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After several difficult years marked by the Covid-19 crisis, global tourism has firmly regained momentum. According to the latest UN Tourism barometer published in November, international tourism not only returned to its 2019 record level in 2024 but continued to grow in 2025, posting a 5% increase worldwide—the upper range of forecasts made at the start of the year. This recovery is clearly reflected in the travel choices of French tourists, as highlighted by Booking.com’s 2025 annual review relayed by TF1Info.
Marrakech Leads French International Travel Choices
Among international destinations, Marrakech stands out as one of the most popular cities for French travelers in 2025. Alongside Barcelona and London, Marrakech confirms its status as a preferred destination thanks to its mix of sunshine, cultural heritage, and accessibility from Europe.
Booking.com’s data shows a strong attraction to sunny destinations overall. Cities such as Dubai, Istanbul, Rome, Lisbon, Hurghada, and Palma de Mallorca also recorded high interest, reflecting French travelers’ preference for warm climates combined with leisure and discovery.
Diverse Travel Habits Shape 2025 Tourism
Beyond short- and mid-haul destinations, long-distance travel is also regaining ground. New York experienced a significant rebound, with searches increasing by 34%, signaling renewed confidence in transatlantic travel.
According to Vanessa Heydorff, Managing Director of Booking.com France, French travel behavior in 2025 has become particularly diverse. Travelers now alternate between cultural capitals, sun-focused holidays, and escapes into wide open spaces, while mountain destinations remain especially popular at the beginning of the year.
For Morocco, and Marrakech in particular, these trends reinforce a strong and lasting position within the French tourism market, at a time when global travel is entering a new phase of sustained growth and diversification.
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