Tourism

Paris Tourism Barometer: April 2026 Stable Despite Air Travel Dip

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Les arrivées aériennes enregistrent une baisse de 2,3% sur le mois d’avril 2026 - DepositPhotoos.com, encrier

CroisiEurope


The Paris Tourism Barometer has unveiled its figures for April 2026: 3.4 million visitors arrived in the capital.

The period was notably boosted by the Paris Marathon, the Francophone Diabetes Society Congress, and the Easter long weekend.

Hotel RevPAR, however, advanced compared with 2025 thanks to a slight increase in the average price, even as the occupancy rate fell by 0.3 percentage point.

Air arrivals nonetheless recorded a 2.3% decline for the month of April versus 2025. The business segment rose slightly (+2.7%), while the group travel clientèle dropped by 17.4%.


What about spring?

As for the May Day long weekend, it proved less dynamic than in 2025 with a 8% drop in attendance. Conversely, the May 8 weekend posted a 10.9% rise, notably driven by French visitors.

This trend is also reflected in hotel performances, with a 3.3% decrease in occupancy on the May 1st weekend, versus a 2.6% increase on the May 8 weekend.

Early estimates for the month of June point to a 10.9% decline in air bookings and a predicted 4.3% drop in hotel occupancy.

Several events are expected to support summer activity, notably The Weeknd concerts at the Stade de France in July, Bad Bunny performances at Paris La Défense Arena, and several international congresses held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and the Palais des Congrès.

The 2026 European Swimming Championships, staged between Paris and Saint-Denis from July 31 to August 16, should also help bolster tourist attendance during the summer.

Institutional Tourism Crisis: Could the Private Sector Be the Solution?

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Tourisme institutionnel : un secteur en quête de légitimation... Atout France comme exemple à suivre ? - Depositphotos.com, 3d_generator

CroisiEurope


More than six months after the melodrama that shook institutional tourism with the hypothetical closure of the Val-de-Marne Departmental Tourism Committee, the sector is sinking deeper into crisis.

Admittedly, the structure has not yet closed its doors, but it must operate without the department’s 900 000 euros subsidy, which greatly jeopardizes its future.

And if Val-de-Marne Tourism is still standing, Solutions & Co. is no longer.

The Pays de la Loire Economic Development Agency, which encompassed the Regional Tourism Committee, was liquidated, because the region “does not have the means to maintain such an agency“.

Its president explained to our colleagues at La Tribune that France has entered “the era of exigency, where every public euro must be a useful euro“. Tourism professionals will appreciate being described as useless.

Ce n’est pas tout, car Gironde Tourisme va connaître le même sort.

If the explanation lies in the department’s heavy deficit, the mayor of Lacanau regards the CDT as “useless” and denounces a “millefeuille institutionnel“, unable to “implement a concrete action“.


A sector seeking legitimacy: Atout France as a model to follow?

The politicization of the debate, added to exhausted public finances, seems increasingly to threaten this sphere of the tourism industry.

The presidential deadline should not really reassure the leaders and employees of the various structures, as a disengagement by the State becomes more openly acknowledged.

“The crisis is intensifying, because we are now witnessing not only budget cuts but closures as well. The fact is there. Communities have less money.

In this context, and to stem the bleed, the profession should come together and propose measures to rationalize what sometimes resembles an institutional mille-feuille“, contextualizes Jean Pinard.

“It would be possible to better distribute the housing tax. Imagine that in Paris, out of the 120 million euros in revenue from this tax, only 4 million goes back to the tourism office.

We should also question private players: how to mobilize Club Med, Belambra and all those actors who keep the destinations alive.”

While some operators struggle to justify their budgets and their missions, faced with the rise of artificial intelligence, networks and the omnipresence of OTAs, public authorities have a free hand to cut budgets, or even eliminate levels.

Among these bad news, there are nonetheless solutions, as notably demonstrated by Atout France’s GIE.

Founded in 2009, the group of economic interest (GIE) enables governance and financing of the agency to include not only the French administration but also private players.


Private funding: the Dordogne Périgord Tourism case

Atout France is not the only case study, a CDT has also taken this turn.

You have to go to the Southwest, to a territory of character offering visitors caves, castles and a plethora of the most beautiful villages in France.

It is in Dordogne that we go. In this territory, tourism is omnipresent. It represents just over one billion euros in turnover and consumption in the department each year, for 19 million overnight stays.

Volumes higher than 2019, a year when the sector simply weighed 22% of the local GDP.

