Insee Focus · September 2026 · n° 387

2026 Summer Tourist Season Despite a Decline Along the South Atlantic Coast, Attendance in Collective Tourist Accommodations Rose Again

Attendance in collective tourist accommodations during the 2026 summer season exceeded that of the 2025 season, which was already the highest in 15 years. Driven by a favourable start to the season and despite a less positive mid-season period, this increase benefited both hotels and campsites. It was mostly driven by resident customers, while non-residents occupancy remained stable. There were slightly more tourists from other countries staying in hotels, but fewer in campsites. Attendance in coastal and mountain areas accommodations was higher than in 2025, while attendance in high‑density urban areas was down. The rise in coastal areas attendance was particularly driven by the northern and western coasts of France during the 2025 summer which was marked by repeated heatwaves. Overnight stays, however, were down on the South Atlantic coast (-2.3%), where attendance was affected by the numerous fires in July.