France has added three new locat.ions to its list of International Tourist Zones, where stores have permission to open on Sunday, and to stay open until midnight every day. The plan is supposed to help local economies and encourage travelers.
The new list includes a fourth Mediterranean location, Antibes; the first town on the Atlantic to be designated, La Baule in Brittany, and the first inland city to be designated, Dijon (above). Other inland zones exist only in Paris, where 12 areas, mostly at major train stations and shopping centers have the hours.
The criteria, aside from a request from local authorities, include “having an international reputation due to commerce, culture, heritage, or leisure” and “attracting an influx of tourists from outside of France”.
