Riviera on the Rise: 2025 Confirms a New Tourism Era

 

The French Riviera closed 2025 with another strong performance, confirming that its tourism rebound is no longer a post-crisis correction but a durable structural trend. According to figures published on January 12 by the French Riviera Tourism Observatory, the Alpes-Maritimes and Monaco welcomed more than 12 million visitors in 2025, up from around 11.5 million in 2024.

Growth was driven primarily by international demand, which now represents over 55% of total visitors, surpassing pre-crisis levels, while domestic tourism eased slightly. For Côte d’Azur France Tourisme, this shift underlines the destination’s ability to attract and retain a high-spending, globally mobile clientele, positioning the Riviera firmly in the premium segment of the Mediterranean market.

Air traffic remains the backbone of this expansion. Nice Côte d’Azur Airport handled 15.23 million commercial passengers in 2025, a 3.2% year-on-year increase, powered almost entirely by international routes (+4.7%). Domestic traffic edged down marginally, while aircraft movements rose by just 1.9%, highlighting improved load factors and larger aircraft. Long-haul markets strengthened markedly: the United States became the leading foreign market, accounting for more than 15% of international overnight stays, alongside continued strength from the UK, Italy, and Germany. Particularly striking growth came from Turkey (+50%), Japan (+35%), China (+30%) and the Middle East (+21%), reinforcing the Riviera’s global reach.

Visitors arriving by air spent on average more than €110 per day, amplifying tourism’s economic impact across hospitality, retail, gastronomy, and luxury services.

The accommodation sector translated this demand into higher revenues. Hotels and serviced residences recorded nearly 13 million overnight stays, maintaining historically high volumes while significantly improving profitability. Annual hotel occupancy hovered around 66%, but key indicators moved decisively upmarket: the average stay reached 2.5 nights, stays rose by 1%, overnight stays by 3%, and RevPAR climbed 7% after an already strong 2024. Furnished tourist rentals followed the same trajectory, with supply up 6%, occupancy at 62%, and RevPAR reaching €111, also a 7% increase.

These figures reflect both pricing power and a more even distribution of demand throughout the year.

Seasonality, long a structural challenge for the Riviera, continued to soften. Summer 2025 set new records, with hotel occupancy averaging 85% from June to September and RevPAR up 9%. June now performs at levels once reserved for peak summer months, confirming the extension of the high season.

At the same time, the mountains benefited from the region’s four-season strategy: the start of the 2025–2026 winter season showed strong momentum, with 66% occupancy at Christmas and nearly 90% over New Year, supported by resort investments and diversified offerings beyond traditional skiing.

Beyond the numbers, 2025 also reinforced several underlying trends: a growing share of long-haul and repeat visitors, strong performance in business tourism and international events, and an increased focus on sustainability, mobility management, and quality over volume.

Looking ahead to 2026, Côte d’Azur France Tourisme aims to consolidate growth while avoiding saturation. As its president Alexandra Borchio Fontimp summed up, the priority is clear: continue expanding tourism’s economic benefits while spreading visitor flows, protecting quality of life, and positioning the French Riviera as a sustainable, year-round destination.