66 million visitors in 2022: France’s tourism landscape in numbers

In 2019, France welcomed a staggering 90 million international tourists, dwarfing its global counterparts. Yet, the pandemic-induced challenges have led to a decline in visitor numbers, especially at Charles de Gaulle Airport, where arrivals have dwindled from 76 million to 57 million.

International visitors: shifting trends

While France remains a perennial favourite among travellers, there have been notable shifts in visitor demographics and numbers. Several key nations have seen a drop in the number of tourists venturing to France, while others have shown resilience and growth in their visitation rates. Let’s delve into the specifics:

United Kingdom and Germany:

Traditionally significant sources of international tourism for France, both the UK and Germany have seen a decrease in visitor numbers. The UK witnessed a drop of over 50,000 tourists, falling from 775,000 in August 2019 to just under 725,000 in the same month this year. Germany experienced an even more pronounced decline, with a drop of nearly 80,000 tourists, sliding from 450,000 to just over 370,000.

Spain and Italy:

In contrast, Spain emerged as France’s largest source of international visitors, recording nearly 900,000 tourists in 2023—a significant rise from around 850,000 in 2019. Italy followed suit with its visitor numbers in August 2023 exceeding those from the same month in 2019, surging from around 650,000 to over 700,000. Portugal and Morocco also experienced an uptick in visitors, with the former witnessing an increase of nearly 100,000 and the latter seeing around half that growth.

United States:

Tourist numbers from the United States remained relatively stable, hovering at around 550,000 visitors. Across the European nations in proximity to France, there was a general increase in visitor numbers, while those from more distant nations remained stagnant or declined.

China’s Impact:

Notably, China stands out as a nation where tourist numbers plummeted by almost 70 percent. While China was not among France’s largest sources of international tourism, a reduction of 100,000 Chinese visitors annually could potentially exert a substantial negative impact on France’s tourism sector.

Future Prospects: The 2024 Summer Olympics

Despite the pandemic-induced challenges, France has a promising outlook for the future. The country, strategically located to attract visitors from North America and Asia, is set to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. This monumental event is expected to revitalize France’s tourism landscape, potentially surpassing visitor levels seen in 2019.

In the years leading up to the pandemic, a myriad of routes connecting China and France were operated by various carriers, constantly expanding. However, today, only five of these routes remain, all linking major Chinese cities to Paris’s Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG).

The forthcoming Summer Olympics, with China consistently producing medal-winning athletes across a range of Olympic disciplines, is poised to reignite the flow of visitors from the world’s most populous nation to France. The allure of the City of Light, combined with the global sporting spectacle, is expected to breathe new life into France’s tourism sector, ushering in a brighter future for this beloved travel destination.

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