28 May 2015

2015- n° 127

In Q1 2015, the number of tourism nights bounced back (+2.0% year to year). Tourism occupancy in hotels, campsites and holiday and other short-stay accommodation in metropolitan France - 1st Quarter 2015

In the first quarter 2015, the number of overnight stays increased by 2.0% compared to the same period in 2014, for all tourism collective accommodation throughout metropolitan France. This increase interrupted two years of decline in hotels and in holiday and other short-stay accommodation (HOSSA).

Hotel occupancy recovered (+2.4% year-on-year) in the first quarter after almost three years of decline or near-stagnation. This rise was stronger for foreign customers (+3,6%) than for French customers.

The ongoing classification process led to a change in the park structure, which particularly affected the number of tourism nights in unclassified hotels (–31.8% year-on-year). In return, stays in classified hotels increased, especially in 1 and 2 stars (+10.0%), due to numerous reclassifications in 2 stars. Overnight stays also rose in higher category hotels : 3 stars (+7.5%) and and high-range 4-5 stars (+9.9%). For both categories, the increase was only partly attributable to reclassifications.

This rise of overnight stays results in a increase of the occupancy rate by 1.1 point year-on-year, to stand at 51.4% in first quarter 2015. Indeed, the number of rented rooms increased, while the number of rooms offered was stable.

Stays in HOSSA grew again in the first quarter of 2015 (+1.3% year on year after –1.2% in the previous quarter). As in hotels, the increase was more pronounced for foreign customers (+2.7%). Tourism nights in HOSSA were mainly driven by tourism or hotel residences (+2.3%), which rose almost as much as that of tradional hotels. However, they declined in holiday villages and family homes (–3.7%).

The number of accommodation rentals in HOSSA increased slightly, while the supply declined. Thus, the occupancy rate rose in the first quarter of 2015 (+1.5 points year-on-year, to 57.7%). However, the average length of stay weakened slightly.

In the first quarter of 2015, the number of overnight stays in hotels increased in all tourist areas, especially in provincial urban areas (+3.6%), mountains (+3.8%) and on the coast (+ 4.2 %). The results were more mixed for HOSSA: their occupancy progressed on the coast and in the urban areas of province, and hold steady in mountain. However, it declined in the agglomeration of Paris (–1.6%), and in other rural area (-2.1%).

The increase in tourism in the first quarter of 2015 was mainly carried out in February, significantly better than in February 2014. It benefited from a more advanced position of the school holiday calendar and a good snow coverage in the ski resorts. That month, the number of overnight stays in hotels increased particulary in the mountain resorts. Similarly, the tourism residences were much more occupied in February 2015.