“Post-Covid, with the fall in transfer duties coupled with the collapse of the real estate market, we saw our subsidies begin to drop.
The decrease is 100,000 euros for 2023, 2024 and 2025.
For us, tourism is not just about promotion or marketing; it is also about networking, animation, and support“, explains Christophe Gravier, director of Dordogne Périgord Tourism.

“We therefore created a first club on relationship marketing, where we bring along the offices. This allowed us to pool certain tools, such as the newsletter and a shared database that we manage.
Then, while discussing with on-the-ground operators the financing issue of the CDT and their needs, we realized there was private demand.”


Dordogne Périgord Tourism: “We rested on the housing tax or subsidies”

The structure thus saw 300,000 euros disappear in total over three years, out of nearly 2 million euros of annual budget. But from faint signals and discussions at events, the operator organized itself.

It launched two clubs, but above all emerged an offer based on new services capable of bringing added value to private players in the region.

“This led us to create a somewhat hybrid structure and to reinvent the CDT’s classic economic model. Being a bit provocative, I would say that, for convenience, we had relied for years on the housing tax, additional taxes, or subsidies.
This drop in budget forced us to wake up.
Either we retraced our steps into engineering, or we wanted to maintain an ability to support on the marketing and communications front. In that case, we had to do it differently.

Rather than remaining in a logic of image marketing and notoriety, we considered that this communication would be more relevant if it were invested for the benefit of professionals, in a performance-based logic“, wants to highlight Christophe Gravier.

One of the clubs addresses heritage topics, whether caves, remarkable gardens or castles.

Members pay a membership fee that funds a marketing pool, from which managers of these sites can draw to finance training actions, gain perspective on new technologies, carry out commercial outreach, or launch campaigns on social networks.

“We try to deliver a set of services with real added value, while ensuring we do not compete with the work done by tourist offices or the CRT. We operate in a cluster logic“, defines the leader.

Read: Google in AI fashion: what life without clicks or audience?

The second club focuses on iconic sites and products. It brings together the entire excellence chain, including truffles, foie gras, walnut production, as well as 4- and 5-star hospitality.

A third club is expected to be launched in 2026 on nature sports, as Dordogne is a hub for hiking and canoeing, and a fourth is under development around oenotourism.


A beneficial shift for private actors and the CDT budget

This transformation has benefited both private players and the CDT budget. In just two years, 150,000 euros were collected. Moreover, partners contribute funds allowing nearly 50% of the action plan of the organization to be financed.

A change that has not completely questioned Dordogne Périgord Tourism’s role.

“We remain the department council’s arm to deploy its tourism policy, that does not change.
Anyway, private operators have the flow, the traffic. Rather than chasing audience or imposing an image that already exists, at least for Dordogne, we come to support them and amplify the impact of their investments.


We are a small team of 15 people. We had to shift our logic to integrate a commercial, representational side into our work, and the need to bring added value. Because if the clubs bring nothing to the business leaders, next year they will not renew the experience.

We are, I think, closer to the ground and to the expectations of the actors


Brittany: How the Ker Lorient Pass Is Revolutionizing Sustainable Tourism

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Ker [care] Lorient, premier dispositif français inspiré du modèle danois « CopenPay, CLO & CLEM-LBST

IFTM TourMaG Party


b[From May 18 to June 30, 2026, Lorient Bretagne Sud Tourisme innovates with “Ker [care] Lorient,” an initiative aimed at encouraging sustainable tourism anchored in the territory. ]b

Directly inspired by the Copenhagen-originated CopenPay model, the destination becomes the first in France to adopt this concept of “contributive tourism”.

Launched in the summer of 2024 in the Danish capital, the scheme aims to highlight the climate-positive efforts by tourists.

Thus, during their stay, travelers can benefit from a free lunch, a boat excursion offered, or a free bike rental, if they prefer the train rather than the plane to travel to Copenhagen, or the bike rather than the car once on site.

Back to France and to “Ker Lorient”.

Without shaming visitors, the principle is to celebrate responsible actions.


Ker Lorient: Concrete steps toward tourism with a positive impact

Vacationers who opt for a slower pace and help preserve the territory are rewarded with exclusive perks. An original invitation to explore Southern Brittany differently.

This pass, offered free of charge and sent by email after online registration, is aimed at visitors who stay at least two nights at the hotel, or three nights in a campsite or bed and breakfast, and who adopt an environmentally respectful approach.

Train, bike, hiking, boat-bus or even a car-free full day: every action counts.

In return, a network of local partners committed to sustainable practices offers specific perks and discounts.

