Culture is undoubtedly one of the pillars of the tourism sector, attracting millions of visitors around the world every year. Many countries shine on the international tourism scene thanks to their cultural heritage, like France and its countless cultural sites. Whether it's to discover the identity of a destination, to quench one's thirst for discovery or simply to visit the must-see places in a given territory, the reasons behind the boom in cultural tourism are just as numerous as its enthusiasts. And while culture traces centuries of history, it has not forgotten to keep up with the times, particularly through the adoption of new technologies.
European museums full of works of art and visitors
After closing their doors for many months and then reopening with very limited attendance during the health crisis, museums are once again filling up with visitors. Given the number of visitors to Europe's major museums, it would seem that tourists are more interested in culture than ever.
Some destinations on the Old Continent stand out for the richness of their cultural heritage, such as Paris, Prague and Barcelona, which make up the podium in a ranking produced by Booking. The ranking lists destinations according to their cultural appeal in terms of architecture, monuments and museums.
And in this respect, the City of Light seems to be doing very well, having set a record for the number of visitors to its museums in 2023. The 14 museums of the City of Paris welcomed more than 5 million visitors last year, an increase of 17% compared with 2022. The free museum collections in particular drew the crowds, with a 30% increase in visitor numbers between 2022 and 2023, while temporary exhibitions saw a 6% increase in visitor numbers.
Record visitor numbers have also been recorded at the city's two cultural icons, the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay. In fact, 8.9 million visitors strolled the aisles of the world's most famous museum, an increase of 14% on 2022. This figure is close to the pre-pandemic level of 2019, when 9.6 million visitors came to the Louvre. However, the museum says it is "not counting on the record attendance figures of the past" in order to ensure "better reception and visiting conditions".
The Musée d'Orsay is not to be outdone, with 3.9 million visitors in 2023, beating an "all-time record", as is the Musée du Quai Branly, which has welcomed 1.4 million visitors, "an increase...
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