It appears that the majority of tourists visiting France are Europeans. In 2018, there were over ** million visitors coming from Europe to France, compared to **** million from the rest of the globe. Geographical and cultural proximity might explain why most tourists in France are from other European countries. In 2017, France welcomed more than ***** million foreign visitors.

France is popular among British tourists

Even though the number of foreign tourists coming from outside Europe to France has increased since 2010, Europeans remain the largest of visitors to the country. Among them, British people represented the biggest inbound travel market for France, ahead of countries such as Germany and Benelux. In 2017, there were more than **** million tourists from the United Kingdom in France. A lot of British tourists in France visit Paris, as well as the Provence-Alpes d’Azur region (the French Riviera). On its own, the French capital welcomed nearly *** million tourists from the UK in 2016.

And where do French people go in Europe?

In 2017, more than ** percent of trips took in France were domestic. The French are one of the EU nations spending more time in their own country for holidays, alongside with Spaniards. However, French people do travel, and just like their neighbors, they mainly go to Europe. Because of their Mediterranean climate and their lower prices, Italy, Portugal and Spain are the preferred foreign destinations of French tourists during summer. Thus, Spain received nearly ** million French visitors in 2018.

France FR: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals data was reported at 82,570,000.000 Person in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 84,452,000.000 Person for 2015. France FR: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals data is updated yearly, averaging 76,888,000.000 Person from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 84,452,000.000 Person in 2015 and a record low of 60,033,000.000 Person in 1995. France FR: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International inbound tourists (overnight visitors) are the number of tourists who travel to a country other than that in which they have their usual residence, but outside their usual environment, for a period not exceeding 12 months and whose main purpose in visiting is other than an activity remunerated from within the country visited. When data on number of tourists are not available, the number of visitors, which includes tourists, same-day visitors, cruise passengers, and crew members, is shown instead. Sources and collection methods for arrivals differ across countries. In some cases data are from border statistics (police, immigration, and the like) and supplemented by border surveys. In other cases data are from tourism accommodation establishments. For some countries number of arrivals is limited to arrivals by air and for others to arrivals staying in hotels. Some countries include arrivals of nationals residing abroad while others do not. Caution should thus be used in comparing arrivals across countries. The data on inbound tourists refer to the number of arrivals, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips to a country during a given period is counted each time as a new arrival.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

This bar chart shows the distribution of foreign tourists in France in 2018, by country or region of origin. Chinese tourists accounted for about 2.4 percent of foreign tourists in France.

This bar graph shows the number of foreign tourists in France in 2018, by country or region of origin, in millions. It displays that over *********** Chinese people travelled to France that year.

Key information about France Tourism Revenue

• France's Tourism Revenue reached 36 USD bn in Dec 2020, compared with 71 USD bn in the previous year
• France's Tourism Revenue data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1999 to Dec 2020
• The data reached an all-time high of 72,518 USD mn in Dec 2018 and a record low of 35,958 USD mn in Dec 2020

Malaysia Tourist Arrival: Europe: Western: France data was reported at 9,220.000 Person in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 18,622.000 Person for Aug 2018. Malaysia Tourist Arrival: Europe: Western: France data is updated monthly, averaging 5,739.000 Person from Jan 1997 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 261 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21,489.000 Person in Aug 2014 and a record low of 506.000 Person in Feb 1998. Malaysia Tourist Arrival: Europe: Western: France data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Tourism Malaysia. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.Q001: Tourist Arrivals.

In 2018, France recorded nearly ** million international tourist arrivals. Most of the international arrivals visiting France came by land transport, specifically by road. Air and water transportation came in second and third position, recording, respectively, more than ** million and almost *********** international arrivals in 2018.

Russia Avg Consumer Price: International Tourism: Excursion Trip to France data was reported at 67,991.980 RUB/Trip in Jan 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 70,516.760 RUB/Trip for Dec 2018. Russia Avg Consumer Price: International Tourism: Excursion Trip to France data is updated monthly, averaging 37,417.550 RUB/Trip from Jan 2004 (Median) to Jan 2019, with 181 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 72,573.230 RUB/Trip in Sep 2018 and a record low of 22,093.360 RUB/Trip in Apr 2004. Russia Avg Consumer Price: International Tourism: Excursion Trip to France data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Russia Premium Database’s Prices – Table RU.PA022: Average Consumer Price: Tourist Services.

