“Uexceptional tourist season!” Christian Estrosi thus summarizes the first assessment of a summer not yet over but which already reveals figures which have enough to reassure tourism professionals, which the chief magistrate wants to raise.
Already, since the beginning of the year and for the first half, “Nice, which is neither a tourist town nor a seaside resort because it lives twelve months out of twelve., accounts for more than 2 million overnight stays. That is to say an increase, Christian Estrosi lists, of 19% compared to 2022 and 2019, which was a reference year, an average occupancy rate of 67% (plus 5% compared to 2022) as well as a very strong increase revenue per room: +26%.
Almost complete
Rental accommodation reveals an occupancy rate of 72% (5 points better). This last figure does not excite the Nice elected official: “Currently, we collect 2.4 million in tourist taxes on Airbnb. This is little. Nice is not in the Top 10 destinations searched by Airbnb but I don’t want it. It’s a choice that I accept. I prefer quality over quantity to gain brand image and Airbnb is not a competitor for the hotel industry.”
The chosen one continues, with a smile: “While hotel occupancy rates are falling across the entire department – with 2 points less on average – in Nice, these rates have continued to grow with peaks of almost 100% during the summer.
In July, the occupancy rate was 89.1% (89.7 in 2022) with peaks of 97.3% at the time of the Hopman Cup tennis tournament and concerts by The Weeknd and Mylène Farmer, at the end July.
In August, the occupancy rate reached 89.7% (i.e. 1.1 points better than in 2022), with peaks of 96.5% at the start of the weekend of August 15.
More than half of the clientele is international
Who helps boost summer tourism statistics? A returning international clientele. “It represents more than half of overnight stays, in particular thanks to the new and numerous direct air connections offered by Nice airport: New York, Atlanta, Dubai, Montreal, United Kingdom, etc.” Which explains the majority arrival of Scandinavians, Americans, Canadians and British.
Why do we come to the Bay of Angels?
What are the reasons explaining this strong enthusiasm for the Nice metropolis? According to the mayor and president of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, they are numerous and varied: “Climate, unique landscapes, extension of the Paillon promenade, redevelopment of the seaside in Saint-Laurent-du-Var or the port of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, major changes launched in the high country, in Auron and Isola with the launch of several major projects in hotels, restaurants, shops, equipment for delivery scheduled for 2025, quality hotel portfolio under construction or renovation, numerous shows, international sports competitions, museum attendance with 150,694 visitors this summer, exhibitions, Haut-de-Cagnes Arts in celebration, tourist shuttles between “Vignobles de Bellet”, “Maeght et Matisse”, nature trail with “hiking” shuttles to Boréon and Gordolasque which were full every weekend of July and August, etc.”
