Tourism in the French economy
The economic impact of tourism in France has grown considerably in 2025 : up 9% compared to 2024, France recorded €77.5 billion in international revenue, an all-time high, as well as a positive balance of payments of €20.1 billion.
Still competing with other destinations, France maintains its leading position and reaffirms its tourism ambitions for 2030: to reach €100 billion in revenue and to be the leading destination for sustainable tourism.
Main economic data
102 M
international arrivals by 2024 (Estimate Atout France)
€77,5 Bn
in international spending in 2024 (Banque de France)
€18.7 Bn
in tourism investment by 2022
According to URSSAF data, the hospitality and catering industry will have 1.3 million private sector employees in 2022, an increase of 8.5% compared to 2019 (+93,800 private sector jobs).
The hospitality and catering industry accounts for 6.5% of all private-sector salaried jobs in 2022. It had one of the most dynamic growth in 2022, both in terms of percentage and volume of employment.
Source: Urssaf
In 2022, the direct contribution of tourism to France’s GDP accounts for 3,6%, or € 82,1 billion (taking into account the gross value added of tourism activities)
In France, domestic tourism accounts for 70% of tourism GDP, a share comparable with that of competing countries.
Domestic tourism consumption amounts to €192 billion (€ 126 billion for residents and €66 billion for non-residents), compared to a total of €185.6 billion in 2019.
Source: Insee, tourism satellite account
Despite the continuing health crisis at the beginning of the year and the outbreak of war in Ukraine in the spring, 2022 was a year of recovery for the French tourism industry, with very solid performances in terms of visitors, revenue, and investment.
The number of international arrivals stood at 100 million in 2024* (90 million in 2019)
* Estimate by Atout France for 2024, based on international visitor numbers for 2023/2022, France having welcomed 93 million visitors in 2023 according to INSEE.
With €71,3 billion in international revenues in 2024, France exceeded the 2019 and 2023 revenue levels by +26% and 8% respectively. (Source: Banque de France)
These results were driven by Belgian, British, German and Swiss customers.
Total revenue growth from 2019 to 2024
Tourism investment in 2022 totalled to €18.6 billion, representing an increase of +1.3% compared to 2021 and +4.5% compared to 2019.
Second homes account for 27%; hospitality accommodation (hotels, guest houses, campsites, rental homes, and holiday villages) for 34%; restaurants for 17%; and other facilities for 22%.