Tourism

Fortunes: Wealthy Families Investing in Hospitality and Tourism

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Fortunes : ces familles qui investissent dans l’hôtellerie et le tourisme - Depositphotos.com Auteur aeydenphumi

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This summer, the Challenges magazine published its ranking of France’s 500 largest professional fortunes

 

This list helps to identify several profiles who are particularly present in hospitality and related activities.

 

Hospitality and tourism are not necessarily the main business of France’s fortunes, but many of them own groups or assets in these sectors.


The Duval family posts an estimated fortune of 2 billion euros

At 62nd place, the Duval family shows an estimated fortune of 2 billion euros, unchanged from 2025.

 

They own the Duval Group, presented in the ranking as a group active in holding, real estate, services and hospitality.

 

The Challenges commentary notes that Éric Duval and his children, Pauline and Louis-Victor, are building a group whose turnover reaches 1 billion euros, with a particular focus on real estate, tourism, leisure and microfinance in Africa.

 

At 85th place, Patrice Pichet and his family are credited with a fortune of 1.6 billion euros, stable compared to 2025.

 

The Pichet Group operates in real estate, wines and hospitality.

 

According to the table, Patrice Pichet, supported by his four sons, leads a group reporting 1.8 billion euros in turnover, with activities in property development, a property holding company, a vineyard – Les Carmes de Haut-Brion – and hospitality.


The Altitude Group is presented as active in telecoms, real estate and hospitality

Also ranked 85th, Jean-Paul Rivière and his family have a fortune estimated at 1.6 billion euros, down from 1.7 billion in 2025.

 

The Altitude Group is described as active in telecoms, real estate and hospitality.

 

The table indicates that the Norman founder and his family notably own the group’s fiber-optics infrastructure operator, run by his daughter, as well as activities in real estate and senior residences.

 

Frédéric Jousset, ranked 140th with a fortune estimated at 1.05 billion euros, holds notably a stake in Karavel, a major player in travel.

 

Further down the list, Jean-Louis Costes appears at 271st place, with a fortune estimated at 540 million euros, unchanged from 2025.

 

His group, Saint Honoré, is described in the sectors of real estate and hospitality.

 

The ranking’s commentary recalls that he developed, with his brother, a network of Parisian brasseries and owns the Hôtel Costes, a five-star establishment on Rue Saint-Honoré, featuring a spa.


The Gad-Roblin family: 525 million euros

Jacques Gad, Françoise Roblin and their family sit at 272nd place, with a fortune of 525 million euros, stable over one year.

 

Their group, Cofigad, operates in hospitality. The family owns a hotel group of around thirty establishments under an Accor franchise, representing 2,600 rooms, primarily in Paris but also in Switzerland.

 

At 257th place, Pierre and Marie-Laure Esnée have a fortune estimated at 560 million euros, versus 580 million in 2025.

 

Their company, You Famille Hôtelière, operates in hospitality.

 

The table notes that these former agro-food industrialists, from Frial, have transformed over more than fifteen years into this hotel-management group of 100 hotels, as well as into wine with Château Garraud.

 

Also ranked 257th, Anne Jousse and her family show a fortune of 560 million euros, up from 440 million in 2025.

 

Her group, B Signature Hotels & Resorts, appears under the “Insurance” category, but the commentary highlights its hotel activity: she is developing a collection of seven luxury hotels in Paris, Saint-Barthélemy and Brittany, in addition to the family insurance brokerage group.


Other fortunes linked to hospitality

The ranking reveals several other fortunes connected, directly or indirectly, to hospitality and tourism.

 

At 282nd place, Célia Chambon and her family hold 500 million euros. The Socri-IFC Group is described as active in real estate and hospitality. The table notes that Célia Chambon controls this commercial real estate and hospitality group, while her brother is developing luxury real estate promotion.

 

At 261st place, Jean-François Gobertier shows a fortune of 500 million euros, down from 525 million in 2025. His group, GDP Vendôme, operates in real estate and hospitality. The table mentions a group comprising health assets and service residences.

 

Finally, at 462nd place, Alain Thiénot shows a fortune of 280 million euros, down from 290 million in 2025. His group, Arvitis, operates in wines, champagne and hospitality. The table notes that the family owns notably the champagnes Thiénot, Canard-Duchêne, Marie Stuart and Joseph Perrier, as well as the wines Dourthe and Kressmann, and that they opened a luxury boutique-hotel in Reims at the end of 2025.

E-Invoicing: A New Big Bang for the Tourism Industry

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Facturation électronique : "plus d’angoisse que de problèmes" selon Valérie Boned - Depositphotos

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This Tuesday, September 1 marks the D-day, or rather the F-day, for electronic invoicing.

From now on, all VAT-liable businesses must be able to receive electronic invoices. To do this, they must designate an accredited platform for this type of operation, among the 149 authorized by the French government.

In addition, large companies and those of intermediate size, i.e., with more than 250 employees, will be required not only to issue electronic invoices but also to transmit transaction and payment data to the French administration.

This point will concern only a small number of names in the sector.

“From a general standpoint, many players will not be affected as of September 1 by the reform.

I do not know the sector’s compliance rate, nor the level of maturity on the topic, but we have published a white paper and organized webinars on the subject…

Companies have been informed; it won’t be insurmountable. I think there is more anxiety than actual problems in reality“, reassures Valérie Boned, president of the employers’ union.

Like the government, she stressed relaxing the tone around the month change and the implementation of the reform.


Electronic invoicing: “more anxiety than problems”

According to figures released by the French Treasury, among the 4 million entities in France that report VAT in 2026, 58% were registered with a platform as of August 23, 2026.

Read: Electronic invoicing: “no penalties for any company in 2026!”

Is the sector ready to face the day after?

