The storefront of a Nice hotel (Illustration) - F. Binacchi / ANP / 20 Minutes

This is a first since 2002. Last year, the Côte d'Azur surpassed the 10 million hotel nights mark, announced the Regional Tourism Committee (CRT). The Alpes-Maritimes and Monaco were able to maintain "high tourist attendance in a difficult context", due to social movements, notes the organization.

Hotel nights were up 1.4% with demand increasing sharply from Japan (+ 20%) and Russia (+ 9%). On the other hand, demand from the Near and Middle East is in “net decline” (-26%). 4 or 5 * hotels still record the best occupancy rate with 65% in 2019, a record since 2001.

Strong growth in air travel

But in the hotel industry, French demand has been the main driver of growth, the rate of foreigners losing two points to 58%, its level of 2017, notes the CRT. All accommodation combined, the Italians, followed by the British and the Irish then the Americans, constitute the top 3 visitors to the Côte d'Azur.

The Côte d'Azur saw "a strong 9% increase in stays by air" via Nice airport, which "has been enriched by several new direct connections or line reinforcement", departing from China, from Russia and the United States.

In terms of economic benefits, the situation is more mixed. Average visitor spending has decreased. The share of visitors spending more than 75 euros per day was, for the first time since 2013, less than 50%.

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