France Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 24 July 2024

For over 30 years, France has consistently held the title of the world’s most visited destination, and it’s no wonder why. Known for its romantic cities, iconic landmarks, world-renowned cuisine, art, culture and fashion, France has long captured the imaginations of travellers from across the globe.

How many tourists visit France each year?

• In 2019, France welcomed 90.91 million international visitors.

• Visitor numbers declined to 41.68 million in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, France saw a slight recovery in 2021 with 48.40 million international visitors.

• Growth continued in 2022 with 93.20 million international visitors, indicating a 124% increase compared to 2020 and a 3% higher total than 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

• Over 100 million tourists travelled to France in 2023.¹

• International arrivals in France for the first half of 2024 are expected to be at 93% of the same period in 2019 ² and will surpass 2019 totals by the end of 2024, reaching 101 million for the year³.

How many tourists are expected to visit France in 2024? 

International arrivals to France are expected to reach a new record of over 101 million in 2024, largely influenced by the 2024 Paris Olympics.

• Previously recorded highs include 100 million visits in 2023 and 90.91 million in 2019.

• Paris, in particular, is set to see a boost in tourism, with projections of a 15% increase in international visitors compared to 2019, while overall tourism in France is predicted to grow by 11%.

• Read more: Paris Olympics 2024 and France Tourism Statistics 2024

How much do people spend in France each year?

• From $63.5 billion in 2019, international tourism expenditure dropped to $32.6 billion (a 51% decrease) in 2020 due to border closures and travel restrictions.
  
• France saw signs of recovery in 2021 with $40.8 billion and in 2022 with $59.7 billion in tourist revenue.
  
• In 2023, France generated $68.6 billion in tourist revenue.⁴ This marked a 110% increase in tourist expenditure compared to 2020 and an 8% increase compared to 2019.

Where do visitors to France come from?

The United Kingdom has traditionally been the leading source of tourists to France. In 2018, the number of tourists from the United Kingdom amounted to 13 million, followed closely by Germany with 12.3 million and Belgium with 11.6 million.⁵

How many people visited France in 2022?

• In 2022, over 93.2 million tourists visited France, indicating a strong rebound from pandemic years and a 3% increase compared to the 2019 peak.
  

How much did people spend in France in 2022?

• France generated $59.7 billion in international tourism revenue in 2022, indicating an 83% increase compared to 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, but still 6% less than the 2019 peak.
  

How long do visitors stay in France?

• International visitors spent an average of 6.4 nights in France in 2018. For domestic visitors within France, the average stay was slightly longer at 8.2 nights.
  

How popular is France as a tourist destination?

• With over 85 million visitors every year, France has been consistently ranked as the top global tourist destination for over 30 years.
  

France Travel Resources

• Car rental prices in France
• Car rental prices in Paris – comparison

Economic Impact – France Tourism Statistics

• Tourism is a major contributor to France’s economy. Combining tourism-related spending from both domestic and international visitors, the tourism sector accounted for 7.5% of GDP in 2019.
  
• In 2019, almost 91 million international tourists visited France, accounting for 21% of France’s service exports.⁶

Coronavirus Impact – France Tourism Statistics 2020 and 2021

France saw a big drop in international arrivals in 2020 and 2021 due to global travel restrictions. 

• International arrivals in France dropped to 41.68 million in 2020, a decrease of 54% from the previous year, before slightly recovering to 48.4 million visitors in 2021.
  
• Tourism’s contribution to GDP fell by 34% to EUR 114.5 billion, or 5.3% of the economy in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

France Inbound Travel Statistics for 2019 – International & Domestic Tourism

• In 2019, France welcomed over 90.91 million international visitors with tourists spending over $63.5 billion in that year alone.

• The top sources of international visitors have remained largely consistent, with the UK, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, the US and Switzerland making up over half of all foreign tourists annually. 

• In addition, France recorded 186.3 million domestic tourism trips and 306.6 million overnight domestic stays in 2019.⁷

Is France still the most visited country?

France remains the world’s leading tourist destination, with over 100 million people from other countries visiting it in 2023, and reports say it will stay number one until at least 2025.

Why do people visit France?

Most tourists come to France for a holiday, with the number growing from 94.2 million in 2019 to 98.7 million in 2022. These tourists enjoy France’s rich history, great food, and famous landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum.

• A large number of tourists travel to France to visit friends and relatives, with the number reaching 87.1 million in 2022. 

• France hosts millions of visitors for business reasons, with 23 million visitors travelling for business in 2022. Major cities like Paris and Lyon hold important global business events that draw professionals from all over the world.

• People also visit France for other personal reasons like attending special events, education, or healthcare, with around 20.2 million visits in 2022. 

What are the top attractions to visit in France?

In 2017, the top five most visited destinations in France were Disneyland Paris (14.86 million visitors), the Louvre Museum (8.02 million visitors), Versailles Palace (7.71 million visitors), the Eiffel Tower (6.20 million visitors), and the Pompidou Centre (3.38 million visitors).

• Disneyland Paris: Considered to be Europe’s leading tourist destination, it is also the driving force behind the urban and economic development of the Val-d’Europe conurbation.

• Louvre Museum: The Louvre is the largest museum in the world, and the glass pyramid marking its entrance has become a global symbol of priceless art.

• Versailles Palace: The Palace of Versailles was the principal residence of the French kings from the time of Louis XIV to Louis XVI. Embellished by several generations of architects, sculptors, decorators, and landscape architects, it provided Europe with a model of the ideal royal residence for over a century.

• The Eiffel Tower: Located in the 7th arrondissement, this immense iron monument, a true architectural and technical feat, is now the symbol of Paris and France.

• Pompidou Centre: Primarily a museum and centre for the visual arts of the 20th and 21st centuries, the Pompidou Centre houses many separate services and activities.

France Outbound Tourism Statistics for 2019

Before the unprecedented events of 2020, 2019 marked a significant year for outbound tourism.

• Over 30.4 million French residents travelled internationally in 2019, contributing  $50.51 billion to the global tourism industry. 

• French residents primarily visited other European countries like Spain (6.2 million visits), Italy (3.8 million visits), Belgium (2 million visits), Portugal (1.9 million visits), and Germany (1.5 million visits).

The purposes varied widely, encompassing leisure vacations, business trips, visits to friends and relatives, and participation in cultural or educational programs.

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References

1. UNWTO: France Inbound Tourism Arrivals ↩︎
2. WTTC: Latest Analysis from WTTC and ForwardKeys – France 2023 ↩︎
3. OE: 2024 Paris Olympics: Impact on Tourism and Beyond ↩︎
4. UNWTO: France Inbound Tourism Receipts ↩︎
5. EGFR: Tourist in France – 2018 ↩︎
6. OECD: Tourism Trends and Policies – France ↩︎
7. UNWTO: France Domestic Tourism Trips & Overnights ↩︎