“We were at Bercy with Arnaud Fontanille (travel committee of EDV, editor’s note) and Lionel Weingaertner (tax committee, editor’s note) last week, as part of a discussion on electronic invoicing.

If there is no postponement of the reform, we have confirmation that, regarding business travel-specific issues, we will benefit from a long adaptation period.

For leisure travel agencies, in theory the reform was easier to implement, even if there were some technical subjects.

For aviation in a business travel context, the situation is more complex because the invoicing obligation weighs on suppliers, yet the information transmission chain through all intermediaries and up to the authorized platforms is not yet mature enough.

We have identified with these entities blocking points for which we do not have a solution,” the head of the group insisted.

And in response, the EDV obtained assurances from the Ministry of Economy.

The office of David Amiel, minister of Public Action and Accounts, reminded that September 1 is not a hard deadline but rather the launch of this fiscal revolution.

Beyond a transition period, the government reassured everyone: there will be no penalties for any company, the minister’s office affirmed.


Electronic invoicing: “no common ground found”

The administration also stated its intention to position itself as a facilitator of the reform.

Regarding the sector, a few issues remain regarding relationships with transportation.

The union president notably dismissed the myth of direct invoicing by SNCF to the final client.

A use case developed specifically for the sector allows the business travel agency to produce a single document gathering all the client’s travel expenses.

The main question remaining open, in both aviation and rail, is who will fund the development of the necessary technological tools to eliminate these friction points.

“In the business travel area, there are many tools, back-office systems, and various technologies… that do not align with implementing electronic invoicing.

For the case 39 of this reform, which deals with an intermediary’s invoice covering goods or services provided by multiple sellers, we obtained an exemption from Bercy.

We are talking about a use case that did not exist before, and for which we obtained from the government the possibility for the business travel agent to maintain the link and invoicing with the client.

I told you what I told David Amiel: for 15 to 20% of cases with carriers, there is no solution“, she reveals to us.

Thus, if the sector had not secured this exemption, the business travel client would have received thousands of invoices from carriers.

Thanks to lobbying, the sales outlets will provide a single document listing all services, followed by an annex document listing all expenses billed by suppliers.

On this issue, not everything will be finalized or optimized yet, as carriers face information complexity.


Electronic invoicing: no solution yet for SNCF groups

Between August 31, 2026 and September 1, 2026, we moved from a lack of invoicing for SNCF or Air France to electronic invoicing, with data exchanges between all parties.

One of the main friction points, with no solution at this stage, remains SNCF’s reserved groups.



It seems this activity is under the radar of the rail operator, as group organizers face many hurdles. Earlier this year, their portal was taken offline, leaving professionals without a solution.

Moreover, the events sector also faces issues that will need to be addressed.

For some topics, discussions are well underway. For others, it is more delicate.

“We share the same objective, with SNCF and others, which is to implement the changes without disrupting the current operating model.

That said, it requires development, hence costs, and sometimes we do not reach an agreement. There are planned talks with the rail carrier to progress on groups.

Regarding applying the VAT regime for training with the OPCO, in the past refunds included VAT. Now, it must be excluded.

This is not strictly a matter of electronic invoicing, but it is essential to align for the reform’s rollout, in the case of employees undergoing training.

concretely, those who followed our recommendations will go through without hitches. For business travel, we also benefit from a tolerance.

The recommendation I want to share with your readers is to follow what we are doing, and everything will go smoothly, concludes Valérie Boned.


Romain Pommier Published by Romain Pommier Journalist – TourMaG.com
See all articles by Romain Pommier

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Tourism in Paris: July 2026 Sees a Slight Uptick

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La fréquentation touristique du Grand Paris a légèrement progressé en juillet 2026 - Depositphotos.com, masterlu

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Parisian tourism registered a slight improvement in July 2026.

According to the latest barometer from Paris je t’aime – Office de tourisme, foreign air arrivals reached 1.2 million for the month, i.e. a rise of 0.7% year-on-year.

In the same period, overnight tourism in the Grand Paris rose by 1.8%, with a rise of 2.9% for French visitors and a 1.6% increase for foreign clientele.

Hotel activity also follows this trend. The occupancy rate of Parisian establishments stood at 85.1% in July, up 1.4% compared with July 2025.

Overall, since the start of the year, the number of tourists registered in the Grand Paris has increased by 1.9% compared with the same period in 2025.


Des marchés internationaux aux évolutions contrastées

The dynamics remain different depending on the markets. Several foreign clientele strengthened their presence in the capital in July. This is notably the case for the United States (+2.3%), China (+7%), and Mexico (+13.9%).

Conversely, some source markets recorded a drop in demand. Arrivals of Italian tourists fell by 7.1%, Canadians by 3.9% and Spaniards by 4.5%.

This contrasting evolution is also seen at a geographic level. The central districts as well as the east and south of Paris registered hotel occupancy increases of over 3%.

The 13th, 14th and 15th arrondissements notably benefited from the Esports World Cup, with an average occupancy rate up by 3.2%.

Conversely, western Paris experienced a decline of 2.6% compared with July 2025.


A rentrée driven by major events

After a month of August traditionally calmer, Paris should resume sustained activity starting in September.

The autumn events calendar looks particularly dense, with several concerts, trade shows, conferences and international gatherings.

The month will begin notably with PLK’s concert at the Stade de France on September 5, followed by IPEM at the Palais des Congrès, from September 8 to 10. Several Céline Dion dates are also scheduled during the month.

The visit of the Pope, with a visit and a mass planned around September 25, should also support hotel demand. Paris je t’aime estimates at this stage that this event could generate 5.9 percentage points of hotel occupancy.

The end of the month will be particularly busy with SILMO, then Batimat from September 28 to October 1 at Porte de Versailles. The September 29, the event’s impact is estimated at +8.7 percentage points of hotel occupancy.