Pass holders will, for example, have access to discounts on guided tours of the Le Minor hosiery workshop, to discounts on Sunday stays at the hotel, or to benefits with nautical operators and eco-responsible cafés in the region.

A concrete way to transform the visitor into a temporary resident and to effectively support the local economy.

Read: Slow Village aims for international expansion and about thirty sites by 2030

Accessible Tourism Awards 2026: Winners Announced

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Les lauréats aux Trophées du Tourisme Accessible 2026 12e édition, photo by Tourisme & Handicap

IFTM TourMaG Party


The tourism sector has just reached a new milestone in universal accessibility, highlighting local and regional initiatives.

The awards ceremony for the twelfth edition of the Accessible Tourism Trophies took place at the heart of the Handica fair, in Lyon. It honored organizations that have made accessibility not merely a regulatory obligation but a genuine lever for development. To participate, applicants had to hold the state label “Tourisme & Handicap” covering cognitive, visual, motor, and auditory impairments, and promote this approach across all their communication materials.

For the 2026 edition, the jury recognized several establishments with particularly inspirational approaches. In the lodging sector, Villa Juno, located in Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer in Calvados, was awarded for adapting its spaces to visually impaired people through meticulous work on color contrasts.

In terms of collective structures, the La Costette holiday center, in Haute-Loire, was praised for its global arrangements and its partnership with a local ESAT, promoting the professional integration of people with disabilities.

The cultural and welcoming aspect is not left out, as the Narbo Via Museum in Narbonne won its category thanks to adapted workshops and the presence of a dedicated mediator.

In Charente-Maritime, the Destination Île de Ré tourism office stood out by providing advanced tools such as thermogonflated maps and documents in Braille. Finally, the leisure sector highlighted the TAP, the Grand Poitiers National Stage, recognized for the accessibility of its cinema and theatre infrastructures.


Special distinctions for territorial and civic engagement

Beyond the mere infrastructures, these are honorary trophies that recognized broad strategies for holistic territorial development. The Gold Trophy, awarded by Atout France, was given to the Occitanie Regional Committee for Tourism and Leisure, now integrated into the Agency for Attractiveness & Development of Occitanie (AD’OCC). This distinction underscores a long-term regional policy bearing fruit: the territory now ranks second nationwide, with nearly 500 labeled sites.

To conclude this list, the Tourisme & Handicaps association chose to award its “Coup de Cœur” prize to the Voie Verte Yvan Poncé, located in the commune of Paulhan, in Hérault. Built on an old 1.4-kilometer railway line, this path crosses vineyard landscapes and directly connects the village’s various neighborhoods, offering an accessible natural space for all.

This final distinction pays heartfelt homage to the memory of Yvan Poncé, a local figure deeply committed to accessibility and a former evaluator of the state label. It closes a twelfth edition marked by the consolidation of a national network now counting more than 4,000 qualified structures across France.

Chocolate, Slavery, and Luxury Tourism in São Tomé and Príncipe: 5 Things to Know

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Voters in São Tomé and Príncipe, a small island state in central Africa, are set to head to the polls on Sunday, July 19, 2026 to elect their president. A former Portuguese colony that became an independent state in 1975, São Tomé and Príncipe is a Lusophone archipelago located in the Gulf of Guinea with around 200,000 inhabitants, renowned for its cocoa and coffee production. Here are five things to know about the country.

1. “The Chocolate Island”

Cocoa is deeply rooted in the history of São Tomé and Príncipe, and the island of São Tomé earned the nickname “The Chocolate Island”. By the end of the 19th century, the archipelago was the world’s leading producer with nearly 35,000 tonnes per year. On the slopes of an extinct volcano overlooking the Atlantic, the cocoa, derived from plants imported by the Portuguese in the 18th century, grows in a lush landscape. The fertile soils of São Tomé do not require fertilisers or pesticides.

But after independence in 1975, “the Portuguese left with their know-how, epidemics struck the cocoa and the State redistributed land to former workers without any oversight. Production collapsed,” explained to AFP Maria Nazaré Ceita, a historian at the University of São Tomé. Likewise, São Tomé and Príncipe has long been a hub of coffee culture and remains so, with production smaller but oriented towards high quality. The production of vanilla and pepper has recently developed.

2. Slavery and Colonization

“Who has shown this long path? This path to São Tomé ?”, asked the famous Cape Verdean singer Cesária Évora in her 1992 song Sodade, in memory of her Cape Verdean compatriots forcibly brought to work on the São Toméan plantations. The islands of São Tomé and Príncipe were colonized by the Portuguese from the late 15th century. They were the scene of a violently brutal slave trade, initially aimed at the intensive cultivation of sugar cane and then cocoa and coffee.

