France retains its title as the world’s most visited country

France remains the world’s most visited country, breaking its own national record for tourist numbers.

According to official figures, the destination welcomed 102 million visitors in 2025.

In 2024, the Paris Olympic Games helped France reach 100 million arrivals.

Despite the economic boon, rising visitor numbers have put pressure on the country’s hotspots.

France is the world’s most visited country

Last year, France welcomed 102 million international tourists, accounting for 743 million overnight stays, the country’s Economy Ministry said on Thursday. Two-thirds (76%) of those foreign holidaymakers came from Europe.

The number of overnight stays in hotels and other types of commercial accommodation increased by 7.5% compared to 2024.

The visitor surge generated a record tourism revenue of €77.5 billion, up 9% compared to 2024 and 37% compared to 2019.

During the announcement, officials reaffirmed France’s 2030 goal to reach €100 billion in annual tourism revenue and to become a leading sustainable tourism destination.

While France retains its title as the world’s most visited country, Spain came close on its heels with 96.8 million foreign tourists.

Spain also surpassed France’s tourism revenue, generating €105 billion in 2025.

Is France’s tourism strategy slipping?

France has consistently topped the ranking for the most visited destination in recent years, yet it has had conspicuously few problems with overtourism.

In contrast, Spain has seen protests erupt around the country, calling out economic woes, gentrification and poor behaviour blamed on unsustainable visitor numbers.

France’s success at keeping overtourism at bay can be attributed to a forward-thinking strategy implemented years ago, as well as its regional and seasonal diversity.

But even these well-laid plans might be slipping.

Residents of Montmartre, one of Paris’ most popular tourist neighbourhoods, took a stand last summer, lamenting what they call the ‘Disneyfication’ of the once-bohemian slice of the city.

The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur now attracts up to 11 million people a year, even more than the Eiffel Tower, while daily life in the area has been overtaken by tuk-tuks, tour groups, photo queues and short-term rentals.

In 2023, Olivia Grégoire, France’s tourism minister, said that urgent action was needed at a national level to regulate visitor flows at overrun sites like the tidal island of Mont Saint Michel.

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