Despite this schedule, hotel bookings for September do not yet fully reflect this momentum. The projected occupancy rate remains at a slight decline of 0.4% compared with September 2025. Air bookings, however, appear better oriented, with an expected rise of 1.2% for the month.


October better oriented

The outlook is more favorable for October. The projected hotel occupancy rate currently shows a 2.6% year-on-year rise.

Several major events are expected to help sustain activity, including the SIAL at Villepinte, several large congresses, Paris Games Week, and the NFL game scheduled at the Stade de France on October 25.

The end of the year should also benefit from a dense events calendar. Several peak attendance periods are anticipated in October, notably around Batimat, the Journées Francophones de Radiologie (JFR), Produrable, Gazelec and several Céline Dion concerts.

Late November and early December, other major professional events are expected to take over, with notably the ADF, Journées de Dermatologie (JDP), All4Pack, the Nautic Show, Pollutec or the Horse Grand Prix.


Des perspectives encourageantes, mais un environnement toujours contrasté

In the medium term, Paris je t’aime considers that the outlook remains favorable, even though performances are expected to continue varying strongly across markets. At present, the tourism office estimates that the number of tourists for the entire year 2026 should be very slightly below that recorded in 2025.

The first indicators for 2027 are nevertheless encouraging. Forecast air bookings for the first half show positive changes on several strategic markets, notably the United States, China, Brazil, Japan, India and South Korea.

For the three upcoming months, the reservation data recorded as of August 10 from ForwardKeys/Amadeus nonetheless show a strong disparity between markets.

The expected air arrivals from September to November are rising particularly for Saudi Arabia (+23.1%), Mexico (+18.7%), Brazil (+14.9%), Japan (+9.3%) and Canada (+3.8%).

Conversely, bookings are down for the United States (-7.3%), Italy (-17.5%), Spain (-14.5%), Australia (-13.6%) and South Korea (-33.1%).

The Paris destination will also have to contend with evolving travel behaviors, marked by greater attention to value for money, shorter European stays, a search for proximity and rising expectations regarding sustainable tourism.


Wildfires: €30 Million in Loans and €2 Million to Boost Tourism in Landes-Gironde

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Incendies : 30 M€ de prêts et 2 M€ pour relancer le tourisme dans les Landes-Gironde - Capture écran

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Following the wildfires that have severely affected Landes and Gironde, the government and tourism players are mobilizing to restore the attractiveness of the territories and support the professionals affected.

While visiting Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Serge Papin, the Minister Delegate for Tourism, announced several measures aimed at assisting reconstruction and, above all, reviving tourism in the areas hit by the fires.

Among the main measures announced is the creation of a guarantee fund capable of mobilizing up to 30 million euros in loans to support the affected economic actors.

The government also plans a communication plan named “Destination Landes-Gironde,” endowed with 2 million euros. This campaign should help bring back both French and international visitors and support tourist attendance in the two departments.

A dedicated fund is also set to assist the actors impacted in the Bordeaux metropolitan area.


“The resilience of Landes and Gironde is an absolute priority”

Adam Oubuih, directeur général d’Atout France a souligné dans un post LinkedIn : « The resilience of Landes and Gironde is an absolute priority ».

Present alongside Serge Papin and the local actors, Adam Oubouih met with professionals and representatives of the mobilized territories.

From the first days of the fires, the agency indicates having mobilized its international network to disseminate reliable and reassuring information to travelers, the media and professionals.

This communication has been carried out notably in connection with embassies and local partners, with the goal: to prevent images of the fires from leading to a distorted perception of the situation across the entire destination.

« Under the impetus of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, the Regional Tourism Committee of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and all the actors of the territory, an exceptional mobilization has been launched. Atout France today supports and amplifies it, notably by steering the international rollout of the ‘Destination Landes-Gironde’ campaign, in close cooperation with the Region and the Regional Tourism Committee » adds the communiqué.

Wildfires: Tourism Drives Recovery in Landes and Gironde

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Après les incendies qui ont fortement perturbé la saison touristique dans les Landes et en Gironde, les professionnels constatent une reprise progressive - Depositphotos.com @fouroaks

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The tourist season had started off well in the Landes and Gironde.

The fires in July and August abruptly reversed the trend, triggering evacuations, temporary closures and, above all, a wave of cancellations that far exceeded the areas directly affected.

The shortfall in revenue for the two departments is currently estimated at 60 million euros, according to initial estimates. In Gironde, tourism accounts for around 3.8 billion euros in annual economic impact and 40,000 jobs.

By August 20, the situation had however improved. “The season is not over“, reminds Christelle Chassagne, president of ADN Tourisme and of the Regional Tourism Committee of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. After dropping to 30-40 % at the start of August, attendance rose to between 60 and 80 % the following week.

It nonetheless remains 10 % below last year’s level for the same period.


Un impact qui dépasse les zones directement touchée

The main issue for professionals now is that the image of the fires continues to weigh on areas that were not affected.

“It’s the ‘oil slick’ effect“, notes Nicolas Dayot, president of the National Federation of Outdoor Hotel Industry (FNHPA).

Out of caution or due to a lack of knowledge about local geography, some vacationers have lumped together all of Landes and Gironde into risk zones. Campgrounds that were spared have thus suffered a last-minute bookings freeze. Some foreign tourists even canceled stays in Dordogne for fear of smoke.

In the campsites directly affected by evacuations, the impact is even greater. With the exception of one establishment that suffered heavy damage and three others that experienced light destruction, losses are mainly tied to operations.

The FNHPA reports numerous cancellations and few postponements. The majority of vacationers who canceled their stays turned to other coastal destinations, from Charente-Maritime to Brittany via the Mediterranean.

