France Breaks Tourism Record in 2025, Remains World’s Top Destination

France has once again confirmed its status as the world’s most visited country, welcoming a record 102 million international tourists in 2025, according to official figures released by the French Ministry of Economy.

Despite the significant economic boost, the steady rise in visitor numbers is placing mounting pressure on some of the country’s most iconic destinations.

Officials reported that international visitors generated 743 million overnight stays in 2025, with approximately 76% of foreign tourists arriving from across Europe.

Overnight stays in hotels and other commercial accommodations rose by 7.5% compared to 2024. Tourism revenues reached €77.5 billion, an increase of 9% year-on-year and 37% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

The milestone follows a strong 2024, when the Paris 2024 Olympic Games helped France surpass the symbolic threshold of 100 million arrivals.

French authorities have reiterated their ambition to generate €100 billion in annual tourism revenue by 2030 and position the country as a global leader in sustainable tourism.

While France maintains its lead in visitor numbers, Spain ranked second globally with 96.8 million foreign tourists in 2025.

However, Spain outperformed France in tourism revenue, generating €105 billion over the same period.

France has largely avoided the scale of anti-tourism protests seen in parts of Spain, where residents have demonstrated against rising living costs, gentrification, and unsustainable visitor numbers.

French officials attribute their relative success in managing overtourism to long-term planning, regional diversity, and a multi-season tourism model designed to spread visitors more evenly throughout the year.

Yet signs of strain are emerging.

Residents of the Montmartre district in Paris voiced frustration last summer over what they describe as the “Disneyfication” of their once-bohemian neighborhood. 

The iconic Sacré-Cœur now attracts up to 11 million visitors annually, even more than the Eiffel Tower, with daily life increasingly dominated by tour groups, tuk-tuks, photo queues, and short-term rentals.

Elsewhere, concerns persist about overcrowding at landmark sites such as Mont-Saint-Michel, where officials have previously acknowledged the urgent need for visitor flow management.

As France celebrates another record-breaking year, the challenge ahead lies in balancing economic gains with preserving the quality of life for residents and protecting the heritage that continues to draw millions from around the globe.