There is a new record for the hotels frequentation on the French Riviera. In 2000, the tourism industry generated a turnover estimated by the CRT at 33 billion francs.
This is a new record for tourism on the French Riviera: more than 14 million bed nights were exceeded last year. The previous record was 13 million, number reached in 1998, the CRT Riviera Côte d'Azur (Regional Tourist Board of the French Riviera) in its last study. Compared to 1999, it grew of 7.3 points. The percentage of foreign customers remained high but it has fallen slightly because of an important rise of French customers (53% of foreign customers against 56% two years ago).
The classical hotels has more benefited of this boom compared to hotel chains (+ 13%). The month of December boosted because of the European summit: 7 points more for hotel occupation rates. The end of year faced an incredible boom.
Other good figures: in terms of number of visitors, the year 2000 beat a record with a total estimated at 10 millions (a bit more than 9 millions in 1999). As for the turnover of tourism, the CRT estimated in 2000 at 33 billion francs. The occupation rate, which raised a lot (64% on average in Nice, Cannes, Antibes and 70% in Monaco), the need to build new hotels is now more important whereas the capacity of the French Riviera didn’t change much since 1990 and the crisis of the 90s. This capacity is currently at 30 000 rooms spread over 750 hotels , from which an important part of 4 stars hotels, particularity of the French Riviera (90 establishments for 9 500 rooms).