After a year marked by post-Olympic Games normalization and the massive return of international visitors, InfosTourisme publishes a new interactive report dedicated to the prospects for French tourism up to 2026.Accessible online, this immersive format deliberately replaces the traditional PDF to offer a dynamic, data-driven and contextualized reading experience.
According to the specialized press, the exercise confirms a fundamental trend: France remains the world's leading destination in terms of volume, but its trajectory now relies more on value creation than on visitor numbers alone.
Summary
2025, a year of consolidation driven by international markets
The report notes that in the first half of 2025, international tourism receipts increased by 13.7% compared to 2024, reaching €37.3 billion. This momentum continues the recovery that began in 2023 and confirms the return of long-haul markets, particularly North American and Asian ones.
In terms of visitor numbers, the summer season of 2025 recorded approximately 257.8 million overnight stays between May and August, representing a 3.7% year-on-year increase. This growth was largely driven by international visitors (up 6.8%), while domestic demand remained stable despite a more constrained economic environment.
Hosting: value is growing faster than volume
One of the key findings of the report concerns commercial accommodation. In 2025, rising average prices offset generally stable occupancy rates, resulting in significant value growth. In the first half of the year, hotel RevPAR increased by 13.8%, a performance exceeding the European average.
This dynamic, however, masks significant disparities. Four- and five-star establishments account for the bulk of the growth, driven by international clientele and major urban destinations. Conversely, budget hotels remain more vulnerable to price fluctuations, while campsites and outdoor accommodations confirm their status as a safe haven, particularly along the Atlantic and Channel coasts.
Territories: Inland France in the Lead
The report highlights a geographical rebalancing. In 2025, areas located outside of coastal and mountain regions – rural areas, medium-sized towns, and countryside – will show the strongest summer growth, with a 5.2% increase in overnight stays. Coastal areas (2.7%) and mountain areas (2.5%) will see growth at a more moderate pace.
In major metropolitan areas, leisure tourism remains strong, but business tourism is in sharp decline. Business overnight stays in densely populated urban areas have fallen by more than 14% compared to 2024, reflecting a structural transformation in business travel.
Transport: Air and rail services are recovering in a controlled manner
In terms of mobility, Groupe ADP traffic increased by +5.1% in the first half of 2025. International flows, particularly from the Middle East and Asia, showed the strongest increases, while the share of domestic traffic declined slightly.
The rail sector is also confirming its recovery. Summer 2025 saw record levels with over 25 million passengers on main lines, up 2.4%. The business segment stands out with double-digit growth outside the summer period.
Winter 2025-2026: Premiumization and arbitration
The initial trends for winter 2025-2026 are considered encouraging. International air bookings for the November-January period are up 6%, and sales for the Christmas holidays are showing a significant lead, particularly in high-end resorts.
This trend is occurring within a context of accelerated premiumization of mountain tourism, with price increases significantly exceeding inflation over the last decade. At the same time, the French are adapting their behavior: a quarter are reducing the length of their stay, and median spending on-site is €58 per day, illustrating more sophisticated budgetary choices.
A start to 2026 supported by major events
The report also highlights the expected knock-on effect of major events in the first quarter of 2026. The Six Nations Tournament and the International Agricultural Show are expected to generate significant tourist flows to Paris and the Île-de-France region, supporting the hotel industry outside the summer season.
With this interactive report, InfosTourisme offers a concise and practical overview of the sector's transformations. More than just a simple assessment, "Perspectives 2026" outlines the contours of a more selective, more international, and resolutely value-oriented French tourism industry.
Sources
https://presse.economie.gouv.fr/tourisme-en-france-bilan-de-la-saison-estivale-2025
https://www.atout-france.fr/fr/informations/conjoncture-et-dernieres-tendances
https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/8645986
https://presse.groupeadp.fr/trafic-juin-1ersemestre2025
https://www.actumontagne.com/economie/chiffres-saison-ski-2026-previsions
https://hemispheres-voyages.fr/calendrier-6-nations-2026
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