france tourism recovery

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The Destination France plan

Published on the 25/10/2023 Reading time : 2 minutes

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Destination France, a plan to win back and transform tourism In June 2021, the President of the Republic announced his intention to equip France with a recovery plan to revitalise French tourism as it emerges from the crisis, and to support the revival and transformation of the sector. While the crisis has been a major shock for tourism, it has also accentuated and highlighted the structural challenges it faces, while accelerating certain trends.

With the Destination France plan, backed by a budget of €1.9 billion, presented by the Prime Minister in November 2021 and steered by the Minister for Tourism, the Government intends to set a genuine course for the development and transformation of the tourism sector over the next 10 years.

The aim is to consolidate France's position as the world's No. 1 tourist destination and to become the No. 1 destination for sustainable tourism, by making French tourism a sector that generates excellence, growth and jobs, based on a more qualitative, sustainable and resilient model, in line with the new expectations of French and international customers.

5 strategic priorities

Destination France's ambitions are based on 20 measures in 5 strategic areas:

• Win and regain talent
• Strengthen the resilience of the sector and support the quality of the offer
• Promoting and developing France's tourism assets
• Meet the challenges of transforming the sector
• Promote France as a destination and consolidate its market share

Atout France's roadmap

Atout France is heavily involved in the Destination France plan and will be leading various initiatives. 8 of the 20 measures directly concern the Agency.

These measures are integrated into Atout France's 2022-2024 roadmap to enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of France as a destination.

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Perspectives on travel recovery: France

In France, the domestic market has been the most resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic. Impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the French tourism market has dropped by nearly 60% between 2019 and 2020, and it is not expected to return to its pre-crisis level until 2024 (close to European average).

In terms of value, the market has lost more than half of its value in one year and more than 700 000 direct jobs have been affected. Domestic expenditures have been the most resilient, even though this has declined by nearly 50%: it is the business segment that has been most affected, and at this stage do not expect it return to its pre-crisis level until 2027 (2024 for the leisure segment).

Outbound expenditures (i.e. French traveling abroad) dropped by approximately 70% between 2019 and 2020 (the business segment suffered the most with a drop in expenditures of about 80%). However, France is in the top 3 in terms of total outbound spend (22 value in USD bn) only behind Germany and UK.

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Destination France Plan: Investing €1.9 billion

Destination France Plan, consolidating France's position as a leading destination

This Saturday, during a visit to Amboise, the Prime Minister, accompanied by ministers Alain Griset and Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, unveiled the Destination France plan, a plan to relaunch and transform tourism for which Atout France will be strongly mobilized. This follows the Destination France summit held on Tuesday, November 4, 2021 which was chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Last June, in Saint-Cirq Lapopie, the President of the Republic announced the need to provide France with a recovery plan to revitalize French tourism as it emerges from the crisis. Indeed, while the crisis has seriously impacted the sector, it has also accentuated and highlighted the structural challenges it must face while simultaneously accelerating certain trends.

With the Destination France Plan, which has a budget of 1.9 billion euros, the French Government intends to set an actual road map for the development and transformation of the tourism sector over the next 10 years. The goal is to consolidate France's position as the world's leading tourism destination and to become the leading destination for sustainable travel, by making French tourism a sector that promotes excellence, growth and employment, based on a more qualitative, sustainable and resilient model, in line with the new expectations of French and international clients, particularly in terms of ecological transition.

Destination France's ambitions are based on 20 measures in five strategic areas :

1 - Conquering and regaining talent

In order to improve the attractiveness of the professions, particularly in the hospitality and transportation sectors, large-scale communication campaigns will be carried out over 2 year period (€10 million—about $11.25 million), a "tourism professions week" for youth will be organized and a network of schools of excellence in tourism will be identified.

2 - Strengthen the resilience of the sector and support the increase in quality of supply

Structural investments must ensure an upward trend in the quality of the offer, particularly in the area of accommodations and restauration. State provisions for long-term loans will be strengthened. In addition, a new France Tourism Development program, to be managed by Atout France and the Banque des Territoires, with a budget of €2.5m (approx. $2.8 million), will be launched to support the revitalization of the centers of medium-sized cities through the renovation, transformation and preservation of independent hospitality establishments. This program will be supplemented by a €60m (approx. $6.8 million) targeted Banque des territoires investment program. A budget of €100 million (approx. 112.65 million) is also allotted to support the revival of MICE events. The deployment of France Tourisme Observation, a platform managed by Atout France, will make it possible to organize and analyze tourism data for a better in depth understanding of the sector. A public reinsurance mechanism will be set up to secure the market with financial guarantees for travel and tourism operators. Lastly, measures will also be taken to make travel accessible for all.

