Association Insight International & European 1 | Page 80

France has the world’s fifth largest economy and is ranked second in Europe and sixth in the world for the number of international patents filed in 2012. Home to 71 innovation clusters – or centres of excellence – France also boasts 2,500 R&D projects. All this expertise is available to associations via the national and local convention bureau. France has a variety of venues in which to host events and a wide range of exclusive historic venues including châteaux, museums and abbeys. France’s hotel industry offers more than 13 000 hotels which have adopted the new classification system designed to attract the international market. France is a destination of choice for event planners with 11 international airports, one of the longest and safest road networks in Europe and 2,000 km of high speed railway tracks. Nowhere else in Europe offers such quick and easy access to neighbouring countries, with key destinations located just a few hours away. A dynamic economy and market →  urope’s second largest E economy and the fith largest in the world →  urope’s second largest E consumer market, with 65 million inhabitants →  he world’s leading T tourist destination, with 83 million visitors (World Tourism Organisation UNWTO, 2013) From historic sites to fine gourmet dining, France offers a wide range of offsite venues. The most visited country in the world, France has 33 properties designated UNESCO World Heritage sites, 40,000 castles, abbeys, manors, churches and 8,000 museums. The ‘Gastronomic meal of the French’ has also been added to the UNESCO Intangible Heritage of Humanity list. France provides participants of meetings and incentives with a vast range of memorable experiences thanks to its spectacular surroundings: scenery, beaches and coastal areas, mountains and urban cities. Choose the perfect mix to inspire and motivate your event. France has a proven track record of hosting successful events and is determined to continue to offer improving services and support thanks to its network of talented and service-focused event industry professionals. World-class industrial sectors →  urope’s largest aerospace E and nuclear industries →  urope’s second largest E agri-food and chemical industries atout france Sandie Meyniel [email protected] →  urope’s third largest ICT E and pharmaceutical sectors MINEFI MIN_11_0000_RdVFrance_P TONS RECOMMANDÉS (3)