Local regions splurge 'fortune' on Tour de France

The Tour de France costs "a fortune", says the president of Normandy, but that didn't stop the region bidding to host Saturday's Grand Depart for the 103rd edition at the picturesque Mont Saint-Michel. The region in northern France spent 1.3 million euros ($1.4 million) to host the Tour, which will spend 435 of its 3,500 km in the Manche department in Normandy. But, it's worth it, said Herve Morin, president of Normandy. Philippe Bas, president of the Manche department, agreed: "You have to look at the financial benefit to the local economy -- it's four to five times the level of investment." The Manche has invested 2.6 million euros in the Tour and expects an average of four million French television viewers a day to watch the race, putting the department in a highly visible tourism shop window. It's also being shown in 190 countries. Tour organisers ASO say it costs 65,000 euros to host a stage departure and 110,000 euros for a stage finish. That investment is doubled when taking into account the spending on infrastructure and communication, but ASO does not want for offers. With 2,000 journalists following the race, as well as the teams and organisers, the local hotel and restaurant industries stand to benefit from a one-night bonanza, and that's not even taking into account the added tourism and publicity.