For campsites, end-August occupancy rates remain highly variable, from 40 to 90 % depending on the establishment. Gironde appears more fragile than Landes and September remains uncertain, particularly for foreign clientele and off-season regulars.


L’hôtellerie-restauration également en première ligne

Hotels, restaurants, cafes and nightlife venues have also suffered the consequences of this drop in attendance. By the end of July, the UMIH had alerted the government to the economic consequences of the fires and called for emergency measures for the professionals.

The organization was specifically requesting better coverage of operating losses by insurers, cash-flow solutions and broader access to partial activity (partial unemployment).

UMIH Gironde and UMIH Landes also launched a campaign titled “Do Not Abandon Us!”, intended to remind that establishments remain open and that the territories remain accessible.

The professional association also took part in talks with the government on emergency measures, stressing one point: beyond the directly damaged establishments, many professionals are experiencing a drop in activity due to cancellations and the perception of risk.


Atout France veut désormais convertir la confiance en réservations

To address this situation, the State, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, the CRT and Atout France have strengthened the “Destination Landes-Gironde” program, endowed with 2 M€.

The first step was to reassure visitors and to restore precise information about the areas actually affected. “We needed to provide precise information, concrete details on the exact situation, which part of the territory was affected, which tourist sites were affected, and which were not as well“, explains Christian Mantei, president of Atout France.

Now, the agency wants to move to a second phase: bringing back tourists and, above all, encouraging bookings. “The goal is conversion and support for reservations“, sums up Christian Mantei. The campaign relies notably on social networks, testimonials from vacationers, influencers and co-marketing operations with booking platforms. Several European markets are targeted as a priority, notably the Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain, as well as the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the United States.

The early signs are encouraging: Atout France notes a positive shift in media tone on the main international markets during the week of August 15.


Un plan de 2 M€ et un fonds de garantie de 30 M€

Communication aside, this is only part of the response. The government has also announced a guarantee fund capable of mobilizing 30 M€ in loans to support affected businesses. For Nicolas Dayot, these measures are “positive and essential“, but they must be simple enough to allow professionals to access liquidity quickly.

The FNHPA also calls for the fund to take into account indirect economic damage, notably cancellations linked to the fear generated by the fires, and not only material damages.

This issue aligns with the requests made by UMIH, which has been calling for measures to sustain businesses facing operating losses even as their costs continue to accrue since the crisis began.

The communications plan also relies on a strong public-private leverage effect. Atout France indicates it has mobilized around €900,000 excluding tax, while several private partners including SNCF Connect, Voyages Privé, Expedia, Booking and Airbnb have joined the scheme.


Three New Parks in France: Tourism Boom or Ecological Conflict? The Debate

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L'annonce des 3 nouveaux parcs "acte de décès de la France comme 1ère destination mondiale du tourisme durable" selon Rémy Knafou - Visuel généré par l'IA

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In recent years, and despite the success of Disneyland Paris, which has finally become profitable, France seemed to be losing ground in the appeal of theme parks.

Spain was equipping itself with a Puy du Fou, Germany was attracting a new Parc Astérix, while London rode the visibility of its Harry Potter park by announcing the creation of an Universal Studios by 2031.

Then Emmanuel Macron received Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS, this Monday, August 24, 2026.

The President of the Republic did not linger on arms contracts, preferring to unveil the signing of a “framework agreement” that validates Saudi Arabia’s investment of six billion euros in France, for the construction of three theme parks… in Île-de-France.

“If we are still the world’s leading tourist destination, it’s thanks to Disneyland Paris, otherwise that would no longer be the case.

Strengthening this power is extremely smart. It is all the more so because we are well positioned geographically, Paris is the only major European metropolis and we have a large portion of mobility infrastructure.

This will shine a new light on Paris, and that’s very good“, remains optimistic Jean Viard, author of the book “The Book of Holidays… And What They Say About Us.”


“What would the headlines have been, if they had decided to invest in Spain ?”

And moreover, in Emmanuel Macron’s own words, cited by Libération, we are living a moment “without precedent, unlike anything since Disneyland Paris“.

On the other hand, a senior civil servant with a deep knowledge of tourism tempers the president’s enthusiasm a bit.

“Between the political announcement, with the 6 billion euros and the three parks, and what will actually happen, there could be a gap. The projects will be refined; it is a long process.

After that, we are still dealing with dimensions that are at least spectacular.

I understand investors, because profitability, image and prestige are in Paris, but this will concentrate tourism in a large region, Île-de-France, even if it radiates to Hauts-de-France“, says he.

According to this very knowledgeable industry insider, the first whispers began circulating at the top about a year ago.

So this announcement would not be smoke and mirrors, but a real project.

Moreover, Saudi Arabia is investing in France, but our country will continue to participate in the Kingdom’s development.

Alongside the discussions between the two leaders, the French Agency for the Development of AlUla (AFALULA), chaired by Jean-Yves Le Drian, saw its contract extended to 2035 to continue building this new world destination. Soft power would thus be bilateral.

“I do not want to minimize the French government’s action in the ongoing search for investors, but this file is essentially led and pushed by the Saudis.

The Saudis have identified France as a priority country to invest in tourism and everything around culture, soft power, etc.

Contrary to what is said, France remains very attractive to investors.

Imagine what our discussion would have been like, and what the headlines would have been if they had decided to invest in Spain? It is still a positive point that they are considering investing here rather than elsewhere“, continues this person, who preferred to remain anonymous.


“The death certificate of France as the world’s leading destination for sustainable tourism”

Despite these endorsements, some voices rise against this still somewhat unclear project.

With the exception of the Dragon Ball Z park, which is expected to rise on the site of the ephemeral Mirapolis, closed only four years after its opening in 1991, nothing has leaked about the themes of the other sites.

“I believe more that this is a coup, taking advantage of an opportunity, rather than a proper policy. In any case, I see neither vision nor coherence, but only a willingness to do what can be done in the context we find ourselves in.

