The third quarter of 2024 was a key moment for tourism in Nice. Visitor numbers exceeded all forecasts and suggest a promising end to the year.
Since January, the hotels in Nice have shown an increase in their occupancy rates of 2.5 points compared to 2023, reaching an average of 78%. In July, August, and September, the rates were 89%, 90%, and 90% respectively. This marks an increase compared to last year. These results are largely attributed to the particularly rich summer events schedule.
Indeed, the city hosted, for the first time, the final arrival of the Tour de France. This historic sporting event attracted 222,000 spectators, 63% of whom were international visitors. The Fan Park at Jardin Albert 1er also attracted 77,000 visitors over three days. The success extended beyond the city. The mountain stages of the Tour, like the one connecting Embrun to Isola 2000, saw a reported crowd of 68,000 people.
Nice also hosted the football matches of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. At the Allianz Riviera, six matches were held, attracting a total of 81,000 spectators. The France-Guinea match drew 31,000 people, a rare attendance level for the stadium, which has a maximum capacity of 35,000 seats. Among the visitors, 54% were international, confirming the city’s global appeal.
Optimistic prospects for the end of the year
The end of the year looks just as positive. Hotel bookings for the period from October to December 2024 are already up by 2 points compared to 2023. The “Nice Côte d’Azur in Winter” campaign aims to maintain the city’s appeal outside the usual tourist seasons.
According to the tourist office, the year 2024 is expected to be a great year for tourism in Nice. This is a positive point whereas many large French cities ultimately suffered from not hosting the Olympics. Tourists feared an overwhelming crowd that would make travel more complicated.
