In 2020, hotels recorded half the number of overnight stays than the previous year, according to the tourism report published on Tuesday by the National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee).
Over the past ten years, "the drop in hotel attendance in 2020 is completely unprecedented," underlines Pierre Girard, head of the services division at INSEE.
Faced with the health risk and after a first strict confinement, the French have preferred to enjoy their holidays and weekends with friends, family or in their second homes.
This type of accommodation has withstood the crisis better, with a drop of 12% between 2019 and 2020. It amounts to 26% in commercial accommodation (hotels, campsites, online reservation platforms, etc.).
Last summer, stays with relatives or in second homes even exceeded those of the previous year.
In August 2020, INSEE thus counted 114.4 million non-market overnight stays, against 107 million in August in 2019.
Business tourism at half mast
But the preference of the French for the guest room of their relatives, usual, does not explain this drop in hotel attendance.
Business tourism, which represents a source of regular attendance "has been greatly impacted by the crisis with the establishment of videoconferences for meetings and the cancellation of conferences", underlines Christian Mourisard, president of DNA Tourisme, the national federation of institutional tourism organizations.
To this must be added the absence of foreign tourists and a reduced tourist offer by the closure of cultural and catering places.
A saving summer
The summer period was an opportunity to partly revive activity in the sector.
According to Christian Mourisard, "the countryside, the middle mountains, the coast and especially the regions which are not usually touristy have been able to come out of the game".
It remains to be seen whether the looming season will allow, as in 2020, a rebound in tourism.
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A survey carried out among 4000 French people from May 3 to 7 by ADN Tourisme and the thirteen Metropolitan Regional Tourism Committees shows that "72% of French people plan to go on vacation during the summer".
89% of them plan to favor French destinations for their weekends or stays in 2021.
Staying at a hotel or with friends, holidaymakers will be able to take advantage of the reopening of bars, restaurants and cultural venues. These activities, again possible from this Wednesday, should increase the economic benefits of their stays. Good news for the tourism sector.
