Monaco’s tourism board launches survey to learn more about tourist habits and boost visitor experiences

17/02/2025

Monaco is already a much-loved and admired holiday destination among visitors from around the world, but the local tourism board is keen to learn more about the millions of people who travel to the Principality each year, from what attracts them to this Mediterranean micro-state to their spending habits and demographics.

The Monegasque Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, also known as IMSEE, recently launched an extensive survey aimed at analysing the consumption and behavioural habits of those who visit the Principality in conjunction with the local Tourism and Convention Authority. Tourism is a huge part of the Monegasque economy, and having a firm grasp of what makes visitors tick is important if the Principality is to continue to offer world-class events, goods, and services to its ever-evolving clientele.

The IMSEE study seeks to gather insights on key aspects of tourism in Monaco, such as the length of stay, popular activities, spending patterns and visitor demographics. It covers all types of tourists, including overnight visitors, day-trippers and cruise passengers.

See more: Tourist tax, including influencers’ rate, comes into force in Monaco

By identifying factors such as nationality, reasons for visiting—whether for a conference, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, or leisure—and expenditure breakdowns across dining, shopping, entertainment and cultural activities, the Tourism and Convention Authority will gain a stronger understanding of how to tailor the Principality’s offerings more effectively.

“This survey will provide us with essential insights into the consumption habits of travellers, enabling us to better shape our marketing strategies and optimise offerings to maximise the attractiveness of the Monaco destination,” explains Guy Antognelli, Director of Tourism and Conventions.

To participate, visitors can access the survey via QR codes displayed throughout the country on posters, flyers and in restaurants. Additionally, staff at the Monaco Tourism Office on Boulevard des Moulins will be actively engaging with visitors both there and at various locations around the Principality to maximise participation.

The survey can also be accessed online in French, English and Italian. It is completely anonymous and takes just five minutes to complete.

The results are expected to be released in 2026.

Read related:

France welcomed over 100 million visitors in 2024, an “unprecedented” year for tourism

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Photo source: Monaco Communications Department

Alpes-Maritimes at the heart of France’s Year of the Sea plans

by: Stephanie Horsman

17/02/2025

The Alpes-Maritimes is set to play a significant role in France’s 2025 Year of the Sea initiative, a nationwide programme featuring over 130 events aimed at raising awareness of maritime issues, from the importance of ocean preservation projects to the worrying losses of marine biodiversity in French waters. With several large-scale events planned for this stretch of the Côte d’Azur, including the ocean-themed Nice Carnival and the UN Ocean Conference in June, the Alpes-Maritimes will be at the heart of this major environmental movement.

France is celebrating the Year of the Sea in 2025, a national initiative aimed at highlighting the crucial issues of its maritime domain. The event complements the third United Nations Conference on the Ocean (UNOC), a globally significant environmental diplomatic event co-organised by France and Costa Rica, to be held in Nice in June.

The Year of the Sea initiative was officially launched on 11th February by Agnès Pannier-Runacher, France’s Minister of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, the Sea and Fisheries, with the inauguration of the travelling exhibition concept, La Mer en Tournée, at the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie in Paris.

This mobile exhibition will soon begin travelling across France, stopping at various events where it will function as an interactive maritime-themed space featuring exhibits, a specialised bookstore and conferences.

Additionally, a diverse array of local events will be held in towns and cities across the country throughout the year, from conferences and exhibitions to festivals and sporting activities. These events aim to foster a greater connection between the public and the marine world.

EVENTS IN THE ALPES-MARITIMES

The Alpes-Maritimes department is hosting several significant events over the course of 2025, each contributing to the national effort to highlight the importance of marine conservation.

Perhaps the biggest event is UNOC in June, when Nice will be at the epicentre of global discussions between world leaders on ocean conservation, sustainable resource development and methods for supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Another standout event is the 2025 Nice Carnival, which has adopted a ‘King of the Oceans’ theme to align with the Year of the Sea. This edition of the iconic festival, which is already underway, will celebrate the beauty of the underwater world while promoting environmental responsibility. The carnival’s floats, performances and artistic displays have been designed to emphasise the urgency of protecting marine ecosystems while creating a vibrant and engaging platform for ocean advocacy.

For more information on the 2025 Year of the Sea and to see the full list of local and national events, click here.

