Port city seeks to increase its appeal

Marseille, France's second-largest city, plans to double its number of Chinese visitors within two years, according to Deputy Mayor Didier Parakian.

"Currently, Marseille receives about 60,000 Chinese visitors every year, and we hope the number will double, reaching 120,000 in the coming two years," Parakian told China Daily.

France is the prime European destination for Chinese tourists. A record 1.7 million visitors traveled to the country from China in 2013.