40+ Paris Travel & Tourism Statistics (2023)

Is Paris the most visited city in the world?

In 2021, Paris is the second-most visited city in the world after Bangkok, which welcomed an incredible 22.78 million international visitors compared to Paris’ 19 million.

How many tourists does Paris get every year?

Paris welcomed roughly 38 million visitors in 2019. Despite hitting a rough patch in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, it is estimated that 33 million people will visit Paris in 2022.

Is France the most visited country in the world 2022?

Yes, France is the most visited country in the world. It has been attracting the highest number of visitors for 30 years, with 90 million recorded in 2019.

Paris statistics at a glance

• A total of 38 million visitors came to Paris in 2019.
• The top 5 international visitors in Paris are tourists from Belgium (11%), the UK (10%), the US (9%), Netherlands (8%), and Germany (8%).
• In 2018, international visitor spending in Paris was $14.06 billion, an increase from 2017’s $13.05 billion.
• The average tourist in Paris spends €101 per day in Paris.
• 53% of all recorded tourists in Paris in 2021 were women.
• 94% of people who visit Paris say that they are satisfied with their trip, with 78% intending to return within the next 2 years.
• As of January 2021, there are 1,611 hotel establishments in Paris, with three-star hotels being the most common, at almost 700 establishments.
• 1 in every 4 visitors in Paris travel on a business or mixed trip. The other 3 would be leisure travellers.

Inbound tourism in Paris

How many tourists does Paris get every year?

1. A total of 38 million visitors came to Paris in 2019.

[Le Monde]

2. This number fell to 19 million in 2021, but is expected to recover and hit 33 million in 2022.

[Le Monde]

3. This made Paris, in 2021, the second-most visited city in the world after Bangkok.

[Atlys]

4. There were 82.5 million overnight stays in Paris in 2021, up 25% from 2020 but -58% from 2019.

[Paris Region Tourist]

5. Meanwhile, the number of non-overnight stays in Paris in 2021 was 22.6 billion, 30% more than 2020 and 55% less than 2019.

[Paris Region Tourist]

6. The top 5 international visitors in Paris are tourists from Belgium (11%), the UK (10%), the US (9%), Netherlands (8%), and Germany (8%).

[Paris Region Tourist]

European tourists make up a significant portion of international visitors in Paris, with 10% of all international visitors to Paris coming from the UK.

Meanwhile, the US is only non-European nationality to make the most international visits to Paris, which means long-haul travel is common for American tourists.

7. Paris-Charles De Gaulle Airport, the largest airport in France, welcomed only 26.2 million passengers in 2021, a 65.6% drop from 2019.

[Statista]

Domestic tourism in Paris

How many French tourists visit Paris every year?

8. Out of all French visitors in Paris, 13% are from Hauts-de-France and another 13% are from Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, making these the top two French visitors. Nouvelle-Aquitaine

[Paris Region Tourist]

9. Moreover, 10% are from Nouvelle-Aquitaine, while visitors from Grand Est and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur make up 9% each of all domestic visitors in Paris.

[Paris Region Tourist]

Paris tourism: economic impact

How much money does tourism bring to Paris?

10. In 2021, tourists spent €8.4 billion in Paris, which is a 39% increase from 2020 but still 62% lower from the pre-pandemic level in 2019.

[Paris Region Tourist]

The Covid-19 pandemic caused tourist spending in Paris to drop by 62% between 2019 and 2021.

11. In 2018, international visitor spending in Paris was $14.06 billion, an increase from 2017’s $13.05 billion.

[Statista]

For both international and domestic visitors, tourism spending in Paris was significantly higher before the Coronavirus pandemic.

12. The average tourist in Paris spends €101 per day.

[Paris Region Tourist]

13. Meanwhile, the average stay budget is €370 per person.

[Paris Region Tourist]

14. There are 119 thousand tourism-related companies in Paris alone.

[Paris Region Tourist]

15. In 2021, these tourism-related companies in Paris employed a total of 511 thousand people, which is around 20% of all travel and tourism jobs in the country.

[Paris Region Tourist & Statista]

This accounts to roughly one-fifth of the 2.5 million travel and tourism jobs in France as a whole.

Demographics of Paris tourism

What is the average visitor of Paris like?

