Tourism: Increase in international visitors and "Olympic Games effect" boost summer, according to the ministry

"Despite a complex geopolitical context, international tourism remains very dynamic: at the end of April, revenue generated by foreign visitors since the beginning of the year reached 21.4 billion euros, up 8% compared to 2024," indicates a joint press release from the ministry and Atout France, the agency that promotes French tourism abroad.

The largest contributors were Germans (+25%), Dutch (+24%), and Spanish (+15%). Conversely, revenue from the British fell by 18% over the first four months of the year.

For this summer, bookings are "significantly up" , with summer season rental bookings up 16% (June to August bookings) year-on-year (source FTO - LightHouse) and an expected 1.7% increase in overnight stays in outdoor accommodation for July and August.

International air arrival forecasts (source FTO - ForwardKeys) "predict a 4.7% increase over the period June-August 2025 compared to the same period in 2024."

"Especially since they spend more."

Visitors from Denmark, Sweden and Australia (+15%), Canada and China (+10%) will be more numerous in France this summer, as will Americans, to a lesser extent (+3%).

"We need to attract more tourists, but above all, we need them to spend more," Tourism Minister Nathalie Delattre told Les Echos, adding that we needed to "work on our value strategy."

"What are the priority markets of tomorrow to maximize international revenues without degrading our carbon footprint? (...) How can we ensure that our offer remains differentiated in fierce international competition? This is what we are currently working on," she explained to the newspaper.

Initial measures in this direction will be presented at the end of July.

Although international attendance is expected to increase, the season will nevertheless be "largely driven by domestic tourism" "stimulated in particular by the JOP (Olympic and Paralympic Games, Editor's note) effect" , according to the ministry, which is relying on a Les entreprises du Voyage/Orchestra barometer.

"The effect of the Olympic Games remains palpable"

According to this survey, "30% of French people say they are more likely to go on a tourist trip to Paris this summer with the memory of the 2024 Olympic atmosphere, the rate is slightly higher (33%) for those who are planning a trip before the end of the year."

"The impact of the Olympic Games remains palpable and fuels the desire to discover or rediscover France," said the minister, quoted in the press release.

However, the price is "the first criterion guiding the choice of destination for the French (39%) (then the climate with 35%) and 50% of those questioned intend to save money on their holiday budget" , the ministry underlines.

Nearly two-thirds of French people plan to spend less than 1,000 euros per person and nearly a third less than 500 euros.