On the one hand, we do not really have a tourism policy, if the words have any meaning; on the other hand, everything happens as if climate warming did not exist.

This is a decision that could have been justified in the 20th century]i”, laments Rémy Knafou, geographer and author of the book “Hypertourism, Tourism Tested by Its Excess”.

This announcement naturally raises questions about its funding by a state not really respecting human rights overall, nor freedom of the press.

To read: Emmanuel Macron: “Become the first sustainable destination by 2030”

Moreover, this project runs counter to French aspirations, reaffirmed by Serge Papin, to make France the world’s leading sustainable destination. An accolade whose measurement remains unknown, even as our country seeks ever more international travelers.

“Thus, this is the official death certificate of the declared will to make France the world’s leading destination for sustainable tourism, because there are contradictions that cannot be hoped to overcome.

While I can understand that, given the budgetary situation we are in, one is not picky about the available solutions.

But then, we must stop banging on about sustainable tourism and admit that tourism is, for the State, merely a tool to rebalance the balance of payments and a crutch to compensate for macroeconomic policy mistakes“, denounces him.


“As soon as there are grand projects, everyone says they should not be done”, according to Jean Viard

These remarks align with those of Jean Pinard and many other players in institutional tourism.

For reminder, last year the Paris Île-de-France destination drew nearly 50 million visitors, including 23 million international visitors, out of the 102 million welcomed in France.

“On the subject of financing these parks and given the very limited means of the French State, it would be better to put them into hospitals, schools, research, thus into the essential missions of the State.

It must be clear, we would have dreamed of a structural project for our regions.

There exists, moreover, a point in favor of this investment: building on the Mirapolis site, which collapsed 35 years ago.

It is fallow. There is a need to awaken this place, which could be structuring for Val-d’Oise and northern Paris, but also for Hauts-de-France, I insist“”, this senior official asserts positively.

For Jean Viard, even more enthusiastic, it is important to celebrate these announcements.

Already, at the Aix-en-Provence Economic Meetings, the sociologist had drawn the audience’s attention, notably the many political leaders present, to the indispensable reinchantment of our future, in order to make it desirable and to give hope to the younger generations.

While the media regularly discuss a possible war with Russia, a global economic crisis, France’s decline or even AI that could replace many jobs, this announcement appears as a breath of fresh air.

“The great danger in France is that whenever there are grand projects, everyone says not to do them, for various reasons. The project will create many jobs, it will reuse a site that collapsed, this is sustainable tourism development.

We cannot live without pleasure, and a society lives around these moments of pleasure. Without that, it collapses. After that, we can try to ensure they have less environmental impact, or at least different kinds of impacts.

Then the previous big park is none other than Euro Disney, which, with modern technology, valorizes European tales of the 18th and 19th centuries. With Dragon Ball Z, we are in modernity, with a newer theme.

These are places of the future


“Competition with Disney and Astérix is a sensitive point”

The stubborn Gaul is also the first to praise amusement parks, whether in the Île-de-France region or beyond.

Are we moving toward a standardized tourism industry?

“The center of social bonding has shifted from work to leisure time. So, in a century, we have invented a whole range of activities, such as amusement parks. What draws people to these places is a complete product, family-friendly, that speaks to both parents and children. You can sleep there and eat there.

Moreover, these are safe places; that’s what is sold, a bit like holiday villages.

This will also help increase tourist revenues. The problem in France is that we have not managed to create activity around tourism. Americans have very few tourists, but it brings in twice as much money as ours.

We have not managed to modernize our facilities since the creation of ski and seaside resorts. We must shake all this up, even if it means with foreign capital“, analyzes Jean Viard.

Moreover, for the sociologist, this type of investment should also help bring cultures closer, offer greater openness to Saudi Arabia and, who knows, one day fight climate change, because it will be everyone’s business.

While we await that miracle, the construction of three new parks, in the direct orbit of Disneyland Paris and Parc Astérix, raises questions for Dominique Hummel, former president of Futuroscope.

“The question of competition with Disney and Astérix is one of the sensitive points.

The project is evidently aimed at several million annual visitors. Certainly, the chosen positioning will likely target new audiences, grow the global market, and boost the attractiveness of the Île-de-France area.

Parks operate in an offer-driven economy! But there will also be cannibalization. And among the success factors, accessibility finally matters“, concludes the former executive of the Compagnie des Alpes.


Tourism in France: Heatwaves, Foreign Tourists, and Purchasing Power

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Didier Arino sur le bilan de l'été du tourisme en France : "Sans le relais des clientèles étrangères, la situation aurait été très mauvaise. Au final, franchement, nous sommes dans le haut de la fourchette de ce que nous avions envisagé dans nos simulations" - Photo Protourisme

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TourMaG – We had spoken before the summer season, the economic context and the war in Ukraine suggested a difficult summer. On the eve of the return to school, what is tourism in France really like?

Didier Arino : If we look at the broad aggregates, the good news this year is that there were more foreigners visiting France, especially distant markets: Americans, Canadians, and Mexicans. Not more Brazilians, by the way, and I’m not sure why, nor Indians.

However, we welcomed more Koreans and Japanese. We also saw more Europeans: more Germans, Swiss, Dutch, and Belgians. For the British, I can’t give a clear read, as responses are quite mixed. They opted for destinations closer to home, along the Opal Coast, in Normandy… whereas in the South they were fewer.

An increased presence of Europeans and distant foreigners is good news for French tourism. There were also some French people who had planned to travel abroad but ended up staying in France. They contributed positively to French tourism this summer: we estimate them at roughly 700,000 to 800,000. This shows up in the drop in departures from travel agencies, even though agencies don’t represent the majority of travelers. There were also fewer French people traveling abroad, including those who organized trips themselves.