Thousands of men and women from Central Africa were forced into servitude to work on the plantations. According to historians, São Tomé and Príncipe was a hub of the transatlantic slave trade: around six million people are believed to have been deported from the island at that time. With the abolition of slavery in 1876, “contractual workers” were then brought—often by force—from Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Gabon or Congo.

3. Paradise Beaches and Luxury Tourism

With luxuriant nature and paradisiacal beaches on these volcanic islands where nearly 600 species of plants have been catalogued, the country has all the makings of a small paradise. Yet underdeveloped infrastructure, challenges in investing in the tourist sector, and the cost of travel hinder the development of tourism in the archipelago. Visiting during the dry season is a luxury: a round trip from Lisbon costs around 1,500 euros. Tourism aimed at a wealthy clientele has therefore grown, with several luxury hotels in the archipelago, including three five‑star properties.

4. The Oil Hope

Launched in the early 2000s, oil exploration has given rise to many hopes in the country. Several international companies, including the French group TotalEnergies in 2024 or Brazilian Petrobras in 2023, have secured offshore exploration licenses. “Commercial production is expected after 2030,” according to the energy sector lobbying group African Energy Chamber, “subject to fruitful discoveries and a sustained influx of investments.”

5. A Model of Democracy in Africa

After attempts at coups in 2003 and 2009, the parliamentary regime has stabilized, and the country has established itself as a model of parliamentary democracy in Africa. One coup attempt, quickly foiled by the army, did nevertheless occur in November 2022. Since the introduction of multi-partyism in 1991 after 15 years of a Marxist one-party regime, two parties have dominated São Toméan political life and jostle for power, the Independent Democratic Alternative (ADI, centre-right), and the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe – Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD, centre-left), born from the former single party.

Irish Tourism Webinar: Family Tour of Ireland – March 1, 2022

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Theme: Family-friendly Ireland tour

Date: March 1, 2022

Time: 11:00 AM


Webinar Description

Ireland is a quintessential family destination: with its charming towns and breathtaking landscapes, a range of activities can appeal to everyone in the family.

Two inbound travel operators will share their best itineraries and tips so that vacations work well for the little ones, the grown-ups, and even the teenagers.

The speakers will also be happy to answer your questions in a Q&A session at the end of the session.


Upcoming Sessions

● Responsible travel on the Island of Ireland

Date: April 5, 2022 | Time: 11:00 AM | Registration to follow

● Outdoor activities on the Island of Ireland

Date: May 12, 2022 | Time: 11:00 AM | Registration to follow

● Luxury offerings on the Island of Ireland

Date: May 19, 2022 | Time: 11:00 AM | Registration to follow


Our other tools for tourism professionals

We provide travel agencies with all the tools necessary to energize sales in agencies, such as brochures, totems and posters, but also the management of a website with banners, videos and photos.

✔ Training sessions

✔ Online brochures

✔ Toolkit for our current campaign


Who We Are

Tourism Ireland is the official promotional body for Ireland abroad. The team in France includes a dedicated unit for tourism professionals to support them in marketing the destination through arranging trainings and educational tours, while also prioritizing meetings with industry professionals from Ireland.

Irish Tourism Webinar: Responsible Travel in Ireland – April 5, 2022

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Thématique : Voyages responsables en Irlande

Date : 05 avril 2022

Heure : 11h00


Descriptif du webinaire

Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle because green is the dominant color of its landscapes.

Beyond exploring the vast natural spaces — rugged coasts and beaches, mountains and valleys — the curious traveler can also visit farms, artisanal workshops, sample local cuisine, or take a music lesson to fully immerse themselves in Irish culture and the art of living.

A hotel and a receptive tour operator will share their best tips for a rewarding and responsible exploration of Ireland.

The speakers will also be happy to answer your questions in a Q&A session at the end of the session.


Les prochaines sessions

● Outdoor activities on the island of Ireland

Date: May 12, 2022 | Time: 11:00 | Registration to come

● The luxury offering on the island of Ireland

Date: May 19, 2022 | Time: 11:00 | Registration to come


Les sessions précédentes

● Le tour d’Irlande en famille

Voir le replay


Nos autres outils pour les professionnels du tourisme

Nous mettons à la disposition des agences de voyages tous les outils nécessaires à l’animation des ventes en agences tels que des brochures, totems et posters, mais aussi l’animation de site internet avec des bannières, vidéos et photos.

