France’s tourism balance sheet is on course for another historic surplus, with the government now forecasting €80 billion in international receipts for 2026 after a summer that broke all arrival records. According to preliminary data revealed on the opening day of the International & French Travel Market (IFTM) in Paris, overseas visitor numbers are up 8 % year-on-year even as French residents themselves trimmed foreign holidays because of inflation. The divergence is striking. While high fuel costs and rising mortgage rates kept many French households closer to home, long-haul travellers filled the gap. The United States again topped the spending league, but the fastest growth came from India, Brazil and the Gulf, all markets benefiting from the return of pre-pandemic air capacity and streamlined Schengen visa appointments. Hoteliers in Île-de-France report occupancies above 85 % since July, pushing average daily rates to a record €247. Behind the boom lies a concerted push by Atout France to court big-spending segments. Tax-free shopping limits were raised in June and business-event subsidies helped secure 150 new international conventions, including several tech mega-events displaced from Asia. Airport operator ADP says traffic at Paris-CDG is already 4 % above 2019 peaks, and regional hubs such as Marseille and Nice posted double-digit growth thanks to more Gulf carrier frequencies. For corporates the implications cut two ways. Strong inbound demand supports France’s meetings and incentives sector, but tight hotel inventory and higher rates require earlier booking windows and larger travel budgets. Employers should also remind staff that next year’s phased EES biometric checks could lengthen arrival times during peak congress weeks. Policy makers are keen to turn volume into value. Tourism minister Serge Papin told industry delegates that France will now focus on “quality of spend” by promoting longer stays outside Paris and encouraging rail connections once inside the country. New tax credits for sustainable accommodation retrofits are expected in the 2027 finance bill.
Source: Le Monde
