France at the Summit

 

If there were a global podium for tourism, France would still be standing on the top step.

In 2025, France welcomed a record-breaking 102 million international visitors—two million more than in 2024. That’s 3% year-over-year growth and an impressive 13% increase compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels. While other countries are recovering, France is accelerating.

Tourism leaders highlighted the sector’s strength and resilience, pointing to rising overnight stays and a continued surge in global appeal. The message is clear: France isn’t just back. It’s thriving.

A Close Race with Spain — But France Holds the Edge

Spain remains a formidable competitor, recording roughly 97 million international visitors in 2025. The gap between the two countries has narrowed to about 5 million visitors — far slimmer than in 2022.

But where France truly pulls ahead is in revenue.

International tourism revenues reached a record €77.5 billion in 2025, up 9% from the previous year. The revenue advantage over Spain now stands at approximately 36%. Back in the early 2000s, the two nations were nearly neck and neck. Today, France not only attracts more visitors — it captures significantly more value per stay.

Big Spenders, Bigger Growth

European visitors led overall growth, with overnight stays rising 5%. Meanwhile, North American travelers surged dramatically, with hotel stays increasing 17%.

More than 5 million Americans chose France in 2025, despite global economic uncertainty.

Spending also climbed. The average international visitor now spends €760 per stay, a 7% increase. The tourism trade surplus hit €20.1 billion, reinforcing tourism as one of France’s strongest economic pillars.

Looking Ahead: €100 Billion by 2030

France isn’t slowing down. The government has its sights set on an ambitious target: €100 billion in tourism revenue by 2030. Sustainability and accessibility are central to the strategy.

At the same time, the hospitality market has shifted upscale. Between 2019 and 2025:

• 4- and 5-star hotels increased by 22%

• 5-star campsite pitches rose by 30%

• Overall hotel numbers remained stable

Quality has gone up — but affordability pressures remain a concern, especially as domestic travel patterns evolve.

Changing Travel Habits

While international arrivals surged, French domestic overnight stays declined by 5% in 2025. Outbound travel rose by 4%, with many French travelers heading to Spain and Southern Europe. French spending abroad climbed to €57.4 billion.

Early projections for 2026 point to continued global growth.

France remains the world’s tourism powerhouse — blending heritage, gastronomy, coastline, countryside, alpine escapes, and cultural capital in one unmatched package.

And What About the French Riviera?

Within this national success story, the French Riviera (Côte d’Azur) remains one of the most sought-after destinations in Europe.

The region welcomes over 11 million visitors annually, including roughly:

• 5 million international tourists

• 6 million domestic visitors

• More than 75 million overnight stays per year

From Nice to Monaco, Cannes to Saint-Tropez, demand for luxury accommodation continues to intensify — particularly for private villas during peak season.

A Smart Move Right Now

With visitor numbers at historic highs and international demand accelerating, premium villa inventory is tightening quickly. The best properties — sea-view estates, gated retreats, centrally located designer homes — are often secured months in advance.

Waiting too long can mean:

• Reduced selection

• Higher seasonal pricing

• Competitive bidding for top-tier rentals

If you’re considering a stay on the French Riviera, the smart strategy is simple:reserve your preferred villa now while rates are still favorable and availability remains strong.

In a record-breaking tourism market, hesitation can be expensive.

Contact: Experience The French Riviera

ParadX Cannes: A Discreet Playground

 

Situated in the glamorous city of Cannes, ParadX has quietly built a reputation as one of the Côte d’Azur’s most established LGBTQ+ adult venues. For years, it has served both locals and international visitors seeking a space that blends retail, exploration, and private social connection — all within an atmosphere of discretion and respect.

More than just an adult boutique, ParadX operates as a space designed specifically for gay, bi, and queer men. The front of the venue features a well-stocked adult store offering toys, accessories, lubricants, fetish wear, and premium men’s underwear. The selection ranges from classic essentials to more specialized items, catering to different tastes and levels of experience. Whether you’re curious, experienced, or simply browsing, the retail area provides a welcoming and judgment-free environment.

Beyond the shop, ParadX opens into a private club setting reserved for adults (18+). The venue includes screening areas, private cabins, and dedicated cruising spaces that allow guests to connect in a controlled and consensual environment. The layout has been designed to create both shared and intimate experiences, giving visitors the freedom to choose their level of interaction. Regular themed evenings and extended opening hours add to the venue’s appeal, especially during the busy Riviera season.

 

What truly sets ParadX apart is its emphasis on privacy and discretion. Located in a safe area away from the most crowded tourist corridors of Cannes, the venue maintains a low-profile exterior. Inside, the atmosphere is respectful and focused on personal boundaries. For many guests — whether traveling from elsewhere in France or visiting from abroad — that sense of confidentiality is essential. It offers the freedom to explore without fear of exposure or judgment.

In a region better known for film festivals and luxury yachts, ParadX provides something different: a space dedicated to adult expression within the LGBTQ+ community. It reflects the quieter, more underground side of Riviera nightlife — intimate, discreet, and confidently unapologetic.

