Tourism: France expects 50 million visitors this summer

Severely affected by the epidemic, will the tourism sector benefit from mild heat? Nothing is less certain. Still, France expects 50 million foreign visitors, mainly from Europe, while “remote” international customers should still remain largely absent, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Secretary of State for Tourism, said in a report. JDD. “This year, we expect to welcome 50 million foreign tourists, up from 35 million last year and 90 million in 2019. So the summer is full of hope”, underlines Mr. Lemoyne.

“There are a local European clientele: Germans, Dutch, Belgians… On the other hand, the British, as of last summer, come less, because their government has instituted a strict fortnight on their return,” he explains. “Away” international customers, especially critical to Paris, on the other hand (still) may be largely lacking: “Some Americans are returning from June, but we will not see Asian tourists again before 2022. And Paris is still suffering from a lack of tourism. ‘Business,’ says the Secretary of State. The good news, however, is “several business events are planned for September-December 2021, like in 2019. With a downside, as event professionals predict a 50% drop in the area of ​​rental stands,” he continues.

Many French people should also choose to spend their holidays in France. “In 2020, 94% of French people who went on vacation chose France. This year, they are already 80%. And with the occurrence of the fourth wave in all four corners of the world, many finally reenter our regions. choose to search from. They’ll probably be around 85%.”