Read related:

2025’s Nice Carnival to celebrate Costa Rica and ocean wonders

Photo source: Belle Co, Pexels

Traffic disruptions on boulevard Charles III in February and March

by: Cassandra Tanti

17/02/2025

Drivers in Monaco should prepare for temporary lane closures on boulevard Charles III as finishing works around the Ilot Pasteur development enter their final phase.

Essential tasks such as painting, network connections, and pavement repairs will require changes to traffic flow, with signage in place to help motorists navigate the area.

From 3rd to 22nd February, the downhill lane towards Monaco will be closed daily from 9am to 4pm, just after the Millennium tunnel leading to the Canton roundabout. Then, from 3rd to 28th March, the same lane will be closed overnight from 8pm to 6am as work continues.

To ease congestion, alternative routes will be available. The uphill lane towards Cap-d’Ail will remain open for those leaving Monaco, while inbound traffic will be redirected via the low corniche, using the access road to the Rainier III tunnel and the underground Canton roundabout.

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Photo source: Government Communicaton Department

World AI Cannes Festival: the future of work in an AI-driven world

by: Kyriaki Topalidou

17/02/2025

The World AI Cannes Festival, a leading showcase of artificial intelligence innovation, concluded this weekend at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes. The three-day event, held from 13th to 15th February, brought together top AI developers, businesses, and public sector representatives to discuss the future of artificial intelligence.

French AI Minister Clara Chappaz and Luxembourg Finance Minister Gilles Roth were the keynote speakers who opened the festival, which attracted more than 10,000 attendees. The event’s main partner was the Département des Alpes-Maritimes, and discussions centred on AI applications in healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and financial services.

The exhibition floor featured 218 companies, including major industry players such as Tesla, IBM, DXC Technology, and AWS, alongside a wide range of AI startups showcasing cutting-edge innovations.

Notable demonstrations

Among the standout presentations was Digiotouch AI’s meeting management system, which drew attention for its ability to “overview, summarise, translate, and retain data from meetings”. Giorgia Pappalardo, a representative from the company, highlighted its benefits, stating, “Have you ever forgotten to take notes during an important meeting? With Digiotouch AI, you never have to worry again.”

Understand AI Tech also made waves with its approach to AI reliability. “Our new private model can fact-check, but it can also say no,” explained Florian Fromager, addressing concerns about AI-generated misinformation. “The problem with existing models is that they can produce unverified information, creating copyright issues.” He said that their model ensures accuracy by relying exclusively on user-provided documents and only conducting web research when explicitly commanded.

Another notable demonstration came from Lutech Brain, whose customised AI system was designed to convert both structured and unstructured data into coherent text while maintaining reasoning capabilities. Claudio Peroni, a company representative, noted that while the model is primarily aimed at large businesses, it showcases AI’s ability to demonstrate common sense rather than simply regurgitate information.

Concerns over AI replacing human labour

DXC Technology’s manufacturing robots sparked debate about AI’s impact on employment. When asked whether AI would replace human workers in factories, a DXC representative suggested that AI would “replace jobs that are not pleasurable to do”. Meanwhile, a spokesperson from another major company, speaking anonymously, stated that AI would “replace the jobs of people who refuse to use it”.

The festival concluded with a public open day, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the latest developments in artificial intelligence.

Photo credit: Kyriaki Topalidou, Monaco Life

Maserati MSG Racing’s Jake Hughes earns first podium of the season at Jeddah E-Prix

by: Stephanie Horsman

17/02/2025

The inaugural Formula E doubleheader of the 2024/25 season, held on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia, has proven to be a successful outing for the Maserati MSG Racing team. Drivers Jake Hughes and Stoffel Vandoorne finished within the Top 10 in both races, with Hughes, who joined the Monaco-based team this season, securing a third-place podium finish in the second race of the weekend.

Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2024/25 Formula E season, held on 14th and 15th February respectively, resulted in strong performances for Maserati MSG Racing and its drivers, 30-year-old Brit Jake Hughes and 32-year-old Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne.

The duo finished within the Top 10—and in the points—in both races, with Hughes securing P5 and P3, and Vandoorne taking P10 and P6. As a result, Hughes has moved up to fifth in the overall rankings, with 27 points. Vandoorne is 13th in the Drivers’ Standings. In the team table, Maserati MSG Racing sits in fifth.

The team’s former driver, Max Günther, now with DS Penske, won Round 3, edging out Nissan’s Oliver Rowland. The podium was completed by McLaren’s Taylor Barnard.

