# French tourism sector trends and seasonal shifts

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/french-tourism-sector-trends-and-seasonal-shifts
> Updated: 2026-10-13T04:29:43.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

In late September 2026, the French Minister of Tourism and Purchasing Power, Serge Papin, reported that the summer season showed resilience, largely due to strong interest from foreign visitors despite a slight decline in domestic travel during July and August.

By October, data indicated a shift toward off-season travel. April saw a 30% increase in travelers compared to the previous year, and October reservations rose by 45%, with families accounting for 62% of those bookings. Additionally, motorhome tourism grew significantly in the Hauts-de-France region, where overnight stays in September 2026 increased by 48.8% year-over-year.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-13: French tourism trends show growth in off-season travel

French tourism is shifting toward off-season travel, with significant growth in April and October bookings and a surge in motorhome tourism in the Hauts-de-France region during September.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/french-tourism-trends-show-growth-in-off-season-travel

### 2026-09-28: France tourism sector shows resilience driven by foreign visitors

French Tourism Minister Serge Papin reports a positive summer season driven by foreign travelers, despite a slight decrease in domestic tourism from French visitors.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-tourism-sector-shows-resilience-driven-by-foreign-visitors

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Cite as: French tourism sector trends and seasonal shifts. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/french-tourism-sector-trends-and-seasonal-shifts