3 - Promoting and developing French tourism assets

France has major natural and cultural tourist assets, which will be further developed and enhanced thanks to a dedicated budget of €51 million (approx. $58.5 million). Accelerated investment in the preservation of terrestrial and maritime biodiversity will help to reduce the pressure on these ressources. To support the revival of regional cultural tourism that will be more widely shared, the Council of Europe's cultural routes will also be better promoted, as will "savoir-faire" tourism. The engineering support system will be strengthened by €55 million (approx. $61.9) to assist in the development of tourism in the regions, managed by Atout France and the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion.

4 - Responding to the sector's transformation challenges

The Destination France plan aims to make France the number one destination for sustainable tourism by 2030 (and the number one destination for bicycle tourism). The Sustainable Tourism Fund set up as part of France Relance (France Recovery) will be strengthened in order to provide tangible support to stakeholders in the emergence of a respectful offer, with a greater emphasis on slow tourism. The new classification system for accommodations, managed by Atout France and applicable in April 2022, will include, in addition to more stringent quality criteria, more standards to measure sustainability and environmental imperatives. Tools for managing the ecological footprint will be made available to professionals. A specific investment of €44 million (approx. $49.5) will also be deployed to improve and develop sustainable tourism infrastructures such as cycling paths.

Also, in order to support the digital transition of tourism players, a "Tourism Tech" plan will be launched by Bpifrance, Atout France and Business France to support the development of start-ups in the sector, particularly through testing zones, and to encourage the emergence of French "unicorns." Finally, specific support for the digital transition of very small and small and medium sized businesses will be implemented.

5 - Promoting France as a destination and consolidating its market share

In order to ensure that the destination rebounds and to face international competition, a vast consumer, press and trade communication and promotion plan for France will be implemented by Atout France through 2024. The press and and trade will also be offered virtual learning possibilities. This plan will have a budget of €20 million (approx. $22.5 million) to reaffirm France's place as a benchmark destination. The Destination France summit will be continued and organized annually.

In addition, the major international sports events that France will host in the coming years will be opportunities to enhance the attractiveness of France as a destination and optimize the economic benefits. Atout France will promote these events among international tourism stakeholders and will participate in the implementation of training initiatives for taxis and accommodation providers in host destinations to improve the welcome of international visitors in host cities.

Wednesday, July 03, 2024 2:59 am (Paris)

In France, tourism renews itself post-pandemic

In 2022, the French tourism industry revealed preferences for more local and outdoor activities, while international travelers returned even as hotel prices sharply increased.

By  Jessica Gourdon

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After two years of pandemic that turned the sector upside down, French tourism returned to normal in 2022. The recovery was confirmed, even though the main statistics observed at the national level (number of visitors, hotel room occupancy rate, number of passengers in airports, etc.) remain lower than those observed in 2019. Revenue from tourism is estimated to have reached €50 billion in 2022.

Among the big winners of the year were campsites. During the summer, they reached a record attendance (up 7.5% compared to 2019), amid a desire for nature revitalized by the lockdowns, and the necessities imposed by tighter budgets. Local tourism is also improving. The "open-air hotel industry" is also attracting a new clientele as it goes upmarket, with more and more brick-and-mortar accommodations, and ever more colossal swimming pools.

Amusement parks, another form of local tourism, were also a hit throughout the year. In the Paris region, Aventure Floréval and Winnoland have seen visitor numbers increase by 27% and 29% respectively compared to 2019, according to the regional tourism committee (CRT). Southwest of Paris, the pandas of the Beauval Zoo have never been observed by so many people. The site and its hotels welcomed 2 million visitors in 2022 (up 25% compared to 2019).

International customers

The leisure parks belonging to the Compagnie des Alpes (Parc Astérix, Futuroscope, etc.) also recorded an exceptional performance with 10 million visitors – 6% more than before the pandemic. The Compagnie des Alpes noted that even though ticket prices had increased significantly, tourists were still spending more than usual during their visit (in hotels, stores, restaurants, etc.)

Conversely, the main Parisian tourist sites became less crowded in 2022, particularly due to the absence of Asian customers. The Louvre Museum counted 20% fewer visitors compared to 2019. Versailles sold 17% fewer tickets. With one third fewer pilgrims than before the pandemic, Lourdes is breathing easy. But in the city, many hotel establishments are struggling.

Nationally, hotel occupancy rates have not returned to their 2019 levels (down 4.4 points, according to the annual review by the consultancy MKG). It must be said that room prices have increased significantly (14 % since 2019), faster than inflation. Luxury hotels hold the prize for the highest rate increases (a rise of 23%), driven by a clientele that isn't very price sensitive. In this sector, revenue per room has soared. New projects are proliferating.

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Tourism in France

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Tourism is a major part of the French economy, representing close to 8% of GDP and 2 million direct and indirect jobs. It is also a recognized soft power asset abroad, and F rance has been the world’s leading tourist destination for years. A record 90 million international tourists visited France in 2019, including its overseas communities.

