The Paris Region remains a key driver of France’s economy and tourism sector. In 2024, its GDP is estimated at €765 billion, with a population of 12.3 million inhabitants. The region's tourism industry is a major contributor to employment, with 345,306 tourism-related jobs recorded in 2022. That same year, Paris welcomed 44.1 million visitors, generating 172 million overnight stays.

The 2024 Olympic Games further highlighted the region's global appeal, attracting international visitors and boosting economic activity. 

Paris became a tourist city in the 17th century, when it became commonplace to send young European aristocrats on a tour of Europe to perfect their education and intellectual awakening. Paris was then a landmark stage in this intellectual journey, in order to discover not only the richness of its historical heritage, and then the enlightenment that reigned there and the liberation of social mores that flourished there. Paris gradually became the capital of awakening, a reputation that it would retain over the centuries as Stefan Zweig described it in these terms three hundred years later in his autobiographical novel The World of Yesterday.