Tourist Season: Nice Outshines Paris

 

With major international events like the Tour de France and the Olympic Games drawing visitors from around the globe, Nice has seen impressive tourism numbers so far this summer.

Despite the high visitor count, this season, locals have mentioned, feels far more pleasant, manageable, and calmer compared to the chaotic summers of the past two years.

While the peak season is not yet over, tourism levels are expected to remain steady through at least September and October. Nice, long considered a cultural hub and major draw for visitors, is already celebrating its success.

Local hoteliers are particularly pleased, reporting an impressive occupancy rate of nearly 89% between July 1 and August 15. The period’s peak occurred during the Tour de France on July 20 and 21, when hotels reached a 98% occupancy rate.

With an average annual occupancy of 85%, Nice has outperformed Paris, which currently maintains an occupancy rate between 60% and 65% for 2024, even as it hosts many Olympic events.

The majority of tourists in Nice are coming from the USA, along with Canadians, Germans, Italians, Belgians, and Dutch visitors.

International tourists now account for more than half of all overnight stays and revenue in the city’s tourism sector, and these numbers are expected to hold strong into the fall.

Mayor Christian Estrosi has reiterated Nice’s commitment to spreading events throughout the year to create a more balanced flow of visitors and revenue while protecting the city from the adverse effects of overtourism.