A sector affected by COVID-19

In 2020, the sector has been hit hard by the COVID-19 public health crisis, leading international tourist revenue to drop by almost half in the first seven months of the year .

Globally, Europe is the second hardest-hit region, behind the Asia-Pacific, seeing a drop in visits of 66% in the first half of the year. The drop in French and foreign tourist spending in France over 2020 is estimated at between 30% and 35%. However, France does appear to be resisting better than its European neighbours , thanks to its solid domestic market.

France’s support to the sector

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs promotes and supports the tourism sector through innovative measures suited to the industry’s needs . This cooperative approach led to the creation of the Tourism Sector Committee (CFT) in January 2020, chaired by the Minister of State, Mr Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne.

Its aim is to jointly design effective tourism policies, working on four themes: jobs and training , sustainable development , digitalization , and regulations and competitiveness .

The work carried out at the CFT should lead to the signing of a tourism sector contract to provide effective responses suited to the industry’s needs.

A concerted response to the crisis

The CFT has been particularly useful and effective in addressing the concertation and emergency needs caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Since the beginning of the public health crisis, the committee has met almost weekly.

Its work has helped analyse the challenges and priority needs of the sector in order to seek appropriate solutions. It has helped highlight how numerous and diverse tourism-dependent businesses are , each with its own issues.

Various tools and measures have been established during the crisis:

• A monthly Atout France/Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau barometer;
• Webinars, benchmarks, surveys and studies by Atout France;
• The “This summer I’m visiting France” campaign from June to September 2020 in order to promote domestic tourism;
• An interactive map of tourism venues and services, carried out with ADN Tourisme, to provide information to more than 10 million people on social media. This initiative contributed actively to promoting stays in France among tourists from both France and neighbouring countries.

The measures adopted to safeguard the tourism sector during the public health crisis

Alongside the CFT’s work since the beginning of the crisis, the Minister of State has also met with institutional and private stakeholders from each French region in order to best adapt the Government’s support to the sector.

Tourism companies have enjoyed all the emergency measures adopted by the Government in response to the pandemic’s economic consequences:

• Support for jobs, through the partial employment measure, which the sector has used widely;
• Support for companies’ cash flow through the Government-guaranteed loan (PGE) and the solidarity fund, open until the end of 2020, as well as certain social contribution exemptions;
• Cancellation of instalments of rent and fees for use of public land for SMEs, particularly during administrative closure.

The Government has also announced the creation of a “season PGE”, capped at the turnover of the best three months of 2019, and the postponement of bank repayment instalments over 12 months.

These discussions also contributed to drafting a specific Government plan for the sector’s recovery , totalling €18 billion. The specific recovery plan was announced by the Prime Minister on 14 May 2020, during the fifth meeting of the Interministerial Tourism Committee (CIT). It includes the creation of an investment fund of €1.3 billion managed by the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations and Bpifrance in order to foster the emergence of more sustainable tourism, more digital and better distributed across the country. The France Tourisme Ingénierie programme, managed by Atout France, has also been granted increased capacity of €29 million in order to support local authorities and private stakeholders wishing to improve the tourism offering.

Moreover, the recovery plan presented by the Government in early September 2020 includes the c reation of a sustainable tourism fund with €50 million to foster the adaptation of tourism activities. Restaurants and tourist accommodation providers will receive financial support (grants) in order to cover the costs of investments for the transition and development of sustainable tourism projects. The French Agency for the Ecological Transition (ADEME) will be the leader for the deployment of this fund, in close liaison with local government in order to address specific needs.

The plan has since been strengthened, particularly as regards the implementation of support measures for the sector such as widening the list of companies eligible under the tourism plan, extending 100% coverage of payroll costs under partial employment, enhancement of the solidarity fund and expansion of the scope of the “season PGE” programme, in constant dialogue with industry stakeholders.

Download the press kit from the Interministerial Tourism Committee (CIT) meeting of 12 October 2020 (in French)

• Atout France • Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) • Bpifrance • French Agency for the Ecological Transition (ADEME)

Updated: October 2020

On the same topic

Ministry actions to promote tourism

Destination Inspiration

France leads tourism recovery in Europe

New research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reveals France’s travel and tourism sector’s recovery could achieve a growth of 34.9% this year. At the recently organised Destination France Summit, WTTC said the sector’s growth this year is set to soar ahead of Europe’s overall recovery at 23.9% and the global recovery at 30.7%. In 2019, the country’s travel and tourism sector’s contribution to GDP represented EUR 211 billion (8.5% of the national economy). In 2020, when the pandemic brought international travel to a grinding halt, the contribution of the travel and tourism sector fell to just EUR 108 billion (4.7% of the national economy).