These French travelers helped cushion, to some extent, the drop in vacation departure intentions.


“The heatwave gave a boost to last-minute bookings”

TourMaG – Weather was at the center of headlines, with the heatwaves in particular. What role did it play in French decision-making?

Didier Arino : The heatwave actually had a boosting effect, contrary to what one might assume. It notably stimulated last-minute bookings, from people who hadn’t planned to depart and decided to go later. This concerns especially those with fewer constraints related to school holidays or peak periods, and who could no longer stand staying in cities.

This last-minute clientele was beneficial. It fed the coast, of course, but it also helped recover some of the delays seen in destinations like the Massif Central and accelerated mountain bookings.

We thus observed a good spread of flows across different space types, though there were clear losers: dry, waterless destinations that suffered during the heatwaves. Rural France, hot arid countryside, the results are more worrisome.

Destinations where cycling or nature activities in plains are popular took a hit, particularly in July. Canoe rental, houseboats, the itinerant cycling sector, and outdoor visiting sites all suffered substantially.

The heatwave and tighter purchasing power also impacted dining: roughly 60% of restaurateurs reported a downturn. This translated into stores that didn’t perform well and activity providers that faced difficulties.

TourMaG – Paris was particularly hit by the heatwave this summer; did this affect attendance?

Didier Arino : Regarding urban tourism, Paris is a special case because the capital relies heavily on international clientele. Paris fared relatively well.


Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie: two major regions with a lot of weight that are lagging

TourMaG – Did vacationers flee the South as some say because of this heatwave?

Didier Arino : On the Côte d’Azur, Nice fared very well, with a strong rise in foreign clientele. Marseille also performed very well in terms of bookings. When I hear that people fled the South, I react! No, they did not flee the South; they fled the heatwave.

In the South, there are also areas like the Pyrenees. To my knowledge, the Pyrenees are in the South, and they recorded very good bookings compared to previous years and to the average.

Of course, the coastal stations of the Pyrénées-Orientales and especially the interior territories were impacted. Occitanie was affected, as was Hérault. But some resorts held up well, such as La Grande-Motte, for example.

Two large regions with substantial weight are lagging: Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie. And when Normandy rises by 5%, that isn’t enough to offset the declines recorded in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie, which weigh more heavily. I don’t yet know what the final figures will look like.

TourMaG – If we look at accommodation categories, is the overall picture uniform?

Didier Arino : In terms of overnight stays, they are down in the rental sector. Why? Because these are customers who ended up traveling less. The drop in overnight stays stems from people whose purchasing power is constrained: when people travel shorter durations and there are fewer travelers, it rarely translates into more nights.

For camping, it will be roughly stable, especially thanks to foreign visitors. This assessment isn’t final yet since September remains, but we should be moving toward a fairly stable trend, perhaps with fewer French and more foreigners. As for consumption, campsites saw higher demand for bare pitches rather than mobil homes.

Hotels, on the other hand, performed fairly well, boosted by growing foreign clientele, but also because a portion of French people who did not travel abroad chose hotels. Those with greater purchasing power are more likely to stay in hotels.

Finally, the situation is more varied for some holiday villages and certain tourist residences. It depends on the establishment, but we aren’t seeing a dramatic surge either.

To summarize, tourist accommodation will have a decent summer, even better than feared: the number of overnight stays is expected to fall around -2% in July-August, which isn’t dramatic. We’ve managed to limit the damage.

With a slightly smaller audience, it could indeed have been a catastrophe. Without the support of foreign clientele, the situation would have been very bad. In the end, frankly, we are at the high end of what we had anticipated in our simulations. We are at the maximum of what could be imagined, even if it is not thriving for sure.


“The sociology of tourism inevitably evolves things”

TourMaG – And what about the mountains, which seem to have stood out, with travelers seeking coolness…

Didier Arino : Since the Covid period, mountains are on the rise again, and that’s a good thing. You can see it by visiting mountain resorts. But it depends on which mountains we’re talking about. Mountains with lakes, places that offer more freshness, have indeed performed well. It has been a good season for the mountains, which also benefited from an uptick in foreign attendance.

Regarding the quest for freshness, it’s important to recall that summer vacationers primarily seek sun, warmth—not extreme heat—and water.

When it rains, vacationers don’t think: “Fantastic, it’s cool and it’s raining!” That’s a construct of some journalists!

TourMaG – Is traveler behavior evolving?

Didier Arino : The sociology of tourism inevitably reshapes things. We are seeing fewer families and more seniors. About half of vacationers today are over 50. Retirees, for instance, keep their grandchildren and can travel at times other than July and August.

The peak season concerns only the 15 days of August when companies are closed. But in July, vacationers know they can easily find space and pay less. This year, due to purchasing power constraints, there was a kind of cat-and-mouse game, a yo-yo effect: I book, I cancel, I find a good deal, or I fear bad weather…


Paris Île-de-France: Summer 2026 Confirms Tourism Momentum

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Paris Île-de-France confirme sa dynamique touristique à l’été 2026 - Depositphotos.com, nito103

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Paris Île-de-France confirms its tourist appeal for the summer 2026.

Between June and August, the destination welcomed 13.3 million tourists, up by 3% compared with summer 2025. Even more dynamic, tourist spending reached 7 billion euros, up by 6%.

International visitors accounted for 7 million tourists, versus 6.3 million for domestic, French visitors. On the expenditure side, the first group generated 4.8 billion euros (+5%), while the French spent 2.2 billion euros (+9%).

Tourist expenditure thus grows twice as fast as attendance, reinforcing the spillovers for the accommodation, catering and retail sectors.


The United States Remain the Leading Foreign Market

With around 1 million visitors in the summer, the United States remains the destination’s leading international market. The United Kingdom and Spain follow, with nearly 500,000 visitors each, ahead of Germany and Belgium.

