Between 2023 and 2024, the final balance sheet displayed by Burgundy-Franche-Comté in terms of tourist attendance is -2.5% in overnight stays (i.e. 200,000 fewer).
A trend that can be found at the national level, since France recorded a drop of 2%. Only Corsica and Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur saw an increase in attendance this summer. From April to September 2024, the region's 1,200 collective accommodations welcomed 4.5 million tourists, for a total of 8.2 million overnight stays, figures certainly lower than in 2023, but which nevertheless exceed those of 2019 and 2022.
On a local level, the Côte-d'Or is doing well, with 1,200 more nights than last year, due in particular to the passage of the Tour de France. As for Yonne and Doubs, they recorded the biggest declines, with drops of 6.7 and 5.1% in their tourist numbers.
The return of the Americans and the Chinese
This decline in attendance is observed among both foreign (-2.8%) and French (-2.3%) tourists. British people in particular were fewer in number staying in the region this year (-15.2%), as were Italians (-5.1%) and Germans (-3.7%). As for the Dutch, at the top of the ranking of foreign tourists choosing Burgundy-Franche-Comté for their holidays, there were more of them this summer, but they stayed less long, with stays of 2.2 days on average, compared to 2 .4 in 2023.
With 4 million overnight stays, or 100,000 fewer than in 2023, hotels in the region have suffered the consequences of this decline in attendance. A decline observed mainly among French tourists (-3.8%), since the number of nights spent by foreign tourists remained stable thanks to the Chinese and Americans, who favor this type of accommodation.
Indeed, with an increase of 117%, overnight stays by Chinese tourists more than doubled in the region and those of tourists from the United States increased by 27%.
Whether French or foreign, tourists favored starred hotels, whose room occupancy rate was around two-thirds throughout the summer period, compared to half in unclassified establishments.
Campsites penalized by bad weather
With attendance down 20% in April, June and September, the region's campsites saw a significant decline compared to 2023. The cause? A gloomy weather which discouraged fans of outdoor accommodation. And during the summer period, campsites in the region recorded 3.4 million overnight stays, or 2.6% less than in 2023. Only the Jura, where camping remains the 1is mode of tourist accommodation, has maintained stable attendance figures.
This overall decline is explained by the drop in attendance by foreign tourists, and in particular the Dutch, who represent more than 40% of the non-resident population who favor this type of accommodation, who have reduced their number of camping nights in 2024 by 11%.
The Netherlands still in the lead
With a total of 840,000 overnight stays during the 2024 summer season, Dutch tourists take the lead in the ranking, followed by the Germans, with 619,000 overnight stays, and the Belgians (438,000 overnight stays). In 4th position, we find the Swiss, who particularly visited campsites this summer (+ 11.2%), then the English, who deserted hotels (- 22% attendance). With 72,000 overnight stays, Italy comes 6th, followed by the United States (66,000 overnight stays). The Spanish take the penultimate place in the ranking, with 44,000 overnight stays and a 7% increase in tourist numbers. Finally, the Chinese and their 35,000 overnight stays, which mark a spectacular increase of 117% compared to 2023, come in last position.
France
