Driven by the Olympic and Paralympic Games and cultural events, France is consolidating its position as the world’s leading tourist destination in 2024 with 100 million international visitors. The French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty is delighted. 

Driven by the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings and the reopening of Notre-Dame of Paris, France has benefited from exceptional exposure around the world. France welcomed more than 100 million international tourists (+2%) and generated 71 billion euros in international revenue in 2024 (+12%), the Ministry says in a press release.

From the North and the West

Driven by customers from Northern Europe and the United States, international attendance is slightly up. North American countries have maintained their role as locomotives since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, with overnight stays up 5%.

Without returning to their pre-COVID level, Asian customers are showing a clear acceleration in terms of overnight stays, particularly China and Japan with growth of 40% and 20%. For all international customers, France is recording an increase in overnight stays of 7.3% driven by rental accommodation (+16.4%).

Belgium loves France

With 71 billion euros in international revenue, France is recording a record year, up 12% compared to 2023. Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and the United States are the main revenue providers with growth of 5% to 15%.

On the other hand, despite a return of Asian customers, recorded revenues are still at levels well below those before the pandemic (-60% for China and -30% for Japan).

A dynamic end of the year and promising prospects for 2025

While the Olympic and Paralympic Games made France shine throughout the world during the summer, French and international tourists were also there during the end-of-year holidays. 

The significant snowfall in the mountain ranges attracted French customers (+2%) and international tourists (+10%) to the ski resorts at the end of the year, which recorded an occupancy rate of 85%, up 5.5 points. 

This increase was particularly marked in mid-mountain resorts and during the second week of the school holidays, particularly in the Pyrenees.

Travel intentions for the winter holidays are also on the rise, according to the Harris Interactive Observatory for Atout France. 

International air arrivals are up 10% in the first quarter of 2025 with a strong increase in American, Brazilian, Indian and Chinese customers. 

Paris continues to attract tourists with a hotel occupancy rate expected to increase by seven points in January 2025 and a reservation rate up by four points for February 2025.

Spain to overtake by 2040 

A Deloitte and Google study published in 2024 titled ‘NextGen Travelers and Destinations‘ says Spain will overtake France by 2040. 

Of course this study predates the current state of world affairs and leaders who direct us towards a cataclysmic catastrophe. 

Some tourism statistics

• Turkey welcomed 62 million international tourists who together spent $61 billion in 2024.
• SPAIN | 94 million international visitors and €108.7 billion tourism income in 2024.
• UN WORLD TOURISM BAROMETER | International tourism recovers pre-pandemic levels in 2024.
• Outside the EU, Europeans mostly travel to Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
• Intra-European travel mostly for fun and / or family.
• Europeans visit other European countries over 7 nights on average.

Some of the France-related posts

• Spain – Andorra – Catalonia – Occitania – Andalusia 2023.
• 2023 Occitania – Andorra – Catalonia Road Trip.
• FRANCE | 90 minutes in Charleville-Mézières.
• FRANCE | Sedan and Sedan Castle.
• Paris 2022.
• Monkeypox vaccine, an excuse to visit Valenciennes.
• Monkeypox vaccine, an excuse for a day trip to Lille.
• Two days in Lyon.
• One day in Marseille.
• Weekend in Bordeaux.
• A weekend in Paris.
• 2018 Rail Tour of France, Italy and Switzerland.