With a record number of visitors in 2018 estimate close to 90 million tourists, France confirms the pole position it acquired more than thirty years ago.
Protests by SNCF, air traffic controllers, yellow vests... the reluctant Gauls have demonstrated frequently this year, disrupting transport in France. Nevertheless, the country's attractiveness remains strong, the tourist industry is resilient and the country has set a world record for tourist arrivals.
After 87 million international visitors in 2017, tourism in France is expected to "reach" around 90 million for the past year, the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs said on Thursday, January 17.
While the European markets "experienced moderate drops in occupancy; cancellations that may be deplored are those of long-haul market, those in Asia in particular, which underline an increased sensitivity to increased safety risks, such as the attack in Strasbourg.
The year 2019 began poorly for hoteliers nonetheless, as they were strongly impacted by the images of violence during the protests that were broadcast on media worldwide. The Quai d'Orsay suggests "reserved international airline arrivals are down 5%, but are back on an uptrend starting in March."
