Despite fears about rising living costs, heat waves, and forest fires, this summer seems to be a boon for the French tourist industry, which has been pummelling for two years by the Covid-19 outbreak, with the number of domestic and foreign holidaymakers on the upswing.
In a press conference, Tourism Minister Olivia Gregoire stated that early data suggested that the summer of 2022 was remarkable, with 35 million French people, or 7 out of 10 inhabitants, going on vacation, up from 6 last year.
She also stated that credit card spending in French hotels and restaurants increased by 10% during the summer compared to 2019.
France is strongly reliant on tourism, which accounts for 8% of its GDP and employs two million people.
Data for July and the first part of August revealed that revenue per available room, a key indicator of profitability in the hotel industry, increased 22.2% over the previous summer.
Revenues per available room climbed dramatically in the Paris and Riviera region, driven by the return of rich international tourists, mainly from the United Nations and the Gulf states due to a strong dollar.
France ranked first in the world in terms of visitor numbers in 2019, receiving approximately 90 million foreign tourists.
Gregoire stated, “We want to be the world’s number one destination.”
When asked if France was still aiming for 100 million international tourists, Gregoire responded, “It’s not impossible to attain that number; it’s a goal we can achieve.”
France retains its goal of attracting 100 million tourists every year.
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