Médoc the most popular tourist destination

Over three million people visited the vineyards of Bordeaux in 2009 according to data recently released by Atout France and the local authorities. Médoc was the prime tourist location in Aquitaine, with 655,000 visitors, 200,000 of whom came from abroad. The region’s popularity is due to the reputation of its wines, allowing it to steal a march over the Bordeaux and Libourne appellations.

Region-wide, 43 percent of the 3.3 million visitors to Aquitaine in 2009 were French and 27 percent foreign, whilst a further 30 percent were day trippers. Most of the people surveyed said they enjoyed tasting local products during their stay and many claimed that they wanted to meet wine growers, taste and buy wine. In fact, discovering the local vineyards was their primary motivation. Consequently, wine was top of the list in terms of expenditure with an average spend of 144 euros per visitor group.

Bordeaux’s vineyards are by far the most visited wine region in France; 42 percent of respondents have been to Bordeaux in the last five years. 92 percent of visitors came on an individual basis though tourist information offices nevertheless played a major role in supplying advice and information. 55 percent of visitors choose Bordeaux because they want to discover its vineyards, whilst 36 percent are attracted by the region’s reputation. As with other wine regions, the economic spin-offs extend well beyond the stay itself, with 67 percent of visitors saying they would be more inclined to drink the region’s wines after their visit.