The influx of tourists in Paris is close to its pre-Covid level

The tourist assistance registered in Paris in the first quarter is close to the level of 2019 with an average expenditure of international tourists higher than before the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism assistant announced this Wednesday during a press conference. Some 11.6 million tourists were received in Greater Paris between January and April 2023, an increase of 27.2% compared to 2022 and a drop of only 2.5% compared to 2019.

More than half of the tourists are of French nationality (53.3%), a distribution almost similar to before the covid. The most represented foreign tourists come from the United States and the United Kingdom (7.0%) and to a lesser extent from Germany, Italy and Brazil.

“There are changes, China but also Korea or Japan are very little present, but despite this we found attendance similar to that of 2019 with an increase in European countries such as Spain, Italy, Portugal or Portugal. ‘Austria,’ said tour assistant Frédéric Hocquard.

37 million tourists expected

By 2023, attendance could top 37 million tourists in Greater Paris, up from 38.5 million in 2019. Average spending by international tourists also surpassed 2019 levels, with the United States in first place , followed by Spain.

The share of business overnights is also almost back to its pre-crisis level, as are hotel occupancy rates. “The indicators are really green,” said Corinne Menegaux, director general of the Paris Tourist Office.

189 euros per night on average

The only drawback is that prices have risen 28% in four years in Paris, with an average of 189 euros per night. “There is the effect of inflation but we see that this increase is similar in all the capitals,” said Ms. Menegaux, who, however, does not foresee a price explosion during the Olympic Games.

“The Olympic Games, there are many tourists who come, but there are also many who do not come. We do not expect to double the number of tourists in Paris,” added Frédéric Hoquard, specifying however that controls on furnished tourist accommodation such as Airbnb will be strengthened.

As part of its Climate Plan, the City of Paris is also working to reduce the carbon footprint of the tourism sector, which accounts for 10% of Ile-de-France’s GDP, focusing in particular on reducing single-use plastic and in the development of cycle tourism.