The dazzling light, the azure sea and the pine covered hills of the French Riviera and Provence, provided powerful inspiration for some of the most significant artists of the late 19th and the 20th century: Monet, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Renoir, Braque, Bonnard, Matisse, Picasso, and Chagall. And a rising number of tourists from the Middle East are headed to the region, not just to admire this art but to invest in it as well.

Based in Provence, private tour guide Boba Vukadinovic-Millet tells us that in the last three years she has witnessed a real increase in demand for her private art tours. “At the moment, 15 per cent of my clients are from the Arab world, and I am sure that this number will continue growing.”

In Boba’s experience, Middle Eastern tourists are very demanding and discerning. “They expect a true bespoke travel and art experience. Only haute couture and no prêt-à-porter. They are very much interested in art and especially in contemporary art’s place in the world of art. They are eager to learn more about contemporary artists. Moreover, they want to take part and invest in today’s constantly growing art market.”