Visitor numbers are rising notably from Spain, the Netherlands and Canada, while the British market is dipping. This diversification of audiences helps reinforce the destination’s resilience.

The growth in tourism activity covers the entire Île-de-France region. Overnight stays rise by 6% across the region, with increases recorded in each of the eight departments.

The Val-d’Oise (+12%) and the Val-de-Marne (+11%) show the strongest gains, ahead of Seine-Saint-Denis (+8%). In Paris, overnight stays also rise by 5%.

The capital remains the main attraction hub, but these results illustrate a gradual diffusion of flows and tourism spillovers beyond Paris.


A Season Driven by Major Events

The event calendar helped sustain summer attendance. The Top 14 final at the Stade de France, the arrival of the Tour de France on the Champs-Élysées, and the European Swimming Championships notably contributed to the destination’s appeal.

The Esports World Cup also stood out with 175,000 tickets sold, nearly double the previous edition, and more than 2 million visits to competition sites.

Over seven weeks, the event brought together 2,000 players, 200 clubs and visitors from more than 100 countries, boosting Paris’s visibility among a new generation of visitors.


First Half Already Greater Than 2019

The summer momentum continues a sustained dynamic since the start of the year. From January to June, Paris Île-de-France welcomed 24.7 million tourists, up 1% year over year and 4% compared with 2019.

Tourist spending reached 11.8 billion euros, up 4% year on year and up 17% compared with 2019. The hotel sector also confirms this trend with 34.1 million hotel stays in the first half, up 2% year on year and 6% compared with 2019.

Several events helped support flows since January, including the opening of Disney Adventure World, the Paris Marathon, Roland-Garros, which set a record with 727,000 spectators, as well as professional events VivaTech, Choose France and Eurosatory.


Positive Outlook for the Rest of the Year

The momentum is expected to continue in the second half of the year. Air bookings for September through December are up 4% year on year, with demand particularly strong from Asia (+12%), the Middle East (+11%) and Southeast Asia (+19%).

India, the United States, Japan and China stand out as promising markets. The coming months’ calendar, with Fashion Week, the Auto Show, SIAL Paris, Art Basel Paris and numerous sporting and cultural events, should continue to support activity.

For Valérie Pécresse, president of the Île-de-France Region, these results confirm “the strength of appeal” of the region and its ambition to ensure the benefits of tourism reach all territories.

Alexandra Dublanche, president of Choose Paris Region, also stresses the need to continue upgrading the offer and to encourage visitors to discover “the full richness and diversity” of the destination beyond the capital.


France Tourism: International Tourists Continue to Arrive as French Budgets Tighten

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Following a drop in bookings and a period of hesitation tied to the Middle East war triggered at the end of February, the balance at this stage appears “solid,” despite a difficult economic environment, said Serge Papin at the IFTM travel industry trade fair, which opened its doors on Tuesday in Paris.

“International air arrivals are still rising this summer, notably thanks to long-haul travelers”, the tourism minister told reporters. Mexican visitor arrivals rose 14% in July year on year and those of American visitors by 3%. The data for the entire summer have not yet been published. From January to the end of July, international tourism receipts reached €49.5 billion, up 3.7% in July alone compared to 2025.

In these conditions, “we can reasonably anticipate that international tourism will generate this year more than €80 billion in receipts”, emphasized Christian Mantei, president of the government agency Atout France, at the conference. Last year, it generated €77.5 billion in receipts.

The French Are Hesitant

The situation is more mixed for French clientele. According to the ministry, in July and August the departure rate of French residents on the territory fell by five percentage points year on year, to 59%. It remains stable when including June and September, at 72%, the ministry notes.

“The French had to make more trade-offs in their spending, particularly with regard to dining, activities, and souvenir purchases”, acknowledged the minister. According to a study published Tuesday by ADN Tourisme, which federates tourism offices, 62% of vacationers felt the need to curb their on-site expenditures. Tourism remains, however, an “essential need” for the French, who are increasingly traveling outside peak seasons, asserted Serge Papin.

Réseau Action Climat recently published a study urging the government to prioritize French and European tourists. “The move up-market of the tourism offer, conceived first for international tourists, is coming at the expense of the less wealthy French tourists”, he reacted in a press release on Tuesday.

Tourism and Climate: 5 Practical Actions to Reduce Your Company’s Carbon Footprint [ABO]

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Il faut vraiment voir la transition écologique comme un formidable levier d'innovation et d’adaptation - DepositPhotos.com, duiwoy

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This summer, it’s hard to open a newspaper without encountering a climate-related story.

The megafires have devastated Gironde, fires have multiplied in several regions of France, water restrictions linked to a drought are taking hold for good… All these events remind us that climate change is no longer a distant scenario. It is already shaping our territories, our landscapes, and our tourist activities.

And as if that weren’t enough, July 2026 has become the hottest month ever recorded in France, after a June that was already historic!

Tourism is on the front line. It suffers directly from climate disruption: shaken seasons, closures of natural sites, tensions over water resources, evolving traveler expectations…

But it also contributes. According to the latest estimates from the Service des données et études statistiques (SDES), the carbon footprint of tourism consumption in France reached 75 million tonnes of CO₂e in 2023.

Movements alone account for 65% of this footprint, making it by far the primary lever of action for the sector.

The think tank The Shift Project also notes that 85% of the distances traveled by the French for their trips still rely on fossil fuels. A finding that shows the scale of the challenge… but also the numerous opportunities for innovation for the sector!

So, faced with these figures, what do we do? Where to begin? First good news: reducing your carbon footprint does not mean giving up travel. No, it’s mostly about rethinking certain practices.

