French Tourism Rebounded During 2022 Winter Holidays—But Struggles Remain

France’s tourism industry association said the Christmas holidays exceeded expectations as the economically vital sector continued to rebound from the pandemic.

But while most destinations reported increased bookings over the nation’s two-week vacation period, the recovery remains uneven with urban areas showing greater momentum than mountain regions which have been hit hard by the lack of snowfall.

“As the booking rates led us to expect, the Christmas holidays are ending with a very satisfactory result,” said François de Canson, President of ADN Tourisme, in a statement. “As throughout 2022, a new reference year, the French have shown their need to rest, to get a change of scenery and to live experiences that come out of everyday life.”

On the positive side of the ledger, ADN Tourisme noted that more than 60% of French destinations experienced increased bookings compared to the 2021-2022 holidays. That was driven by cities, with 86% of urban destinations citing increased tourism.

The industry had been optimistic going into the winter season because a previous survey indicated that 55% of French people would take a vacation for at least one of the two weeks. Still, the impact of inflation and uncertainties such as periodic gasoline shortages loomed as potential deterrents to travel.

In addition, the holiday calendar offered some quirks this year, with the holidays falling on Sundays. And then there was a nationwide transportation strike that left many train travelers frustrated over canceled plans and stuck at home.

Some of these problems were offset by an influx of European travelers, particularly from Italy and Spain. ADN Tourisme said that in some cases, visitors from other European countries were reaching pre-pandemic levels.

Going forward, ADN Tourisme projects a stronger 2023, boosted by the fact that 9 of the nation’s 11 holidays fall on weekdays which creates additional possibilities for extended weekend trips. Also, France hosts the Rugby World Cup in September and October.