For those seeking connection, curiosity, or simply a safe and private environment to explore, ParadX remains one of Cannes’ enduring LGBTQ+ destinations.

Sun, Strategy & Success: Why Smart Riviera Homeowners Choose the Right Partners

 

Owning property on the French Riviera isn’t just about sea views and long lunches. It’s a business. A beautiful, sun-drenched, occasionally champagne-fuelled business — but a business nonetheless.

From the hills above Cannes and the waterfronts of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, homeowners quickly discover that renting a property means juggling multiple layers at once: guest experience, logistics, maintenance, marketing, compliance, and above all — timing. The Riviera season waits for no one.

That’s why working here demands more than local knowledge. It requires agility across markets, cultures, and standards.

Local Expertise Meets International Reach

For over a decade, Experience The French Riviera has built a reputation for being deeply hands-on in the region. This isn’t remote management or distant oversight. It’s boots-on-the-ground coordination — managing guest bookings, organising cleaning and maintenance teams, overseeing property preparation, and ensuring that each arrival feels effortless for both owner and guest.

But the Riviera doesn’t operate in isolation. Today’s property owners often think globally — and so should their management partners.

That’s where the collaboration with Dolce Vita adds another dimension. With operations extending from their Mayfair office in London, Dolce Vita manages over 500 short-let properties worldwide. Their international infrastructure and marketing reach complement the Riviera-based expertise of Experience The French Riviera, creating a seamless bridge between local service and global exposure.

For owners with homes in both France and the UK — or those attracting an international clientele — this synergy matters.

The Reality of Riviera Property Management

Let’s be honest: the French Riviera market is dynamic. High expectations. Tight turnarounds. Guests who have traveled the world and expect the very best.

Effective management here means:

• Coordinating seasonal bookings with precision

• Managing cleaning and maintenance teams at short notice

• Handling guest communication with professionalism and discretion

• Preparing properties to meet luxury hospitality standards

• Understanding local regulations and market timing

It’s layered, fast-moving, and detail-driven. And when done well, it transforms a property into a consistently performing asset rather than a sporadic holiday rental.

A Head Start on the Season

If you own property in the Riviera and are considering listing it, timing is everything. The strongest bookings are often secured well before peak season begins.

By partnering with a team that understands both the local nuances of the French Riviera and the expectations of international short-let markets, you position your property ahead of the curve — not scrambling to catch up.

Whether you’re new to short-term rentals or looking to elevate your current management structure, the right collaboration can make all the difference.

Ready to make your property work smarter this season?

Contact Experience The French Riviera today and give your home the professional, hands-on management it deserves — with global reach to match.

The French Visa Formula: Calm, Clear, Approved

 

Applying for a French visa in 2026 doesn’t require nerves of steel. It requires precision.

The headlines make it sound dramatic — new rules, language crackdowns, tightening systems — but the reality is far more methodical than sensational. Most delays and refusals don’t happen because the rules are impossible. They happen because applicants skip steps, misunderstand requirements, or submit incomplete files.

Here’s the quiet truth: never skip a step in the process.

Right now, details matter more than ever.

What Hasn’t Changed

Despite the noise, some key fundamentals remain stable:

• Language requirements do not apply to long-stay visa applications.

• They affect certain multi-year residency permits and citizenship — not your initial long-stay visa.

• Annual renewals can still take place without meeting new language thresholds.

The legal framework is steadier than the headlines suggest.

For retirees and financially independent movers, the long-stay visitor visa — officially the VLS-TS Visiteur — remains the most common pathway into France.

It is not a tourist visa. It is a proper residency visa, valid for up to one year and renewable.

To qualify, you must demonstrate:

• Financial self-sufficiency

• Visa-compliant private medical insurance

• A commitment not to work in France

Simple framework. But execution matters.

Finances: What Actually Counts

For 2026, the benchmark aligns roughly with the French minimum wage — approximately €21,000 per year for a single applicant.

But this isn’t about “salary.”

Consulates are looking for stability, not flash.

They want reassurance that:

• Your income is predictable

• Your funds are accessible

• You will not rely on state support

A clean, structured, clearly presented financial file often carries more weight than excess savings dumped into a last-minute account.

Consistency beats theatrics.

Health Insurance: Where Files Often Fail

This is the most common weak point.

Your insurance policy must:

• Cover the full duration of your stay

• Include medical repatriation

• Be valid across the Schengen area

• Clearly state coverage dates and limits

Standard travel insurance is not sufficient. Many refusals stem from policies that look adequate but do not meet visa compliance standards.

It’s not complicated — but it is exacting.

The 2026 Reality

The visa landscape isn’t chaotic.

It’s precise.

When applicants understand what truly applies to them — and prepare their file carefully, step by step — most of the anxiety disappears. The system rewards clarity, documentation, and consistency.

Breathe.
Don’t overthink it.
Respect the process.

France hasn’t closed its doors.
It’s simply asking applicants to knock properly.