The 2023 season will be a good year for the tourism sector. The arrivals of foreign visitors have increased in France and should generate between 64 and 67 billion euros in revenue in 2023, a record, assured, Tuesday August 29, Olivia Grégoire, Minister Delegate in charge of Tourism: “Without any real surprise, we have a very good tourist season this year, in line with summer 2022.”
In France, tourism recorded a record year.
© / The Express
How to explain this season in good shape? According to the Minister’s announcements, France recorded a 29% increase in international arrivals. North Americans saw their air arrivals swell by 16% in July, while Europeans were more numerous, especially the Dutch and Germans. Also, the Ile-de-France region is seeing a gradual return of Chinese customers to Paris this summer. Soon, the Ile-de-France economy should count on the return of Australian, South Korean and Japanese tourists. In addition to foreign tourists, the practices of the French have evolved with greater flexibility in the duration of stays, supported by the generalization of teleworking.
In July and August, attendance was “generally stable” compared to last year, with nearly 7 out of 10 French people (67%) who went on vacation – for weekends or long stays -, according to the investigation ofAsset France, ADN Tourisme and 11 regional tourism committees, produced by Opinion Way and published on Tuesday. It should also be noted that 88% of them remained in France.
Spending “better controlled”
If, despite inflation, the French have “sanctuarized their holidays”, estimated the Minister Delegate for Tourism during a press conference, it emerges from the survey that they have “sought to better control their expenses”: 27 % “declared having consumed less in restaurants” and the average length of stay increased to eight days against nine last year.
However, in the hotel industry, where revenue per room (RevPar) has soared by “30% in certain regions compared to 2019”, attendance has fallen by around 2%, argued the minister. She called for “everyone’s responsibility, in terms of prices”, as the Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Olympics approach. Rental platforms will have to “by the end of 2023”, report on their site rentals are too expensive compared to the rest of the market, she recalled.
Stressing that the countryside and the mountains, more affordable destinations, attracted more this summer, François de Canson, president of ADN Tourisme, which federates institutional bodies, also called for “paying attention to the value for money which becomes the central arbitration for the holidays”.