TOURISM: FRANCE EXPECTS 50 MILLION VISITORS THIS SUMMER
Heavily affected by the pandemic, will the tourism sector benefit from a mild summer? Nothing is less sure. Still, France hopes to receive 50 million foreign visitors, mainly from Europe while the “distant” international clientele should still remain largely absent, says Secretary of State for Tourism Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne in a report. interview at JDD. “This year, we hope to welcome 50 million foreign tourists, against 35 million last year, and 90 million in 2019. The summer is therefore full of hope”, underlines Mr. Lemoyne.
“A local European clientele is there: Germans, Dutch, Belgians … On the other hand, the British, like last summer, come less, because their government has set up a strict fortnight on their return,” he explains. he. The “distant” international clientele, crucial in particular for Paris, may on the other hand be (still) largely lacking: “A few Americans have been returning since June, but we will not see Asian tourists again before 2022. And Paris still suffers from the lack of tourism. ‘business,’ adds the Secretary of State. Good news, however, “as many business events are planned for September-December 2021 as in 2019. With a downside, because event professionals predict a 50% drop in the area of rented stands,” he continues. .
Many French people should also choose to spend their holidays in France. “In 2020, 94% of French people who went on vacation had chosen France. This year, they are already 80%. And with the occurrence of the fourth wave in the four corners of the world, many finally choose to rediscover our territories. They will probably be around 85%. “
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