Editing Avignon (section)

== Economy ==
Avignon is the seat of the ''Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vaucluse'' which manages the Avignon–Caumont Airport and the Avignon-Le Pontet Docks.

Avignon has 7,000 businesses, 1,550 associations, 1,764 shops, and 1,305 service providers.<ref name=mariecarte>{{cite web | title=Contexte économique: Carte d'identité d'Avignon | url=http://www.mairie-avignon.fr/fr/ecodev/environ/ci.php | publisher=Le Marie, Avignon | language=fr | access-date=21 July 2014 | archive-date=10 August 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810200753/http://www.mairie-avignon.fr/fr/ecodev/environ/ci.php | url-status=dead }}</ref> The urban area has one of the largest catchment areas in Europe with more than 300,000 square metres of retail space and 469 m<sup>2</sup> per thousand population against 270 on average in France.<ref>[http://www.leravi.org/spip.php?article742 A wall of commercial areas], journal ''le Ravi'', November 2008 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> The commercial area of Avignon Nord is one of the largest in Europe.<ref>[http://www.leravi.org/spip.php?article1140 It is the zone], article in the Provençal magazine ''le Ravi'', September 2011</ref>

The tertiary sector is the most dynamic in the department by far on the basis of the significant production of early fruit and vegetables in Vaucluse, The MIN (Market of National Importance) has become the pivotal hub of commercial activity in the department, taking precedence over other local markets (including that of [[Carpentras]]).

A [[Sensitive urban zone]] was created for companies wanting to relocate with exemptions from tax and social issues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mairie-avignon.fr/fr/ecodev/eco/zfu1.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718193848/http://www.mairie-avignon.fr/fr/ecodev/eco/zfu1.php|url-status=dead|title=The exemptions in the Sensitive urban zone of Avignon|archive-date=18 July 2014}}</ref> It is located south of Avignon between the city walls and the Durance located in the districts of Croix Rouge, Monclar, Saint-Chamand, and La Rocade.<ref>[http://www.avignonvaucluse.cci.fr/1-9685-ZFU-d-Avignon.php Maps and plans of the Sensitive urban zone of Avignon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712183005/http://www.avignonvaucluse.cci.fr/1-9685-ZFU-d-Avignon.php |date=12 July 2014 }}, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vaucluse, consulted on 19 October 2011 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

=== Areas of economic activity ===
There are nine main areas of economic activity in Avignon.<ref name="ZAE">[http://www.avignonvaucluse.cci.fr/dynamiques/doc/LISTE-ZAE-MIS-EN-PAGE1.pdf Principal areas of activity in the department] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108132701/http://www.avignonvaucluse.cci.fr/dynamiques/doc/LISTE-ZAE-MIS-EN-PAGE1.pdf |date=8 January 2012 }}, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vaucluse, consulted on 19 October 2011 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

The Courtine area is the largest with nearly 300 businesses (of which roughly half are service establishments, one third are shops, and the rest related to industry) and more than 3,600 jobs.<ref name="ZAE"/> The site covers an area of 300 hectares and is located south-west of the city at the TGV railway station.

Then comes the Fontcouverte area with a hundred establishments representing a thousand jobs. It is, however, more oriented towards shops than the Courtine area.<ref name="ZAE"/>

The MIN area of Avignon is the Agroparc area{{efn|This area has had the INRA Centre which carries out scientific research in engineering environmental management for cultivated land and forests since 1953.}} (or "Technopole Agroparc"). The Cristole area is contiguous and both have a little less than a hundred establishments.<ref name="ZAE"/>

Finally, the areas of Castelette, Croix de Noves, Realpanier, and the airport each have fewer than 25 establishments spread between service activities and shops. The area of the Castelette alone represents more than 600 jobs—i.e. 100 more than Cristole.<ref name="ZAE"/>

=== Tourism ===
Four million visitors come annually to visit the city and the region and also for its [[Festival d'Avignon]].<ref name=mariecarte/> In 2011 the most visited tourist attraction was the Palais des Papes with 572,972 paying visitors.<ref name=otstats>{{ cite web|last=Joly |first=Sylvie |title=Avignon 2013: Dossier de Presse |url=http://www.ftp-avignon.com/pdf/DP2013/DP2013.pdf |publisher=Office de Tourisme, Avignon |access-date=31 July 2014 |language=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810035854/http://www.ftp-avignon.com/pdf/DP2013/DP2013.pdf |archive-date=10 August 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The annual Festival d'Avignon is the most important cultural event in the city. The official festival attracted 135,800 people in 2012.<ref name=otstats/>

[[File:Viking Burgundy (ship, 2000) 001.jpg|thumb|A cruise boat at the quay at Avignon.]]
River tourism began in 1994 with three river boat-hotels. {{Citation needed|date=July 2017}} In 2011 there is a fleet of 21 river boat-hotel vessels, including six sight-seeing boats which are anchored on the quay along the Oulle walkways. In addition, a free shuttle boat connects Avignon to the Île de la Barthelasse and, as of 1987, a harbor master has managed all river traffic.

The commune has been awarded one flower by the ''National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom'' in the ''Competition of cities and villages in Bloom''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.villes-et-villages-fleuris.com/les_villes_et_village_fleuris-47.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210053901/http://www.cnvvf.fr/les_villes_et_village_fleuris-47.html|url-status=dead|title=Site officiel du label Villes et Villages Fleuris|archive-date=10 December 2014|website=villes-et-villages-fleuris.com}}</ref>

=== Agriculture ===
[[File:Fruits et légumes aux Halles.jpg|thumb|Fruit and vegetables at the markets of Avignon]]

The city is the headquarters of the International Association of the Mediterranean [[Tomato]], the World Council of the [[Tomato Industry]], and the Inter-Rhône organisation.

=== Industry ===
Only [[Électricité de France|EDF]] (Grand Delta) with about 850 employees and ''Onet Propreté''{{efn|Cleaning company.}} with just over 300 exceed 100 employees.<ref name="Sud Insee">[http://www.insee.fr/fr/insee_regions/provence/themes/sud_essentiel/sie10/sie10.pdf South INSEE the highest 10], October 1998, [[INSEE]], consulted on 18 October 2011 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

=== Public sector (excluding government) ===
The Henri Duffaut hospital, the City of Avignon, and the CHS of Montfavet are the largest employers in the town with about 2,000 employees each. Then comes the General Council of Vaucluse with about 1,300 employees.<ref name="Sud Insee"/>

=== Employment ===
In 2017 the unemployment rate was 26.0% while it was 20.7% in 2007.<ref name=complet>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2011101?geo=COM-84007 Dossier complet: Commune d'Avignon (84007)], INSEE, retrieved 14 September 2020</ref> There are 38,731 people in the Avignon workforce: 102 (0.3%) agricultural workers, 2,194 (5.7%) tradesmen, shopkeepers, and business managers, 5,598 (14.5%) managers and intellectuals, 8,486 (21.9%) middle managers, 11,734 (30.3%) employees, and 9,247 (23.9%) workers.<ref name=complet/>