Latest news France - Languedoc in London
Languedoc-Roussillon is a long-standing favourite with British tourists and home buyers alike; last year there were more than 800,000 visitors from the UK to the region and 28,000 Britons own a home there. With the opening of the Maison de la Région Languedoc-Roussillon in London, the bond should become even stronger. With maisons already based in Shanghai, Milan and Brussels, the centre is the fourth to be opened outside France, and will promote tourism as well as highlight export and investment opportunities.
The Cavendish Square showroom was inaugurated on 18 June by Georges Frêche, the dynamic former mayor of Montpellier and current president of Languedoc-Roussillon. After cutting the ribbon he gave an impassioned speech during which he spoke of the historic ties between Britain and France and highlighted the strong links between Languedoc-Roussillon and the UK.
Languedoc-Roussillon is the largest single wine-growing area in the world and one of the region’s aims is to promote its food and wine overseas. Britain is the third largest importer of Languedoc wine; we drank 64 million bottles of it in 2007 and the figure is set to rise by 20 per cent by 2010. ‘The British have a long-standing love of French wine,’ said Monsieur Frêche, ‘and this will continue with the opening of this maison.’
Another intention is to attract new business to the region, facilitated by the good access to the UK that the region already enjoys. With five international airports and daily flights to the UK, the Languedoc is accessible for business travellers. There are already 35 UK businesses operating in the Languedoc and the opening of the maison should underline opportunities for potential investors.
For more information visit
www.maisondelaregionlanguedocroussillon.com