Foreign tourists brought 57.9 billion to France in 2022, a record according to Atout France, receipts even lower than those of the great Spanish rival, according to figures published Monday February 27 by the agency Atout France, responsible for the promotion of French tourism abroad.
“At the end of December 2022, international tourism receipts in France were up by 1.2 billion euros compared to their 2019 level”she details in a economic report published on its website. “This result is explained by the return of European and American customers but also by inflation which mechanically increases revenue in value”, it is further specified. On the other hand, passenger flows “from Asia, particularly China or Japan, are still very low, although increasing slightly at the end of the year”.
And in terms of receipts from international tourism, France is still ahead of Spain, “which will regain its European leadership in 2022” as Madrid had already accrued €64.8 billion by the end of November.
Among the foreign customers who spent the most in France in 2022 are nationals of three bordering countries: Belgium with 7.3 billion euros, Germany with 6.5 billion and the United Kingdom with 6.2 billion. . The United States ranks fifth with $5.6 billion in cumulative spending in 2022.
Air traffic down 31% compared to 2019
The note from Atout France looks back on air traffic during the year 2022: ” Over the whole year, it was still down -31% compared to 2019, mainly due to weak flows from Asia. » An observation tinged with optimism: « But the light may be at the end of the tunnel: while China is reopening the borders for its nationals, other distant markets such as India, South Korea or Australia are showing signs of growth in the coming months. come. »
An influx carried in particular by India as mentioned in the report: ” It will become, in 2023, the most populous country in the world, and will experience favorable economic conditions, with a population strongly wishing to go on a trip. “says the organization.
Another positive aspect: the domestic clientele which would have gradually found, throughout the year, the path of tourism: ” The departure rate of French people for travel in mainland France was 23% for the whole year, a rate close to the baseline situation in 2019 with overnight stays down by only 5%. »
After one ” Good “ activity during the Christmas holidays and in mountain areas, despite snow cover initially “weak or even absent”Atout France is considering with a “some optimism” the first quarter of 2023, “despite a still difficult context” economically (inflation) and geopolitically, with the war in Ukraine.