Nice in summer, Courchevel in winter… France attracts a Russian clientele willing to spend a lot in luxury boutiques, gourmet restaurants, and invest in real estate.
New rich people from the East, mainly from Russia, come to the French Riviera to spend their holidays. Example in Nice where Russian tourists interviewed, tell what they did and bought during their stay; Valentina: "I spent three thousand dollars, more than 15,000 francs, we went every night to the restaurant, the casino...". Alain TROCONI, director of the Atlantic hotel in Nice, explains: "These are people who, we see, don’t have everything at home and therefore come to buy a lot and they especially buy a lot of luxury items".
In the French Alps, the prestigious resort of Courchevel attracts a Russian clientele, with strong purchasing power. Report within the station, micro-sidewalk and interview of Tatiana NIKCSHIRA, Russian travel agent who explains: "When you say I spent the holidays in Courchevel, it is an element of prestige...". Interviews with a head of luxury clothing store and Denis ZANON, director of the resort’s tourist office, who talks about the case of the Russian billionaire could tarnish the station’s image.
While Boris Yeltsin has just been re-elected to the presidency of Russia, meeting with Russians on holiday in an amusement park of Antibes and a 4-star hotel in Juan les Pins. Yuri ZADVORNIY, the head of the company explains: "It is a stay that costs me between 80 and 100 thousand francs". Interviewed, François BENHAMOU, director of the Garden Beach Hotel says: "They are very good consumers...".
Focus on Russian tourists from the French Riviera, which represents 5% of tourism in the region. They also invest in real estate, which benefits the local economy. On the beach, testimony of a Russian family: "The Russians love the French Riviera very much, there is a very pretty Russian church in Nice...". Interview with Patrick LE TIEC, Director of the Eze Village Tourist Office.
Survey on the rise of the Russian clientele in Biarritz and the facilities dedicated to these new tourists. A couple of Russian tourists evoke the reasons for their coming to Biarritz after having often visited the French Riviera. Jacques AIGLON, director of the 4-star Radisson hotel in Biarritz, explains: "Because they have the means to come to destinations like Biarritz, which are not cheap destinations...". A guest of the hotel said not to look at the expense.
The INA Galaxy 