Rowland found redemption in Round 4, coming out on top ahead of Barnard in second and Maserati MSG Racing’s Hughes in third.

Hughes took to social media to share his joy at earning his first podium with Maserati MSG Racing, writing, “What a race! The team managed it to perfection! Big weekend for us and can’t wait to get to Miami next.”

A statement from Maserati MSG Racing acknowledged the achievements of both its drivers, noting, “P3 for Jake, P6 for Stoffel—coming from the BACK of the grid! What a drive, what a fight! This weekend, we showed up. Both races, both cars, both in the points. And now, Jake is P5 in the championship! The momentum is real, and we’re only getting started. As a team, we couldn’t be prouder. We push together—through the highs and lows—lifting each other up every step of the way. This one feels like a win, and it only fuels us to fight harder.”

The next E-Prix is set to take place in Miami on 12th April, before the grid heads back to Europe for the Monaco E-Prix on 3rd and 4th May.

Read related:

All the major motorsport events in Monaco in 2025 and beyond

Photo source: Maserati MSG Racing

AS Monaco Basketball lose 2025 Leaders Cup final to Le Mans

by: Elsa Carpenter

17/02/2025

A long and intense weekend of basketball in Caen, which had seemed so full of promise, has ended in a bitter defeat for AS Monaco Basketball. Having suffered a bruising 104-96 loss to Le Mans in the final round, the Roca Team has been forced to settle for second place in the 2025 Leaders Cup.

The action began on Friday 14th February when AS Monaco Basketball came up against Bourg-en-Bresse in the quarter-finals.

Mike James was the standout player of the game, contributing 31 points and leading his team through a challenging match-up that ultimately ended 101-88 in Monaco’s favour, putting the Principality side through to the semi-finals against ASVEL.

“I feel I need to be aggressive, and today I had to be more than usual,” said James after the game. “I want to win, this Leaders Cup is a trophy at stake, and I want to win it.”

The following day, the Roca Team entered the court at the Palais des Sports Caen de la Mer with the sole focus of beating ASVEL – a team the players know well – and getting through to the 2025 Leaders Cup finals.

Monaco dominated despite missing key player Vitto Brown, and the team’s chemistry was on full display, with James, Elie Okobo and Matthew Strazel leading the collective charge. ASVEL struggled to match Monaco’s intensity, with turnovers and missed shots hindering their efforts.

By halftime, Monaco had a 12-point advantage, which grew to 20 in the second half. As the game progressed, key contributions from Jaron Blossomgame, Georgios Papagiannis and Mam Jaiteh further extended the lead.

Although ASVEL made a late push, it was too little, too late. The Roca Team sealed their 91-78 victory, sending them to the final against Le Mans.

Off the court, Okobo shared, “We were solid the whole game. At the end of the second quarter, we gave up some three-pointers due to defensive mistakes, but overall, we played well. Now it’s time for the last game. We need to take care of our legs and bodies to maintain the energy and rhythm we had today. It’s been two years since we’ve been knocked out in the quarters or semis, but this year is the one. We all want to win the Leaders Cup, and you can see that on the court. Everyone is putting in the effort.”

AS Monaco Basketball v Le Mans

The final took place on Sunday 16th February, again at a packed Palais des Sports Caen de la Mer.

Despite all the optimism and hope going into the game, Vassilis Spanoulis’ men never found their rhythm and were forced to settle for second place, losing 96-104 to a proud Le Mans side.

“They deserve to win,” said Head Coach Spanoulis after the game. “They had excellent stats, they played freely. We knew Le Mans only had two big men, but those two big men killed us. We didn’t respect basketball, we didn’t respect Le Mans.”

He continued, “We thought it would be an easy game, we thought we had already won the Leaders Cup on Saturday. I’m very disappointed. To concede 104 points in a final, I’ve never seen that. We didn’t deserve to win. The attitudes were not right. We’re behaving like superstars. I would die for this team and its players, but I have to make decisions. Everyone has to look in the mirror. It’s not always someone else’s fault. I want to play with players who want to win.”

Going into the final, Monaco and Le Mans were already the two most successful teams in the competition, each having won the Leaders Cup three times in its history. Now, it is Le Mans who stands alone at the top of this title podium, leaving Monaco in a sorry second place.

Photo source: AS Monaco Basketball

Day: 17 February 2025

Monaco’s tourism board launches survey to learn more about tourist habits and boost visitor experiences