Shopping Tourism: Retail Therapy
Luxury Shopping Experiences
Paris generates €1.7 billion from tax-free shopping:
Beyond Transaction - Personal shoppers for tourists - After-hours private shopping - Atelier visits at fashion houses - Trunk shows for tour groups
Regional Luxury - Grasse: Perfume creation workshops - Limoges: Porcelain painting experiences - Baccarat: Crystal factory tours - Hermès: Leather workshops
Market Experiences: Authentic Encounters
France's 10,000+ markets offer cultural immersion:
Structured Experiences - Chef-guided market tours - Truffle hunting + market visit - Antique expertise at flea markets - Christmas market packages
A market vendor in Aix observes: "Tourists don't just buy produce anymore. They want stories—where these olives grow, how we make tapenade, why Cavaillon melons are special. We've become performers, not just sellers."