Key information about France Visitor Arrivals

• France Visitor Arrivals recorded 117,109,000 person in Dec 2020, compared with 217,877,000 person in the previous year
• France Visitor Arrivals data is updated yearly, available from Dec 2004 to Dec 2020
• The data reached an all-time high of 155 person in Dec 2002 and a record low of 0 person in Oct 2019

Most of the main tourist sending countries for France are European or share a common border. The United Kingdom ranked as the leading international market, with ********** tourists arriving in France in 2018. Overall, international arrivals of overnight visitors to France showed an increased in 2018 compared to the previous year.

France FR: Number of Tourist Nights: YoY data was reported at -3.378 % in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.369 % for 2018. France FR: Number of Tourist Nights: YoY data is updated yearly, averaging 1.866 % from Dec 2011 (Median) to 2019, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.791 % in 2017 and a record low of -7.094 % in 2016. France FR: Number of Tourist Nights: YoY data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.IMF.IFS: Tourist Arrivals: Annual.

Outbound tourism - travel of France plummeted by 45.04% from 50,507,000,000 current US dollars in 2019 to 27,758,000,000 current US dollars in 2020. Since the 11.93% surge in 2018, outbound tourism - travel sank by 43.88% in 2020. Series 3.4

France ST: Val: swda: BS: ADS: Tourism Activities data was reported at 114.920 2015=100 in May 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 114.960 2015=100 for Apr 2018. France ST: Val: swda: BS: ADS: Tourism Activities data is updated monthly, averaging 86.740 2015=100 from Jan 1999 (Median) to May 2018, with 233 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 115.750 2015=100 in Jan 2018 and a record low of 50.300 2015=100 in May 1999. France ST: Val: swda: BS: ADS: Tourism Activities data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies. The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.C010: Services Turnover Index: 2015=100: Seasonally and Working Day Adjusted.

In 2018, domestic tourism was more popular than outbound tourism among travelers in France across all age groups. This type of travel was particularly popular among travelers aged 35 to 44 years old. Among their older counterparts, 32.31 percent of travelers 65 years and older stated that they participated in domestic trips in that year. In contrast, outbound trips were most common among travelers aged 15 to 24 years.

France - Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments: Cities was 171957977.00 in December of 2018, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for France - Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments: Cities - last updated from the EUROSTAT on November of 2025. Historically, France - Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments: Cities reached a record high of 171957977.00 in December of 2018 and a record low of 151823433.00 in December of 2016.

International tourism, expenditures for travel items (current US$) in French Polynesia was reported at 177000000 USD in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. French Polynesia - International tourism, expenditures for travel items - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

France ST: Val: BS: ADS: Tourism Activities data was reported at 112.480 2015=100 in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 111.490 2015=100 for Apr 2018. France ST: Val: BS: ADS: Tourism Activities data is updated monthly, averaging 86.970 2015=100 from Jan 1999 (Median) to May 2018, with 233 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 126.440 2015=100 in Dec 2014 and a record low of 43.850 2015=100 in Jan 1999. France ST: Val: BS: ADS: Tourism Activities data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies. The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.C009: Services Turnover Index: 2015=100.

United States Visitor Arrivals: OTTI: France data was reported at 155,095.000 Person in May 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 203,156.000 Person for Apr 2018. United States Visitor Arrivals: OTTI: France data is updated monthly, averaging 88,012.000 Person from Jan 1996 (Median) to May 2018, with 269 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 227,717.000 Person in Jul 2015 and a record low of 36,925.000 Person in Nov 2001. United States Visitor Arrivals: OTTI: France data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of Travel and Tourism Industries. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.Q001: Visitor Arrivals.

This statistic displays the number of French tourist arrivals in hotels in metropolitan France monthly from January 2015 to February 2018. In February 2018 there were approximately **** million French tourists arriving in hotels and similar accommodation in France. This presents an decrease compared to the same period in 2017. Foreign tourist arrivals on the other hand presented an increase in February 2018 compared to a year earlier.

Japan LS: France: 4 to 6 Days data was reported at 5.000 Person in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.000 Person for Mar 2018. Japan LS: France: 4 to 6 Days data is updated quarterly, averaging 4.000 Person from Mar 2014 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.000 Person in Mar 2015 and a record low of 2.000 Person in Mar 2018. Japan LS: France: 4 to 6 Days data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.Q017: Tourism and Leisure: Characteristics of Visitors and Trips: Length of Stay.