Keystone-SDA
France welcomed 100 million international visitors in 2024, the year of the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, generating 71 billion euros in revenue, the Ministry of Tourism announced on Tuesday.
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January 21, 2025 – 6:50 p.m.
(Keystone-ATS) “If these figures confirm our position as the leading global destination, we must take a new step by becoming the leading sustainable tourism destination,” declared Minister Nathalie Delattre quoted in a press release.
The country welcomed 2 million more visitors compared to 2023.
“The outlook for the first quarter of 2025 is very good with attendance on the rise,” adds the press release.
International air arrivals are up 10% in the quarter compared to 2024, with an increase of 15% in American visitors, 7% in Brazilian and Indian visitors and 16% in Chinese.
-The hotel occupancy rate in the capital is up 7 points in January 2025 and 4 points in February.
In 2024, international revenues increased by 12% year-on-year, driven by Belgian, English, German, Swiss and American customers. Asian customers are returning to France but the number of Chinese visitors remains 60% lower than before the pandemic. Japanese visitors are 30% fewer than in 2019.
Essential Americans
“Americans, with overnight stays up 5%, are becoming an essential clientele driven by economic dynamics and a significant purchasing power differential,” it is specified.
For all international customers, overnight stays are up 7.3%, driven by rental accommodation (+16.4%).
The end-of-year holidays saw “a significant tourist rebound driven by ski resorts and the increase in international attendance” thanks in particular to good snow cover.
The occupancy rate of ski resorts rose over the period to 85% for all commercial accommodation combined, up 3 points compared to 2023.
International attendance is up 10% compared to last year while French customers show an increase of 2%.
