The rapid growth in French tourism abroad poses a public health challenge. The "Tourism Demand Monitoring" survey conducted by Sofres on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism makes it possible, among other things, to estimate the number of people who travel outside France for leisure purposes. This survey, which covers people residing in France who are over 15 years of age, provides a typical profile (which has remained fairly stable in recent years) of the tourist traveling abroad: most often traveling in pairs, with more than six out of ten trips taking place in Europe; tourists who choose a foreign destination travel primarily for leisure and very rarely for professional reasons. Outside of Europe, they are likely to travel to North Africa (Morocco or Tunisia) or to North America (the United States). The length of their stays depends on the distance traveled: six days in Europe, but an average of 15 days on one of the islands in the Indian Ocean. While French tourists are increasingly choosing foreign destinations, in recent years these have become increasingly European. The fact remains that today, even if tourist numbers may be low or even very low, French travelers are spread across some 120 foreign countries each year, inevitably visiting high-risk areas where infectious diseases are present, thereby inevitably raising the issue of information and prevention. (R.A.)