, the official dedicated Arabic website for France as a destination.

With the goal of welcoming 100 million tourists to France by 2020, the Arabic version of the website has been developed to increase interest and footfall from the region.

France.fr is fully adapted with the traveller from the Middle East in mind. The content created takes into consideration cultural nuances and traditions. Social Media platforms are now also available in Arabic to inspire and encourage followers to share their experiences. User-friendly and optimised for mobile consumption, the new website contains content and information on tourism in France, hotels, restaurants, things to do, culture and heritage, events and museums.

“Digital innovation is at the heart of our marketing initiatives and we have placed a significant focus on content creation, curation and distribution of the content on France in a number of languages to remain truly connected to people around the world. The website’s aim is to boost France’s appeal as a touristic destination, improving its ranking as a top travel destination for the Arab traveller,” explained Karim Mekachera, regional director of Atout France in the Middle East.

Key features of the website include:
1. Before you set off or خطط لسفرك: A section entirely dedicated to travel information including customs and visa, transportation, accommodation, geography, climate and many more practical pieces of information.

2. Things to do الأنشطة : Viewers of the site can learn about the outstanding cultural attractions accessible for visits, such as taking hikes amongst the peaks, romantic tours, or family cruises.
 
3. Places to go الوجهات: The section of the site creates awareness of the vast numbers of locations that can be visited, including the Alpes-Mont Blanc to Normandy, Provence to the Loire Valley, and from Paris to Tahiti. The site has information on more than 30 destinations that are ready to be discovered.

4. Happening now in France الآن في فرنسا : A page dedicating to sharing news on festivals, exhibitions, concerts and major events, everywhere in France, showcases how there's always something going on in the country. This page is great for visitors to check on activities and schedule them during their trip.

5. An interactive map: The website now includes an interactive map element that is fully responsive to give a rich experience across the platform.

“We are pleased to offer a local language domain for all Arabic speaking travellers who can now benefit from a localised platform providing more relevant content to help them prepare for a great trip,” Mekachera added.

To further enhance user experience, the developers of the website will be gathering and studying consumer feedback to continuously improve and update the website. Updates will also be released including new content specific to the market including shopping, halal food, luxury accommodation and more. - TradeArabia News Service