A look back at the information and other announcements that marked the world of tourism and travel in France over the past year. Here is a selection – entirely subjective – of the ten main ones in this area…
1 – France’s carbon footprint in terms of tourism is improving
If tourism in France plays a crucial role in the national economy with nearly 200 billion euros generated annually, its environmental impact also remains a major issue.
However, in his report “ Assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from the tourism sector in France » covering 2022 but published this year, Ademe, this key player in the ecological transition in France, underlines that the evolution of the tourism sector in terms of decarbonization is rather positive in the country. Since we thus went from 115 million tonnes of CO2 emitted in 2018 to 97 for the latest available figures for 2022. That is, a 16% drop which according to its representatives is “aligned with the trajectory of the Paris Agreement and the national low-carbon strategy which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% to 50% by 2030, compared to 2008”.
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2 – When rail competition boosts certain lines on the French network
Three years after the opening of the French rail network to competition, the first studies taking stock are starting to appear. To tell us that this has had rather positive effects and has boosted certain lines. We can thus say that on the lines affected by competition from the two main foreign operators, Renfe (since 2023) and Trenitalia (2021), average ticket prices have generally fallen and reservations have exploded.
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3 – Almost three-quarters of French people have already given up on a visit because of overtourism
Between queues that are too long, crowds that are too compact which “do not make you want” to enter a site, a museum or a monument, bars, restaurants or other public places that are too crowded, not even to mention the beaches, if not even the impossibility of simply finding a place to park your vehicle, these are all reasons why many of us sometimes – or in any case increasingly – give up certain activities or discoveries during our free time. This is why the question “Have you ever given up visiting a site or place because of overtourism? » asked during a recent survey, nearly three out of four French people answered yes!
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4 – The favorite village of the French for 2024 is… Collioure
It is now a tradition, each year the French designate their favorite village through a TV show presented by Stéphane Bern.
With the 2024 edition, we are now on the thirteenth winner. And if Esquelbecq (North) was elected in 2023 after Bergheim (Haut-Rhin) the previous year, this time it is towards Occitanie and the Pyrénées-Orientales that we must turn. Since the favorite village of the French for 2024 is that of Collioure, this picturesque village on the Côte Vermeil with colorful houses and pleasant streets with a rich past.
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5 – A new label for French tourism
This is the latest label concerning tourism in France. “Destination of excellence” will reward the “high level of quality of welcome and services, as well as the high level of requirements in terms of sustainable development and environmental protection”.
Managed by Atout France, it will reward those involved in accommodation, catering, places of visit and leisure, Tourist Offices and everything related to transport by awarding this label, renewable every five years.
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6 – The best passport for traveling in 2024 is French!
This is a ranking that is done every year, that of the passports offering the best opportunities for visa-free travel around the world. As you might expect, Europe and countries like Singapore, Japan and South Korea take the top places. With for 2024 a “bonus” for French people who have (along with nationals of five other countries) the best travel document allowing them to travel in 194 countries without the need for a tourist visa. That’s five more destinations than for 2023.
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7 – Passport and identity card soon available on your smartphone
It is ultimately in the spirit of the times and the logic of things; everything digital is arriving to gradually replace our good old paper documents, including even our passport or our identity card.
With what we call “European Digital Identity or digital wallet”no more problems from one country to another so that your passport, your CNI, your driving license, or even your Vitale card or equivalent are recognized during checks or at the slightest request. With the advantage of no longer needing their paper equivalent and in the same way limiting the risk of loss and the inconvenience that generally ensues. The general opinion (or almost) is an interesting progress which should come into force around 2026 or 2027.
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8 – Even if we sometimes complain, Parisian stations remain among the best in Europe
Four Parisian stations among the twenty best in Europe: this is the conclusion of the Consumer Choice Center with its European Railway Station Index.
For the 50 main European stations, the aim was to establish a ranking based on the performance of each in terms of shops and services offered, accessibility, connectivity to other transport networks, or even train punctuality. who leave or arrive there. And the French stations, more particularly in Paris (those in the provinces were not affected), are doing well. Without being in the TOP5 of 2024 dominated by Zurich, four Parisian stations are among the top twenty with a special mention for the Gare du Nord which remains the busiest on the continent with its 212 million annual travelers at the last count.
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9 – Young French people are increasingly traveling…
In any case, this is what emerges from various studies and surveys carried out this year, the latest of which tells us that more than a third (38%) of French people plan to travel more than before in the coming years. And they would even be 63% among young people aged 18-34. All this to feel pleasuremake discoveries, changer d’air or unzipif not even go on an adventure as mentioned in this same survey.
10 – Motorways without toll barriers are coming to France
Even if this is not a European first, it nevertheless marks a certain (r)evolution in the world of motorways. On the A13, in Heudebouville, motorists now go through “free flow” tolls, with automatic recognition of vehicle registration plates, and no longer pay directly at terminals as before. Then with the choice of three options for their payment (within 72 hours) whether it is an electronic payment badge, online payment or payment for the trip to an approved tobacconist.
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