✔ Formations

✔ Brochures en ligne

✔ Boîte à outils pour notre campagne actuelle


Nous contacter

Irish Tourism Webinar: Outdoor Activities in Ireland – May 12, 2022

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Thematic : Outdoor activities in Ireland

Date : May 12, 2022

Time : 11:00 AM


Webinar Description

Vacations in Ireland can be very active. Hiking trails, mountains, rivers, and of course the ocean: all playgrounds for discovering the Emerald Isle.

During this session, two receptive agencies will introduce you to outdoor activities in Ireland: cycling along the Greenways to connect the most beautiful historic sites of Ireland’s Ancient Lands, learning to surf on the beaches of the Wild Atlantic Way, taking a boat ride on the River Shannon in the Heart of Ireland, or exploring the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. Dublin Bay is recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere; why not embark to discover it?

The speakers will also be happy to answer your questions during a Q&A segment at the end of the session.


Other sessions

● The Ireland Family Tour

Watch the replay

● Responsible Travel in Ireland

Watch the replay

● Luxury offerings on the Island of Ireland

Watch the replay


Our other tools for tourism professionals

We provide travel agencies with all the tools needed to animate sales at agencies, such as brochures, totems, and posters, as well as website content with banners, videos, and photos.

✔ Training courses

✔ Online brochures

✔ Toolbox for our current campaign


Who we are

Tourism Ireland is the official promotional body for the island of Ireland overseas. The team in France includes a department dedicated to tourism professionals to support them in marketing the destination through the organization of trainings and familiarisation trips, while also prioritizing meetings with professionals from the island of Ireland.

Irish Tourism Webinar – Luxury Offer in Ireland – May 19, 2022

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Theme: The Luxury Offering in Ireland

Date: May 19, 2022

Time: 11:00


Webinar Description

The upscale offering in Ireland is renowned and diverse: 5-star accommodations, castles, boutique hotels—there is something to suit every preference. Exclusive activities, private tours, and spa and wellness options complete the experience for a unique and authentic stay. The warmth and quality of Irish hospitality leave an enduring memory.

Two inbound tour operators will present their itineraries, their best programs, and premium activities to offer your clients.

The speakers will also be delighted to answer your questions in a Q&A session at the end of the session.


Other sessions

● The Ireland Family Tour

Watch the replay

● Responsible Travel in Ireland

Watch the replay

● Outdoor Activities in Ireland

Watch the replay


Our other tools for tourism professionals

We provide travel agencies with all the tools necessary to boost in-store sales, such as brochures, displays (totems) and posters, as well as the management of a website with banners, videos and photos.

✔ Training

✔ Online brochures

✔ Toolkit for our current campaign


Who we are

Irish Tourism is the official promotional body for the island of Ireland abroad. The team in France includes a department dedicated to tourism professionals to support them in marketing the destination through organizing trainings and edutours, as well as by prioritizing meetings with tourism professionals from the island of Ireland.

Irish Tourism Webinar: Slow Tourism in Northern Ireland – November 30, 2023

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Theme : Slow Tourism in Northern Ireland

Date : November 30, 2023

Time : 10:00 – 10:45

→ Learn all about Slow Tourism in Northern Ireland


Webinar Description

Ireland, green by nature, offers numerous opportunities for responsible travel, and the Northern Ireland region certainly has a substantial share. From orchard strolls to traditional cuisine based on local ingredients, your clients can discover a sustainable Northern Ireland, a champion of slow tourism. Regional experts will present three unforgettable sustainable experiences in the locality:

Nikki Elliott, of Walk It Off NI, will virtually guide you through one of her hikes in the Belfast countryside.

Tracey Jeffreys, of Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen, will talk about her intimate cooking sessions where visitors craft their own versions of Northern Ireland’s most iconic dishes.

Finally, Donna Fox invites you to explore the famous orchards of her hometown, Armagh, as part of one of her environmentally friendly Northern Ireland tours that highlight local history and traditions.

→ Learn all about Slow Tourism in Northern Ireland


Upcoming Sessions

The Irish Tourism Authority will host themed webinars every two months throughout 2024 to provide you with the most relevant information and to inspire your upcoming itineraries in Ireland.

Sign up for the Irish Tourism’s monthly newsletter to receive the details.


Our Other Tools for Tourism Professionals

✔ Online brochure


Who We Are

Irish Tourism is the island’s official tourism office, the organization responsible for promoting the island abroad as a leading travel destination. The Paris-based team is at your disposal to answer your questions and support you in your efforts—please feel free to reach out to them.

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