16. 53% of all recorded tourists in Paris in 2021 were women.

[Paris Region Tourist]

In 2021, slightly more than half of all visitors in Paris were women, which reveals an increasing trend in female travel.

17. The average age of a visitor in Paris is 41 years old.

[Paris Region Tourist]

18. 34% of tourists in Paris is from a higher socio-professional category.

[Paris Region Tourist]

19. 94% of people who visit Paris say that they are satisfied with their trip, with 78% intending to return within the next 2 years.

[Paris Region Tourist]

20. 16% of all tourism trips in Paris is made by people who come with families.

[Paris Region Tourist]

Family trips make up 16% of all tourism trips in Paris.

21. For families, visiting theme park is a popular activity as 40% of them visit a theme park during their stay in Paris.

[Paris Region Tourist]

22. 41% of repeat visitors in Paris have made more than 10 trips to the city.

[Paris Region Tourist]

Hotels and accommodations in Paris statistics

How many hotels are there in Paris?

23. As of January 2021, there are 1,611 hotel establishments in Paris, with three-star hotels being the most common, at almost 700 establishments.

[Statista]

Out of the 1,611 hotels in Paris, 700 of them has a three-star rating.

24. The majority of tourists in Paris (53%) would stay in a hotel during their visit.

[Paris Region Tourist]

25. The most common method for booking accommodation in Paris is through an online travel agency (38%).

[Paris Region Tourist]

38% of visitors book their accommodation online, 32% book through their direct hosts, while 20% use the services of a travel agency.

26. The total number of nights spent in hotels in Paris fell by 27,000 from 2019 to 2020.

[Statista]

27. Hotel occupancy rate in Paris hit its lowest point in April 2020, at barely 20%.

[Statista]

28. An average double hotel room in Paris costs €146 in August 2021, compared to €194 in May 2020 and the record-low €125 in July 2020.

[Statista]

Tourist activities in Paris

What are the top tourist attractions in Paris?

29. Walking around the city is the most popular thing to do for visitors in Paris, with 66% stating that they have engaged in the activity.

[Paris Region Tourist]

30. Visiting museums and monuments comes at a close second at 62% of visitors having done it while in Paris.

[Paris Region Tourist]

31. Additionally, 37% of visitors also report to enjoy shopping in the city.

[Paris Region Tourist]

32. The most visited site in Paris is the Eiffel Tower (35%).

[Paris Region Tourist]

33. Rounding up the top 5 most visited sites in Paris, there are the Arc de Triomphe, Sacré-Coeur of Montmartre, Louvre Museum, and Notre-Dame de Paris in order of popularity.

[Paris Region Tourist]

34. The Covid-19 pandemic also affected cultural attractions in Paris. The Louvre Museum welcomed only 2.7 million visitors in 2020, a significant decrease from the usual 10 million visitors per year.

[Statista]

Business tourism in Paris

How many business travelers do Paris get?

35. There were 5.7 million business or mixed trips in Paris in 2021.

[Paris Region Tourist]

In 2021, 5.7 million business trips were made to Paris.

36. 1 in every 4 visitors in Paris travel on a business or mixed trip. The other 3 would be leisure travellers.

[Paris Region Tourist]

37. Out of all business trips taken in Paris, 61% is strictly professional while 39% is a mix of business and leisure.

[Paris Region Tourist]

38. In 2019, Paris had the second-highest number of participants at associations meetings globally.

[Statista]

Paris is one of the leading cities hosting MICE events.

39. The average MICE event in 2019 was attended by an average of 851 congress participants.

[Statista]

40. Business visitors in Paris contribute to 38% of the region’s tourism revenue.

[Statista]

41. In 2020, 160 professional events in Paris were postponed, whereas 157 were.

[Statista]

Of course, this is also what influenced the decline in the number of international and domestic visitors in Paris that year.

Summary

While the Covid-19 pandemic did slow down tourism in Paris, the industry has already begun to recover as travel picks up worldwide.

We hope these statistics were useful for you, whether you’re planning for a trip to Paris or simply wanting some insights about it.

Do you think we’ve missed anything?

Feel free to comment down below!

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Sources:

• WorldPopulationReview
• Le Monde
• Atlys
• Paris Region Tourist 1
• Paris Region Tourist 2
• Statista