🤔 Today's Trivia Question:

What Was The Most Visited City In The World In 2022?

Correct Answer: D) Paris

✈️ Eiffel Tower and Louvre Lead Paris Attractions as Tourism Surged in 2022

Tourism in Paris and the Île-de-France region surged in 2022, welcoming over 44 million visitors—a significant 95% increase from 2021, though still not quite reaching pre-pandemic figures.

Visitor numbers remained 13% lower than in 2019, according to the Paris Île-de-France regional tourism committee. French nationals were the largest group, with 24.7 million tourists. Americans followed with 2.4 million visitors, then British (2 million), Spanish (1.5 million), Italians (1.5 million), and Belgians (1.2 million).

Tourists generated €19.6 billion in revenue in 2022, a 134% increase from 2021 but 10% less than in 2019. Most of the revenue (€12 billion) came from international visitors.

In 2022, Paris reclaimed its title as the world's top city for tourism, surpassing Dubai and Amsterdam. The tourism revival was initially driven by domestic travelers, then by neighboring countries, and finally by tourists from further afield. However, some Asian countries are still lagging in visitor numbers.

Despite not reaching 2019 levels, the 44 million visitors exceeded expectations. The Paris Tourism Office had predicted 33 million visitors for the year.

The Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower were the most visited attractions in Paris, while the Versailles Palace topped the regional list. Most attractions saw fewer visitors than in 2019, but the Eiffel Tower matched its pre-pandemic tourist numbers, despite being closed from January to June.

Hotel occupancy in the region rebounded by 112% compared to 2021, with 66.6 million stays recorded. This figure was only 6% below 2019 levels. Seasonal rentals and furnished accommodations saw a 22% drop compared to pre-pandemic levels, with 8 million nights booked.

The 2023 social movement against pension reform, marked by strikes, disrupted public transport, and trash accumulation, might have affected the city's appeal to tourists. However, upcoming events like the 2023 World Rugby Cup and the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games are expected to keep Paris a popular destination.