And second good news: not all actions have the same impact. The goal isn’t to change everything at once, but to focus your efforts on the emission sources that matter most. And for that you will need to calculate your carbon footprint!



Measuring to Act More Effectively

Reducing your carbon footprint without a metric is a bit like hiking without a map: you move forward, but it’s hard to know if you’re heading in the right direction.

Tools such as the Bilan Carbone® (created in 2004 by ADEME and carried since 2011 by ABC, the Association for the Low-Carbon Transition), or the GHG Protocol help identify the main emission sources and set action priorities.

Expect not to obtain a perfectly precise figure. The carbon footprint assessment is mainly about understanding where the largest impacts lie so you can invest your time and resources where they will be truly useful.

And now that you have a solid starting point, we can really begin!


1. Act on mobility, the first lever of decarbonization

Unsurprisingly, transport represents the main emission source in tourism.

For many, this is where the biggest gains lie. Of course, a hotel or a travel agency doesn’t always choose the transportation mode for their clients. However, they can influence their decisions.

Some action options :

– highlight train itineraries during the booking process

– offer discounts or benefits to travelers arriving by soft mobility

– develop partnerships with public transport networks or bicycle rental operators

– install charging stations for electric vehicles

– encourage business trips by train whenever possible.

Internally, we can also rethink staff travel through carpooling, a sustainable mobility allowance, or telework when missions allow.

The goal here is not to ban flying or driving, but to offer more alternatives and to make the leaner choices easier and more attractive!


2. Reduce energy consumption in buildings

Hotels, restaurants, campsites, holiday residences, or visitor sites: buildings also account for a substantial share of greenhouse gas emissions.

Good news: many actions can reduce both the carbon footprint AND energy bills at the same time!

Among the most effective levers :

– gradually replacing lighting with LEDs

– improving thermal insulation

– optimizing heating and cooling systems

– installing occupancy sensors in common areas

– regularly monitoring energy consumption to identify drifts.

The most significant investments can be integrated into an energetic renovation strategy over several years. Again, the key is to progress step by step.


4. Buy differently


5. And finally, never forget the digital realm!

Online booking, marketing campaigns, websites, social networks, artificial intelligence… digital technology has become essential in our daily lives and for work.

Unfortunately, because digital isn’t something tangible, its environmental impact is still largely unknown.

Without giving up (of course) on digital tools, it’s possible to adopt a more restrained approach :

– lighten your website and remove unnecessary content

– limit video on your site and on social networks

– extend the life of IT equipment

– limit the storage of superfluous data

– use AI tools when relevant, prioritizing high-value uses.

To learn more about the environmental impact of digital technology, especially AI, I recommend the article “Artificial Intelligence: The Real Environmental Cost of the AI Race” by Bon Pote, and participating in or organizing workshops like The Fresque du Numérique and The Battle of AI.


Bonus idea: getting certified to accelerate your transition

When a company wants to structure its environmental approach, a question sometimes arises: should we aim for a label? The answer is usually yes… provided you don’t treat the label as an end in itself.

A label is not intended to “greenwash” a company. Its real value lies elsewhere: it helps to structure the approach, set objectives, measure progress, and commit to continuous improvement.

For tourism professionals, it also serves as a trust signal to travelers, partners, and employees.

Depending on your activity, several frameworks can guide you :

– La Clef Verte is today the leading international environmental label dedicated to tourist accommodations and restaurants ;

– for tour operators, the ATR label – Acting for Responsible Tourism – highlights agencies committed to a demanding approach to environmental, social, and economic responsibility ;

– companies with an international presence can also look to Travelife, recognized in the sector ;

– you can also rely on cross-cutting standards such as ISO 14001, Engaged CSR (AFNOR) or B Corp, which help structure a global sustainability strategy.

Whatever standard you choose, the essential remains the same: use the label as a tool for progression, not as a mere showcase.

Finally, don’t forget a crucial factor: the people. Raise awareness among your employees and your travelers!

You can find some tips in two previous articles: “10 essential awareness workshops in tourism” and “Responsible travel: how to engage without guilt?”


Reducing Your Carbon Footprint: An Opportunity to Reinvent Tourism

For a long time, ecological transition was seen as a sequence of constraints: new regulations, investments, changes in habits…

Today, it’s essential to view it as a formidable lever of innovation and adaptation.

Of course, reducing your carbon footprint helps limit your impact on the climate. But it’s also an opportunity to control energy consumption, strengthen ties with local actors, offer more authentic experiences, and meet the expectations of a clientele that is increasingly attentive to these issues.

And no, reducing your carbon footprint does not mean doing less tourism. It’s about tourism that is more resilient, leaner, and more desirable.

Each company will progress at its own pace. What matters is to start, to measure progress, and to keep learning.

As always, the best low-carbon strategy is not the one that promises perfection, but the one that becomes a durable part of the company’s daily life!


Key takeaways for tourism professionals

– start by identifying your main emission sources before multiplying actions.

– transport, energy, food, purchases, and digital are the main levers for reduction.

– training your teams is essential to sustainably transform practices.

– support your travelers with simple and positive solutions rather than guilt-inducing messages.

– CSR labels provide an excellent framework to structure your approach and showcase your commitments.

– the low-carbon transition is not only a response to climate change: it’s also an opportunity to strengthen resilience, attractiveness, and competitiveness of your business.


Find all articles by Camille Le Guilloux by clicking here.



Camille Le Guilloux - DR

Expert in Responsible Marketing, Camille Le Guilloux is on a mission to inspire, equip, and guide companies toward more ethical and sustainable marketing practices.

Having become an impact-driven infopreneur and facilitator of various CSR awareness workshops (Climate Fresk, 2 Tons Workshop, Ocean Fresk, Fresk of the New Narratives), she now helps businesses and business-school students implement effective and responsible strategies.

Website: www.kerezenn.com


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