However, according to the latest research, at the current rate of recovery, the sector can expect a year on year growth of almost 35%, representing an increase of EUR 38 billion. The data also reveals that the country could see a year on year increase of 21.8% in 2022, contributing a further boost to the economy of EUR 32 billion.

The global tourism body says that whilst a rise in domestic travel has provided some relief to the nation, it is not enough to achieve the full recovery needed to salvage its economy and the millions of jobs lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The research goes on to show that while domestic spending is set to increase by 56.6% year on year in 2021, international spending could decrease 1.9% this year.

However, while domestic spending is set to rise once again, with a year on year growth of 9.9%, international spending is expected to rebound 67.8% next year, in turn providing a massive boost to both jobs and employment. In terms of employment, the French tourism sector supported almost 2.7 million jobs before the pandemic struck.

After suffering a loss of almost 200,000 jobs last year, the research shows that employment is set to remain stagnant in 2021. However, again the outlook is more positive next year with an expected rise of 9.4%, providing an additional 236,000 jobs across the country.

WTTC President & CEO, Julia Simpson said: “Our latest research shows that France’s travel sector is beginning to recover faster than its neighbours although there is still a long way to go. Last year the pandemic saw hundreds of thousands of jobs lost in France. This year employment remains flat, but we expect to see a big uptick in Travel & Tourism in France next year as long as the country remains open to vaccinated travellers.”

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UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

The UN Tourism Recovery Tracker compiles all the relevant data in one place, giving governments and the private businesses the ability to track the recovery of tourism at global and regional level, alongside information on the top destinations for international tourism

UN Tourism Recovery Tracker

As growing numbers of countries around the world ease restrictions on travel, UN Tourism has launched a new  Tourism Recovery Tracker  to support global tourism. This represents the latest concrete action undertaken by the United Nations specialized agency as it leads the response of global tourism and guides recovery .

The most comprehensive tourism dashboard to date, the Tracker is the result of a partnership between international organizations and the private sector. Available for free, it covers key tourism performance indicators by month, regions and subregions allowing for a real time comparison of the sector recovery across the world and industries. 

The tracker includes data on:

• international tourist arrivals
• seat capacity in international and domestic air routes,
• air travel bookings,
• hotel searches and bookings,
• occupancy rates and
• demand for short term rentals
• travel sentiment (Net Sentiment Score)
• COVID-19 14-day notification rate per 100,000 population

The UN Tourism Recovery Tracker is available for free and is a collaborative effort by a group of partners including the  International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), ForwardKeys, STR, Sojern, TCI Research and  AIRDNA .

How quickly is tourism recovering from COVID-19?

The pandemic helped fuel a decline in tourism globally. Image:  Unsplash/Markus Spiske

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Stay up to date:, travel and tourism.

• Tourists spent an extra 1.8 billion nights in the European Union in 2021 compared with the year before.
• But this is still almost 40% lower than pre-pandemic levels, according to EU statistics.
• Tourism is an important sector for the world economy, and is expected to continue recovering gradually in 2022.
• However, there are still risks – including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and COVID-19 variants.

Tourism was hit particularly hard by the pandemic, as lockdowns restricted people to travelling around their homes and neighbourhoods rather than around the world. But there are now signs that tourist numbers are starting to recover as limitations on movement are eased.

There was a 27% rise in nights spent at EU tourist accommodation in 2021 , according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. This took the total to 1.8 billion, although this was still 37% less than in 2019, before COVID-19.

The first global pandemic in more than 100 years, COVID-19 has spread throughout the world at an unprecedented speed. At the time of writing, 4.5 million cases have been confirmed and more than 300,000 people have died due to the virus.

As countries seek to recover, some of the more long-term economic, business, environmental, societal and technological challenges and opportunities are just beginning to become visible.

To help all stakeholders – communities, governments, businesses and individuals understand the emerging risks and follow-on effects generated by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Marsh and McLennan and Zurich Insurance Group, has launched its COVID-19 Risks Outlook: A Preliminary Mapping and its Implications - a companion for decision-makers, building on the Forum’s annual Global Risks Report.

Companies are invited to join the Forum’s work to help manage the identified emerging risks of COVID-19 across industries to shape a better future. Read the full COVID-19 Risks Outlook: A Preliminary Mapping and its Implications report here , and our impact story with further information.

Where tourists went

Greece, Spain and Croatia saw the biggest rises in visitors last year, with the number of nights spent at tourist accommodation jumping by more than 70%. Trips to Austria, Latvia and Slovakia fell, but by less than 18%.

“This shows signs of recovery in the tourism sector,” Eurostat says.

However, when 2021 tourist night numbers are compared with 2019, it shows some countries lost more than half their bookings. Latvia, Slovakia, Malta and Hungary were the worst hit.

Denmark and the Netherlands, on the other hand, were the least affected countries. They saw drops of less than 20% in nights spent in tourist accommodation.

