The France Tourism Development Agency (Atout France) is expecting South East Asian tourist arrival to pick up early next year, supported by the strengthening of the Asian currency against the euro.

Atout France regional director for ASEAN, Morad Tayebi said the tourist arrival from this region, especially Malaysia, had dropped about 20 per cent last year as compared to 2015.

"The weakening of Asian currencies against the euro has badly hit the tourism sector, especially tourists from Malaysia, having dropped to 120,000 last year as compared to 150,000 arrivals in 2015," he told reporters during a media luncheon and briefing here Thursday.

He said another factor which affected the tourism sector in France was the terrorism factor which not only hit Paris but the entire European countries as well.

However, Morad added, Atout France would be focusing on halal tourism next year, expected to contribute about eight million on overall tourist arrival.

He urged Muslim tourists not to worry about the halal food in France as the country had the largest Muslim population in Europe, attributing to about six million.

"Last year, we reported about 83 million tourist arrivals, including about 10 per cent Muslim tourists.

"Next year, we plan to focus on halal tourism in order to increase the number of tourist arrivals, not only from Middle Eastern countries but also South East Asian countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand," said Morad.

He stressed that most five-star rated hotels in France offered halal menu while their rooms displayed 'qibla' direction and were equipped with prayer room.

-- BERNAMA