The French hotel sector saw a slight decrease in occupancy during the summer of 2024, marking a drop from the previous year’s high levels.
Although the number of international tourists increased, it was not enough to offset the decline in domestic visitors.
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Slight overall decrease
During the summer season, spanning May to August 2024, collective tourist accommodations recorded 247.3 million overnight stays. This figure represents a 1.0% decrease compared to 2023, amounting to approximately 2.5 million fewer stays.
While the beginning of the season appeared promising, the adverse impacts of lower occupancy in June and July could not be fully mitigated by improved August numbers.
Despite this decline, the summer season’s figures remain robust, surpassing those of 2019, which indicates continued recovery since the pandemic.
Regional trends
Camping remains the standout performer in the accommodation sector, with a slight increase in occupancy. Campgrounds welcomed 119.9 million overnight stays, a 0.9% rise from the previous summer.
In contrast, hotels experienced a reduction of 2.2 million overnight stays, down 2.5% from 2023, with a total of 86.7 million stays. Other types of collective accommodation also faced declines, with a drop of 3.1% overall, primarily due to fewer stays in tourist residences.
The fall in domestic tourist activity continues to impact the sector, as residents accounted for more than two-thirds of all stays. This segment saw a 2.0% decline, equating to 3.4 million fewer overnight stays compared to 2023. Meanwhile, international visitors increased by 1.2%, contributing an additional 900,000 overnight stays, but this growth was insufficient to balance the downturn in domestic demand.
European visitor dynamics
European tourists showed a marked decrease in hotel stays, with the UK market particularly affected, experiencing a significant drop of 14.3% in overnight stays compared to 2023.
Visitors from Italy and Spain also decreased by 6.2% and 5.1%, respectively. The only notable increase among neighbouring countries came from Dutch tourists.
In contrast, visitors from outside Europe saw a rebound, with American tourists recording a 14.0% rise in overnight stays, surpassing the number of British visitors.
Meanwhile, the presence of Chinese and Japanese tourists also increased but remained below pre-pandemic levels.
Coastal and mountain tourism
The coastal areas, traditionally popular during the summer, saw a slight reduction in overall occupancy, down 0.8% to 101.1 million overnight stays.
While camping remains the dominant accommodation type along the coast, domestic visitor numbers fell, indicating that the increase in international tourism was not enough to counterbalance the local decline.
In contrast, mountain resorts experienced a slight uptick in visitation, highlighting a shifting preference among some holidaymakers.
Despite hosting the Paris Olympic Games, which was expected to boost tourism, Île-de-France saw a decrease in collective tourist accommodation occupancy throughout the summer months.
The overall landscape for the French hotel sector in summer 2024 reflects ongoing challenges as the industry adjusts to evolving travel patterns and preferences.