Eurostat says the figures are “far less dramatic” than the contrast between 2019 and 2020, when tourism in the EU halved .

Tourism supports jobs

More than 2 million businesses – mostly small and medium-sized companies – make up the EU’s tourism industry , according to the European Parliament.

These firms employ an estimated 12.3 million people, but worker numbers increase to 27.3 million when related sectors are taken into account.

Across the EU in 2018, travel and tourism made up about 4% of GDP – the total value of products and services produced in a country – or 10% if closely related sectors are taken into account.

Three-quarters of these tourism businesses operated in either accommodation or serving food and drink. Italy, France, Spain and Germany were home to 55% of the EU’s tourism firms in 2018.

Have you read?

This is how the covid-19 crisis has affected international tourism, we urgently need to kickstart tourism’s recovery but crisis offers an opportunity to rethink it, a new era of sustainable travel prepares for take-off, global growth and risks.

Tourism is the world’s third-biggest export sector , according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a special United Nations agency.

Because of COVID-19, tourism lost out on around $1 trillion of export revenues in 2021, UNWTO estimates. It predicts that the tourism industry will recover gradually in 2022 .

International tourist arrivals globally grew 130% in January 2022, UNWTO says. And this was despite the Omicron variant of COVID-19 slowing down the speed of the recovery.

The war in Ukraine also poses a new risk to the global tourism industry – by potentially disrupting the return of confidence to travel, UNWTO says.

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Launch of OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2024

OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2024 comes as the tourism economy emerges from recent crises, and takes stock of the strong but uneven recovery and the outlook for the future. It provides data and analysis on tourism trends and policy approaches across 50 OECD member and partner countries, and examines approaches to promote a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive tourism for the future.

Why attend?

The report launch will bring together high-level policy makers and industry decision-makers for a lively and stimulating discussion focusing on the latest tourism trends and policy responses as new opportunities and challenges emerge, while shifting to more balanced and sustainable models of tourism.

What does the report provide?

• Insights into the tourism policy priorities, reforms, and developments to consolidate and build on a strong but uneven recovery.
• Analysis of the outlook for tourism, amid the unfolding economic recovery, geopolitical tensions, cost-of-living pressures, increasing climate-related events and rapid technological developments.
• Evidence on how to build a more balanced future of tourism for more sustainable outcomes, with examples of country policy responses and practices.
• Thematic chapters providing insights on how to strengthen the tourism workforce and improve the evidence base for sustainable tourism policies. 

Ms. Lamia Kamal-Chaoui

  Director,   Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities | OECD

Mr. Hubert Gambs

Deputy Director General, DG GROW   | European Commission

Mr. Sergio Guerreiro

Senior Director | Turismo de Portugal, Chair of the OECD Tourism Committee

Mr. Brian Beall

Director | National Travel and Tourism Office, US Dept of Commerce

Ms. Gitta Brueckman

Vice President Corporate Social Responsibility EMEA | Marriott International

Ms. Herim Lee

Director | Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Korea

Mr. Jeremy Sampson

CEO | Travel Foundation

Discover what the event is about.

12:00-12:20 Launch of OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2024

Ms. Lamia Kamal-Chaoui,  Director,   Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities | OECD

Mr. Hubert Gambs,  Deputy Director General, DG GROW   | European Commission

12:20-13:10 Panel

Moderator: 

Mr. Sergio Guerreiro,  Senior Director | Turismo de Portugal, Chair of the OECD Tourism Committee

Panellists:

Mr. Brian Beall,  Director | National Travel and Tourism Office, US Dept of Commerce

Ms. Gitta Brueckman,   Vice President Corporate Social Responsibility EMEA | Marriott International

Ms. Herim Lee, Director | Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Korea

Mr. Jeremy Sampson, CEO | Travel Foundation

13:10– 13:35 Q&A

13:35-13:45 closing remarks.

Ms. Jane Stacey, Head of Tourism Unit | OECD

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Paris hospitality sector faces tourism slump ahead of Olympics

Issued on: 02/07/2024 - 12:34

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Hotel occupancy rates in the French capital are well below average, as bad weather combines with Olympics-related transport hassles and price hikes to keep summer tourists away. Also, President Emmanuel Macron's planned unemployment insurance reform becomes the latest casualty of France's political upheaval – we take a closer look.

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‘Sleep tourism’ promises the trip of your dreams. Beyond the hype plus 5 tips for a holiday at home

Senior postdoctoral research fellow, Appleton Institute, HealthWise research group, CQUniversity Australia

Adjunct Research Fellow, Appleton Institute of Behavioural Science, CQUniversity Australia

Disclosure statement

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

CQUniversity Australia provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

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Imagine arriving at your hotel after a long flight and being greeted by your own personal sleep butler. They present you with a pillow menu and invite you to a sleep meditation session later that day.

