Paris Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 3 December 2024

Paris, known as the “City of Light“, continues to be a top destination for travelers with its beautiful landmarks, rich history, and vibrant culture.

How many tourists visit Paris each year?

Around 50 million tourists explore Paris and the surrounding Île-de-France region each year, with 47.5 million visits recorded in 2023.

• In 2019, 50.6 million people visited Paris and the Île-de-France region.

• The number of visitors dropped to 17.4 million in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

• The recovery in tourism in Paris began in 2021 with 22.6 million tourists, grew to 44.1 million in 2022, and reached 47.5 million in 2023.

• The arrivals in Paris and the Île-de-France region in 2023 included over 21.6 million domestic tourists and 25.9 million international visitors.¹

• The 2024 forecast expects a return to the 50 million visitor mark, boosted by the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

• The reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in December 2024 is also expected to attract visitors to the capital of France towards the end of the year, and boost city visitors throughout 2025. Historically, Notre Dame has been the most visited landmark in Paris.

How many tourists are expected to visit Paris in 2024? 

Paris is expected to reach near pre-pandemic levels of over 50 million visitors in 2024.

• The Olympic Games will impact Paris to a greater degree than the rest of the country. International arrivals in Paris are expected to be 15% higher than in 2019, while France will see an 11% increase.²

• Read more: Paris Tourism Statistics: 2024 Forecasts

How much do tourists spend in Paris each year?

Visitor spending has changed in recent years, aligning with broader economic trends and global events.

• In 2019, visitor spending contributed €21.9 billion to the French economy. However, in 2020, this number decreased to €6 billion due to the coronavirus pandemic.

• As the world started to navigate through and recover from the pandemic, there was a noticeable rebound in 2021 and 2022, with spending climbing to €8.4 billion³ and €19.6 billion⁴, respectively.

• The 2023 annual tourism revenue figure is not yet available.

Where do visitors to Paris come from?

• In 2021, tourists from Belgium topped the list of international visitors to Paris. With 11% of the total number of visitors, followed by the United Kingdom with 10% of total visits. The United States with 9% of total visits, the Netherlands with 8% of total visits, and Germany with 8% of total visits.

How many tourists visited Paris in 2022?

• In 2022, Paris and the Île-de-France region tourism industry bounced back, with 44.1 million visitors. This includes 19.4 million domestic visitors and 24.7 million international tourists, showing a 95.13% increase compared to the previous year.

• The total number of overnight stays in Paris reached 41.9 million, an 82.51% jump from 2021. International guests contributed to 26.3 million of these nights, with domestic visitors accounting for the remaining 15.6 million nights.

How much did tourists spend in Paris in 2022?

• Paris generated €19.6 billion in tourism revenue in 2022, this was a 134% increase compared to 2021 but still 10% less than 2019 (pre-pandemic).

• International visitors accounted for €12 billion of the tourism revenue of 2022.

Coronavirus Pandemic Impact – Paris Tourism Statistics 2020 and 2021

• The year 2020 marked a significant downturn in tourism for Paris with only 17.4 million arrivals, a 65.62% decrease from 2019. This total included 5.1 million domestic and 12.3 million international visitors, reflecting the pandemic’s impact.

• Overnight stays, often a vital part of the tourism economy, felt the pandemic’s impact as well. The city recorded only 14.8 million overnight stays in 2020.⁵

• In 2021, Paris and the Île-de-France region experienced a resurgence in tourism despite global travel challenges. The area welcomed over 15.9 million international tourists and 6.7 million domestic travellers, marking a 29.89% increase from 2020.

Paris Inbound Travel Statistics for 2019 – International & Domestic Tourism

In 2019, Paris welcomed 29 million⁶ international visitors.

• Most international visitors came from nearby European countries like the United Kingdom (9% of total visits), Spain (7% of total visits), Italy (7% of total visits) and Germany (7% of total visits). But tourists from the United States topped the leaderboard with 11% of total visits.

• In addition to international tourists, Paris and its regions also attracted a substantial number of visitors from different parts of France. This included 13% from Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, 10% from both Normandie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine,and 9% from both Hauts-de-France and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.

How long do visitors stay in Paris?

• In 2022, international visitors spent an average of 2.7 nights in Paris. Domestic visitors were found to have slightly shorter stays, averaging 2 nights.⁷

• This is a contrast to 2021, where the average night stay was notably longer, at 5.1 nights.

How popular is Paris as a tourist destination?

• Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world. In 2022, Paris ranked #1 as the world’s best tourist destination.⁸

Economic Impact – Paris Tourism Statistics

• Paris is France’s economic powerhouse, accounting for 31% of the national GDP and 23.1% of France’s workforce.
  
• Paris’s GDP contribution was $38 billion in 2019 but in 2022 it recovered to just 6% below pre-pandemic levels at an estimated $35.7 billion.⁹

Paris Travel Resources

What are the top destinations to visit in Paris?

In 2022, the most-visited Paris attractions included the Louvre Museum, with 7.7 million visitors, the Eiffel Tower, attracting nearly 5.9 million, and the Musée d’Orsay, drawing 3.3 million art lovers. The Centre Pompidou also saw a rise in visitors, while Disneyland Paris topped the charts as Europe’s favourite amusement park, welcoming 9.9 million visitors.⁴

• Louvre Museum: The Louvre Museum is the largest museum in the world. Millions of tourists visit the museum to see the Mona Lisa.
  
• The Eiffel Tower: Built in 1889 for the Exposition Universelle, the Eiffel Tower has become the main symbol of Paris. It’s also the most visited attraction in the city attracting millions of tourists every year.
  
• Musée d’Orsay: A museum in Paris which houses a collection of art from the period 1848 to 1914. The museum itself can be considered as a work of art.
  
• Disneyland Paris: Disneyland Paris is an entertainment resort located in Marne-la-Vallée. It includes two theme parks, hotels owned by Disney, a golf course, and a complex of shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues and is considered Europe’s top tourist destination.

• Notre Dame: Before the fire of 2019, Notre Dame Cathedral was the most visited monument in Paris, averaging up to 12 million visitors per year. It’s expected to regain it’s status as the most popular attraction in the City of Light after its reopening in December 2024.

What are the reasons people visit Paris?

• Tourists are drawn to Paris for its cultural landmarks, culinary delights, fashion scene, and the romantic ambience that pervades the city’s streets and boulevards.

• In 2021, 75% of tourists visited Paris for their leisure trips, while the remaining 25% visited for business or mixed trips.

---

References

1. CCI: Paris Region Facts & Figures – 2019 to 2023 ↩︎
2. OE: 2024 Paris Olympics: Impact on Tourism and Beyond ↩︎
3. VPR: Key figures of the Paris Region ↩︎
4. BT: Most-visited city in the world – Paris in 2022 ↩︎
5. EuroStat: Nights Spent at Tourist Accommodation Establishments – Paris ↩︎
6. Apur: Assessment and Trends – Paris and Greater Paris ↩︎
7. INSEE: Tourism Occupancy ↩︎
8. TLFR: World’s Best Tourist Destination ↩︎
9. WTTC: Travel and Tourism Sector ↩︎