The tourism sector in Eastern France

Rich in recognised destinations such as Alsace, Vosges, Lorraine, Moselle, Champagne, Ardennes, Eastern France is ideally located in Europe to develop tourism infrastructure projects.   

Key figures

• 6. 4 billion euros net turnover for companies in the territory
• 90 million nights in 2023 including 38 million nights in trade
• 380,000 commercial tourist beds of which 91,000 in hospitality and 92,000 in outdoor hospitality
• 64% of hotel nights were spent by French visitors, 29% by European visitors and 6% by visitors from distant markets
• European clientele: Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and presence of customers from increasingly important distant markets: Americas, Japan, China
• The sector accounts for 94,000 salaried jobs in the Eastern France, or 7% of the region’s jobs.
• Millions of potential visitors within a three-hour drive

More information about the sector:

• Discover the 6 destinations of Eastern France
• Tourisme – GrandEst
• Explore Grand Est – Découvrez notre région (explore-grandest.com)
• Regional Observatory of Tourism Grand Est

Eastern France, a major destination for tourism  

The attractiveness of the territory is as much on the regional clientele as on millions of French and foreign visitors, thanks to an important heritage offering a wide range of activities. In the city or in the countryside, from the Rhine plain to the borders of Paris, you can discover its culture and heritage, its gastronomy and wines, its natural areas suitable for sports and leisure activities, its international events, etc. In the coming years, the Eastern France will be particularly committed to strengthening and developing initiatives for tourism in search of meaning, nature, authenticity and the original.   

Attractive for business tourism (MICE), our Region also offers state-of-the-art infrastructures for conferences and seminars, in urban centres as well as in rural areas. Moreover, Eastern France is a pioneer in the field of sustainable events and ISO 2021-labelled cities and sites.    

Catchment area and infrastructure:   

Three international airports, two major rail routes, as well as a dense network of motorways on the north-south and east-west axes allow direct access to Eastern France from the main European cities.    

The proximity of the urban hubs of Paris, Lille and Lyon, and direct access to Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium facilitate international trade and exchanges and enable the Region to capitalise on a catchment area of millions of people in the heart of Europe’s highest population density.    

The tourist sectors

Tourism in Eastern France declines around 6 so-called “signature” sectors.

Wine tourism and gastronomy

1st wine-tourist destination in France, the Grand Est shines thanks to the world renown of its Champenois, Alsace, Mosellans vineyards as well as its gastronomy, its terroirs and its many Michelin stars.

Roaming, Nature, Outdoor

Nature tourism and itinerant with our cycle routes and green paths, including hiking, equestrian, cycling, mountain biking and fluvestre tourism, is an essential theme for tourism growth in line with today’s environmentally friendly tourism trends.

Memory, Culture, Heritage

A region composed of important exceptional networks (UNESCO, Small Cities of Character), an exceptional museum, castral and cultural heritage radiating internationally. A territory proud of its artisans developing unique know-how in the world (textiles, tanneries, glassware, glass, stained glass, furniture, clay, earth and wood).

Wellness and Thermalism

A strategic and structuring sector for Eastern France and its reach including: spas and spas, thermal play centers and other “wellness” spaces and sites related to relaxation.

Business tourism

A sector that brings together public and private players in the sector with the objective of uniting to develop and promote innovative products and services perfectly adapted to the requirements of professional customers.

 Opportunities to discover and to develop your tourism business  

In 2023, Eastern France recorded nearly 38 million business nights generated by a national and international clientele largely due to its exceptional location. Its strong tourism activity requires a permanent commitment from the local authorities to the implementation of new facilities, equipment and innovative and sustainable services, which allow the best possible customer experience.
The 6 tourist destinations that make up our region is the perfect territory to expand and develop your tourist activity!

Grand Est Tourism Agency (ART GE) – A Strong Support for Tourism Players

The Grand Est Regional Tourism Agency is a major institutional player in the development and promotion of the Tourisme sector in the region. Its main activities consist of:

Promoting the Tourism sector

Building on the themed offerings featured on the Explore Grand Est platform, it carries out communication campaigns in France and abroad to showcase the region’s strengths and attract visitors looking for short or long trips in cities or nature.

Supporting professionals in the sector

The agency provides thermal establishments, spas and accommodation providers with guidance to help them develop their skills, strengthen their offerings, diversify their services and improve their market positioning, so they can better meet the growing expectations of visitors.

©-JUNG / Région Grand Est

Market monitoring and trend analysis

Market studies are carried out to identify consumer expectations and anticipate developments in the sector, enabling professionals to adapt and innovate.

©Juan Algar – stock.adobe.com

Explore Grand Est

Explore Grand Est is the platform designed to accelerate the marketing of tourism, sports, cultural and wine‑tourism experiences across the Grand Est region. With dedicated access to this platform, stakeholders in the Tourism sector benefit from a significant boost in the visibility and promotion of their tourism offerings.

Visit Explore Grand Est

Are you carrying an ambitious development project in Eastern France?

The mobilization of the network of territorial partners will allow you to benefit from support in all stages of the realization of your project.
We have selected for you buildings or land available for sale or rent that can accommodate your activity. They have been scrupulously researched and are part of a tourism development strategy for the territories concerned. Local stakeholders will be happy to study your specifications, provide the necessary answers and enable you to make your project a reality.

Real estate and land opportunities available

📞 Contact our Expert Team

We are the direct partner and contact for international companies seeking to develop their business in France and Europe. Our expertise and experience in a wide range of professional fields enable us to support you throughout your project, giving you the keys to successful development on the French and European markets. Thanks to our extensive regional network, you will gain immediate access to local expertise, partners and opportunities.

ℹ️ Our services are free and completely confidential.