You unpack in a room kitted with an AI-powered smart bed, blackout shades, blue light-blocking glasses and weighted blankets.

Holidays are traditionally for activities or sightseeing – eating Parisian pastry under the Eiffel tower, ice skating at New York City’s Rockefeller Centre, lying by the pool in Bali or sipping limoncello in Sicily. But “ sleep tourism ” offers vacations for the sole purpose of getting good sleep.

The emerging trend extends out of the global wellness tourism industry – reportedly worth more than US$800 billion globally (A$1.2 trillion) and expected to boom .

Luxurious sleep retreats and sleep suites at hotels are popping up all over the world for tourists to get some much-needed rest, relaxation and recovery. But do you really need to leave home for some shuteye?

Not getting enough

The rise of sleep tourism may be a sign of just how chronically sleep deprived we all are.

In Australia more than one-third of adults are not achieving the recommended 7–9 hours of sleep per night, and the estimated cost of this inadequate sleep is A$45 billion each year.

Inadequate sleep is linked to long-term health problems including poor mental health, heart disease, metabolic disease and deaths from any cause.

Can a fancy hotel give you a better sleep?

Many of the sleep services available in the sleep tourism industry aim to optimise the bedroom for sleep. This is a core component of sleep hygiene – a series of healthy sleep practices that facilitate good sleep including sleeping in a comfortable bedroom with a good mattress and pillow, sleeping in a quiet environment and relaxing before bed.

The more people follow sleep hygiene practices, the better their sleep quality and quantity .

When we are staying in a hotel we are also likely away from any stressors we encounter in everyday life (such as work pressure or caring responsibilities). And we’re away from potential nighttime disruptions to sleep we might experience at home (the construction work next door, restless pets, unsettled children). So regardless of the sleep features hotels offer, it is likely we will experience improved sleep when we are away.

What the science says about catching up on sleep

In the short-term, we can catch up on sleep . This can happen, for example, after a short night of sleep when our brain accumulates “ sleep pressure ”. This term describes how strong the biological drive for sleep is. More sleep pressure makes it easier to sleep the next night and to sleep for longer.

But while a longer sleep the next night can relieve the sleep pressure, it does not reverse the effects of the short sleep on our brain and body . Every night’s sleep is important for our body to recover and for our brain to process the events of that day. Spending a holiday “catching up” on sleep could help you feel more rested, but it is not a substitute for prioritising regular healthy sleep at home.

All good things, including holidays, must come to an end. Unfortunately the perks of sleep tourism may end too.

Our bodies do not like variability in the time of day that we sleep. The most common example of this is called “ social jet lag ”, where weekday sleep (getting up early to get to work or school) is vastly different to weekend sleep (late nights and sleep ins). This can result in a sleepy, grouchy start to the week on Monday. Sleep tourism may be similar, if you do not come back home with the intention to prioritise sleep.

So we should be mindful that as well as sleeping well on holiday, it is important to optimise conditions at home to get consistent, adequate sleep every night.

5 tips for having a sleep holiday at home

An AI-powered mattress and a sleep butler at home might be the dream. But these features are not the only way we can optimise our sleep environment and give ourselves the best chance to get a good night’s sleep. Here are five ideas to start the night right:

1. avoid bright artificial light in the evening (such as bright overhead lights, phones, laptops)

2. make your bed as comfortable as possible with fresh pillows and a supportive mattress

3. use black-out window coverings and maintain a cool room temperature for the ideal sleeping environment

4. establish an evening wind-down routine, such as a warm shower and reading a book before bed or even a “ sleepy girl mocktail ”

5. use consistency as the key to a good sleep routine. Aim for a similar bedtime and wake time – even on weekends.

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• Sleep hygiene
• wellness trends

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Riot-stricken New Caledonia is empty of travellers. Businesses hope it can regain its place as a Pacific tourism jewel

Nestled between banana trees and palms on the outskirts of New Caledonia's capital, Anne Fonua's guesthouse and two tour buses sit empty.

Before civil unrest erupted in the French Pacific territory last month, her diary was filled with bookings from cruise ship passengers and other visitors arriving soon in Nouméa.

"Everything was cancelled," Ms Fonua said.

Blessed with pristine beaches, lagoons and coral reefs, New Caledonia was a jewel in Pacific tourism hoping to grow its share of Australian tourists.

Travel to the archipelago came to a startling halt in May, when violent turmoil broke out over French plans to add thousands of voters who have been in the territory for 10 years to electoral rolls.

It's a reform many fear will dilute the Indigenous Kanak vote in future referendums on independence.

Tourism operators wait in limbo — and in hope of a peaceful solution.

"We need to stay positive," said Gateaway Shore Tours guide Alfred Nauka, whose weeks are usually filled showing Australians and other tourists around New Caledonia.

