The world’s first tourist destination touched 100 million visitors in 2023, and would exceed them this year

France claimed his status as first world tourist destination with a record of 98 million visitors international last year, which means 7.5% more than in 2022 and 10% more than in 2019, the year before the outbreak of the crisis due to the Covid pandemic.

The French Government, which in May organized an inter-ministerial committee dedicated to tourism ahead of the Paris Olympic Games next summer, explained that the income generated by international tourists in 2023 increased by 12% compared to the previous year and 11. 8% compared to 2019, up 63.5 billion euros.

In this case, based on the comparative figures of the central banks, France was behind Spainwhich he obtained last year 84.9 billion euros income from international tourists (+22.7% compared to 2022) and ahead of Italy (51.8 billion, +17.1%) and Germany (33.8 billion, +12.9%).

Starting in April, in all months of last year the collection that had been achieved before the Covid crisis was exceeded in France.

As usual, the highest income was achieved in the summer tourist peak: in August it was 6.9 billion euros, and in July, 5.4 billion.

The sharp increase in these incomes partly reflects the effect of the inflation on tourist pricesbut also the progression in the arrival of visitors from countries very close to France, such as the Belgians (+37%, compared to 2022), or the Dutch (+28).

From other continents, it was very significant return to France of the Americansa flow of tourists that grew 52% compared to 2019.

However, the Asian they continued to be much less numerous than before the pandemic, despite the strong increase compared to 2022: +70% for those from Japan, and +30% for visitors from China.

The positive balance for the balance of payments of France for international travel presented in 2023 a new record of 18.1 billion euros.

It should be noted that the 2023 figures will most likely be exceeded this year, since the French Government anticipates the arrival of 11.3 million visitors to the Paris Olympic Gameswhich will be held from July 26 to August 11, to which will be added 4 million during the Paralympic Gamesfrom August 28 to September 8.

The Executive estimates that, if tickets for the competitions are excluded, these visitors will leave the region revenues of 3.5 billion euros. The figure can be compared with the 5.4 billion euros obtained in the Ile de France region, where Paris is located, thanks to tourism in a complete summer season, from July 1 to September 15.

86.7% of visitors during the Games will be French and the around 1.5 million foreigners represent a figure similar to what the Paris region receives in a normal summer. The most numerous, it is expected, will be the Britishlos Americans and the germans.

The first data on the behavior of tourism in France this year are favorable, with a increased revenue from international visitors in January and February of 14% compared to that same period in 2023 and 24% if compared to 2019, up to 7.7 billion euros.

He international aircraft traffic with France as a destination increased by 8.7% in the first quarter compared to that same period in 2023.

During the Games, the number of international air passengers arriving in Paris is expected to will grow by 22 % compared to last year.