Almost 80 million people visited France in 2022, making it the most popular international tourism destination in the world and bringing in a staggering €58 billion in revenue.  

From the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre of Paris to the lavender fields and rosé vineyards of the glamourous Côte d’Azur, France has a lot to offer to its many millions of tourists, who continue to flock to L’Hexagone in huge numbers year-on-year.  

Somewhere between 75 to 79 million tourists visited France last year; a figure higher than the number of people currently residing in France. Spain came a close second in the European rankings for popularity, with 71 million tourists, while the UK fell far behind its closest neighbour, with little over 30 million visitors.  

For the French economy, this is great news, for when these visitors choose to come to France, they spend too.  

A record €57.9 billion in tourism revenues were recorded by the Banque de France in 2022, up 2.1% on 2019, the last record-busting year, despite receiving 15 million fewer people.  

The main reason being given for the huge numbers are the return of both the British and the North Americans, who, like the rest of the world, were recovering from the after-effects of lockdowns and travel restrictions, and were back in droves in 2022. 

94 million tourists by 2025 

France’s popularity is unlikely to wane, with GlobalData, a respected London-based analytics and consulting firm, predicting a 12% jump in international arrivals from 2022 to 2025 that could equal a mind-blowing 94 million people each year. 

And France seems ready to welcome them. In a recent International Tourist Satisfaction Survey organised by the government, the country scored highly for its warm welcome, accommodation options, cultural and leisure facilities, and, of course, gastronomy. 

Make sure you’re never left out of the conversation.

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Photo source: Anthony Delanoix, Unsplash