Paris once again the world's top tourist destination

Paris seems to be dynamically returning to pre-pandemic levels in terms of tourist reception.

According to tourism study data published by Paris Je t’aime, in 2025 the French capital is set to regain its position as the world's top tourist destination. This development creates optimism among French authorities and tourism professionals. The report also highlights existing imbalances and future challenges.

After the excellent tourist performance of the summer of 2024, the first assessment of the current summer tourist season is overall satisfactory, while according to the estimates published in the study in question, Paris and the greater Paris region are expected to welcome 37.4 million tourists this year, recording an increase of 1.2% compared to 2023 and approaching the record levels of 2019 (38 million). However, analysts point out some data that require special attention.

In particular, during the period from July 1 to August 17, the number of overnight stays showed a slight decrease of 1% compared to 2023, while international traffic also showed a slight decline (-2%), with trends varying significantly depending on the country of origin. The number of visitors from the Middle East has seen an impressive improvement, with Saudi Arabia up 24% and the United Arab Emirates up 21%, particularly benefiting luxury hotels. A similar positive picture is recorded for tourists from Asia, with the number of Japanese visiting Paris up 34%, Indians up 14% and Chinese up 40%. However, by comparison, Chinese hotel arrivals amounted to 382,000 for the whole of 2024, half the number in 2019.

However, there has been a decline in tourists from Europe. In particular, the number of British tourists has fallen by 30% and Italians by 33%, as they have all chosen mainly seaside destinations. Even more worrying is the 27% drop in overnight stays by Americans, a development that was not anticipated, as the first half of the year did not show this. Despite the negative exchange rate, this sudden decline is a point of caution, although it was partially offset by the rise in other markets. As noted in the report, the advantage is that the guest mix is ​​now more balanced, reducing the risk of dependence on a single clientele.

In terms of infrastructure, hotels in Paris continue to show satisfactory traffic. Specifically, hotels in the city recorded a 2.4% increase in arrivals compared to 2023, while prices showed a slight decline (-1.1%), resulting in an improvement in the revenue per available room ratio (+2.1%). Luxury hospitality benefited in particular from demand from affluent foreign visitors.

In contrast, a worrying decline is being seen in the catering sector. For July, the figures show a 26.4% drop in turnover, with this trend also reflected in Île-de-France. Although the capital’s most touristic areas were less affected, the overall decline is attributed to structural reasons such as the spread of Airbnb-style self-catering accommodation and the increased willingness of visitors to make more economical food choices. This creates a clear divergence between the recovering hospitality sector (hotels) and the lagging catering sector, with the catering sector concerned about a trend that could become entrenched.

Analysts note that in the long term, Paris’s tourism performance is showing resilience, but is significantly affected by volatile factors such as geopolitical developments, exchange rates and changes in traveller preferences. The gradual return of Asians, the strong presence of tourists from the Middle East and the changes in the European market make it clear that customer diversification is vital. At the same time, the issue of sustainability and the balance between economic growth and the quality of life of residents remains central.

The future course of the tourism sector in Paris will depend on the city's ability to adapt to these changing conditions, while maintaining its attractiveness and the resilience of its tourism economy.

(*) Information comes from the Office of Economic and Commercial Affairs in Paris.