"However, being here and actually seeing and facing and living through all that's going on since May, definitely doesn't help me in keeping a positive mindset."

His business was recovering after COVID border closures, before the deadly unrest began on May 13.

"We have lost the totality of our income since then," Mr Nauka said.

Frederic Ballo of Nouméa Turtle Tour, usually busy with tourists, has seen none for about 50 days.

"We hope and we do everything we can to continue. We're adapting day-by-day," he said.

New Caledonia's business and tourism groups say 41,000 bookings have been cancelled, and the halt has cost several billion francs in turnover.

Pro-independence protesters continue to erect road blockades, and unrest last week spread beyond the capital.

"Obviously we can't transport our clients in such conditions," Mr Nauka said.

He believes it will take years to rebuild New Caledonia, once peace returns.

"I don't see how our business can survive this."

'We need peace'

Four decades of peace opened New Caledonia as a destination for Australians seeking a tropical getaway.

It had been on Andrea Bold's bucket list for 30 years when she booked a family holiday there.

She was planning visits to the Isle of Pines and Nouméa in June, before she saw the territory's civil disorder unfold in the news.

Nine people, including two police officers, were killed as violence erupted over France's attempt to push through the electoral reforms.

More than 3,000 international visitors stranded in the tumult , including Australians, were evacuated from New Caledonia.

"We watched it for about a week, and it was very clear that things weren't going to get better quickly, so we made the decision to cancel the trip," Ms Bold said.

Qantas gave her a credit for the family's cancelled flights between Australia and Nouméa.

She hasn't been able to reach anyone in New Caledonia about refunding her domestic flights.

After waiting several weeks, her travel insurer agreed to pay her claim for money lost on cancelled bookings.

Ms Bold was saddened to see how cancellations had affected tourism businesses.

"They've lost their livelihoods in the space of a couple of weeks," she said.

New Caledonia will stay firmly on her bucket list, but she expects a long wait.

"I can't imagine when we would go. And from what I've heard, there's a lot of rebuilding to happen in Nouméa. There's a lot of burnt buildings."

Before the turmoil, New Caledonia's tourism was recovering from COVID border closures, receiving more than 125,000 international tourists and 340,000 cruise ship passengers in 2023.

Most of its recovery was driven by increases in Australian, New Zealand and French tourists compared to 2019.

But there was room to grow, and tourism was viewed as an important industry as New Caledonia looked to develop its economy outside nickel mining.

The territory drew 24,000 Australian tourists last year, half the number compared to neighbouring Vanuatu (51,000), and a fraction of the number visiting Fiji (390,000).

Mimsy Daly, president of business group Mouvement des Entreprises de Nouvelle-Calédonie, said businesses were ready to invest in the industry before recent events crashed the economy.

There were plans to open a new five-star hotel in the Loyalty Islands, east of New Caledonia's main island.

"All of this has been put to an end by the unrest."

P&O Cruises Australia and Carnival Cruise Line have cancelled 10 visits to Nouméa between June and August, re-routing to Vanuatu.

Air New Zealand has paused flights to Nouméa until September, while Qantas and Fiji Airways have not announced when they'll resume services to New Caledonia.

New Caledonia's international airport partially reopened earlier this month, and the territory's international carrier, Air Calin, is operating a limited schedule of flights.

Tourism businesses, industry leaders and the government say New Caledonia is many months away from being able to host tourists.

In a recent survey, about 50 per cent of tourism operators said they believed they could resume business within three months if the unrest subsided.

A fresh surge in violence last week, after French authorities sent seven pro-independence activists to France for detention, may have dashed any hopes of a quicker return for tourism.

"For now, we don't feel safe. Mostly, it's complicated in New Caledonia to go from one place to another," Ms Daly said.

"We need peace. We need a political solution that is long lasting, that can guarantee that peace will be lasting as well."

Surviving, and hoping

In a bid to quell the unrest, France sent 3,000 troops and police to New Caledonia in May. Some hotels in Nouméa were requisitioned to accommodate the forces.

Other businesses are still looking for relief from the halt in tourism, and are concerned for their finances.

Debt repayments for a new bus weigh on Ms Fonua, who hopes her bank can give her some reprieve.

Erin Mattei, who operates La Belle Verte Canopy Tours, a zipline in Nouméa, believes she can continue her business if local people are able to visit.

"We survived the COVID crisis. I am going to do everything I can to keep our business open," she said.

Further north on New Caledonia's main island, Kiara Mediara, who operates Chez Élise guesthouse, is cooking with wood fires due to gas shortages.

"We're keeping our heads up and we're moving forward. I remain positive for the future of Kanaky," she said.

"I hope that things will calm down and that tourism will get back to what it was, because we like to share our knowledge and our culture with everyone."

