This Is Still the Most Visited Country in the World: “We Should Be Proud of Our Position, Many Envy Us"

With a whopping 102 million global tourists and a record €77.5 billion in tourism revenue last year, France has once again strengthened its ranking as the most visited country on the planet. The new figures also show a sharp rise in spending, underscoring the important role tourism plays in the country’s economy.

Tourism Minister Serge Papin presented the official report earlier in the month, summing up the moment by saying, “France is a great tourism country. Let's be proud of it and, above all, let's remain so.”

More Visitors and Higher Spending

Tourism in France grew across almost every key measure last year, with international arrivals going up from 100 million in 2024 to 102 million in 2025, and total overnight stays reaching 743 million. European travelers accounted for 76% of visits.

France. Photo: Gerald Villena / Shutterstock

German travelers stood out with a 9% rise in overnight stays, while North American tourism, especially from the United States, grew by more than 10%. In terms of spending by visitors, the average spend per tourist rose 7% to €760 per trip, helping push total international tourism receipts to a record €77.5 billion. This resulted in a positive tourism balance of €20.1 billion for the country.

Domestic tourism also remained strong, with French residents spending an estimated €222 billion on domestic travel in 2025.

The strong performance follows an already successful 2024, boosted by major global events like the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Southern regions such as Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Occitanie, and Nouvelle-Aquitaine continue to attract the largest share of domestic travelers. Summer remains the busiest period, accounting for 43% of annual overnight stays.

Despite leading in visitor numbers, France still trails Spain in total tourism revenue. Spain generated €105 billion, although the gap between the two countries is slowly narrowing.

What the Future Holds for France

France now aims to push tourism revenue even higher, targeting €100 billion annually by 2030. The government also wants the country to become the world’s leading destination for sustainable tourism.

Early signs for 2026 are promising: flight bookings from major markets like Mexico, China, Canada, and Spain are already showing growth, and mountain resorts are expecting another strong winter season.

Papin stressed that tourism remains a competitive global industry. “We should be proud of our position as the world's leading tourist destination; many envy us,” he said.