DEAUVILLE, the sleepy little town on the coast of Normandy, is just two hours northeast by car (or train) from Paris. With a population of only 4,000 (during its off-peak season) it has always been an ideal weekend getaway for Parisians, many of whom keep holiday homes there or visit by yacht.
The city, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, offers world-class hotels, casinos, golf courses, marinas and is also home to the Deauville American Film Festival and the Lucien Barrière Deauville Polo Club Competition, among other sporting and Mice events.
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The International Center of Deauville (CID) hosts more than 200 cultural events every year including the film festival when the city (pictured right) comes alive with celebrities and their fans, increasing its population almost ten-fold.
The town is best known though for its rural life, coupled with the heritage hotels and celebrity sightings. Currently 90 per cent of tourists visiting Deauville are from various regions across France while 10 per cent are international tourists including guests from the Middle East.
According to Nathalie Garcia at Deauville Tourism Office: “Deauville has much to offer Arab guests with our luxury properties, wellness facilities including a thalassotherapy centre, golf courses and plenty of luxurious brands for shopoholics. The easy accessibility to Paris, which is already a favourite among the Arab travellers, adds to the appeal.”
To celebrate its 150th anniversary, the city announced this summer that it would be the focal point for the region’s 2011 celebrations and has already started drawing up plans for a full year’s calendar of activities.