But Ms Daly said the business community was concerned about the future of tourism operators outside Nouméa.

"We are pretty worried that for a long time, there will be no activity. And we are working closely with the French government to see if we can find ways to [keep] these companies living for the time being."

Tourism is only one of the industries devastated in New Caledonia's turmoil.

Ms Daly said the territory's unemployment was at 20 per cent, up from about 5 per cent before the violence erupted.

"We have lost most of our commercial distribution capacity in the Nouméa area," she said.

"Forty per cent of the food stores have been destroyed. Other commercial areas have been totally destroyed as well, the automobile sector, the industry sector in some areas.

"It's happened all of a sudden. And we need to figure out how we can manage the country now, in this new situation."

The electoral reforms have been suspended because of France's parliamentary elections, which begin today, and many in New Caledonia hope talks about a political solution to the unrest can start soon.

The territory's main tourism body, Nouvelle-Calédonie Tourisme, aims to have international visitors returning in the last quarter of 2024.

When it comes time to rebuild New Caledonia, Ms Daly said tourists will play a major part.

"We will be very happy to welcome tourism again," she said.

Ms Fonua said messages of support from her former customers have lifted her spirits during a dark chapter.

Her message for people overseas is to think positively about New Caledonia.

"Once things open up, I'm sure that a lot of tourists will come back in, because a lot of areas for tourism are not spoiled."

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Sri Lanka reaches deal on debt restructuring with bilateral creditors including China and France

Supporters of Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe watch a televised speech in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, June 26, 2023. President Ranil Wickremesinghe in a televised address to the nation announced that the country had reached agreements with bilateral creditors including Japan, India, France and China, a key step in the island nation’s economic recovery since defaulting on its debt repayment in 2022. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

A supporter of Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe cheers as he watches a televised speech in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, June 26, 2023. President Ranil Wickremesinghe in a televised address to the nation announced that the country had reached agreements with bilateral creditors including Japan, India, France and China, a key step in the island nation’s economic recovery since defaulting on its debt repayment in 2022. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced a debt restructuring deal with countries including India, France, Japan and China in a televised address to the nation Wednesday. The agreement marks a key step in the country’s economic recovery after defaulting on debt repayment in 2022.

Sri Lanka is under an International Monetary Fund bailout program and the debt treatment deal is expected to reopen the doors to bilateral transactions and the resumption of foreign projects stalled when the island nation defaulted.

“This morning in Paris, Sri Lanka reached a final agreement with our official bilateral creditors. Similarly, we signed another agreement with China’s Exim Bank today in Beijing. ... Sri Lanka won,” Wickremesinghe said.

Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy in April 2022 and suspended repayments on some $83 billion in domestic and foreign loans amid a severe foreign exchange crisis that led to a severe shortage of essentials such as food, medicine, fuel and cooking gas, and hours-long power cuts.

Sri Lanka’s crisis was largely the result of staggering economic mismanagement combined with fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, which along with 2019 terrorism attacks devastated its important tourism industry. The coronavirus crisis also disrupted the flow of remittances from Sri Lankans working abroad.

Additionally, the then-government slashed taxes in 2019, depleting the treasury just as the virus hit. Foreign exchange reserves plummeted, leaving Sri Lanka unable to pay for imports or defend its beleaguered currency, the rupee.

Wickremesinghe said with these agreements, Sri Lanka will be able to defer all bilateral loan instalment payments until 2028. Furthermore, Sri Lanka will be able to repay all the loans on concessional terms, with an extended period until 2043.

According to a previous president’s office statement, the agreements would cover $10 billion, but further details on the mode of restructuring were not immediately announced.

By 2022, Sri Lanka had to repay about $6 billion in foreign debt every year, amounting to about 9.2% of gross domestic product. The agreement would enable Sri Lanka to maintain debt payments at less than 4.5% of GDP between 2027 and 2032.

As Wickremesinghe addressed the nation, his supporters the watched the speech on a giant screen in the capital Colombo and celebrated the announcement by lighting firecrackers and partaking traditional milk rice.

The economic upheaval led to a political crisis that forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign in 2022. The Parliament then elected Wickremesinghe as president.

Sri Lanka suspended repayment of its debt as it ran short of foreign currency needed to pay for imports of fuel and other essentials. Shortages led to street protests that changed the country’s leadership. The IMF approved a four-year bailout program last March.

The economic situation has improved under Wickremesinghe and severe shortages of food, fuel and medicine have largely abated. But public dissatisfaction has grown over the government’s effort to increase revenue by raising electricity bills and imposing heavy new income taxes on professionals and businesses, as part of the government’s efforts to meet the IMF conditions.

After Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy, all projects funded by foreign loans were also halted.

on Wednesday, Wickremesinghe said the new agreements would pave way to resume the foreign funded projects such as highways, light railway and airport development and also initiate new projects too.