Réunion Island is confirming its tourist appeal with a new attendance record. The latest figures from the Regional Tourism Observatory (IRT) show 272,284 tourists welcomed in the first half of the year, a 3% increase year-on-year. Tourism revenues reached €229.1 million, up 3.5%. A reassuring performance — but one that also highlights the sector's structural challenges.
Metropolitan France: the main growth driver
Mainland France accounts for 82% of visitors — around 220,000 people — with 6% growth compared to the same period last year. Affinity tourism (visits to family and friends) is now the primary reason for travel, representing 46.3% of arrivals, surpassing leisure holidays (44.8%) for the first time. Average length of stay is 20 days, and overall satisfaction for hospitality stands at 98.7%.
In contrast, the Indian Ocean zone is down 15.8%, partly linked to the economic and psychological aftermath of Cyclone Chido on Mayotte. European markets outside France remain underrepresented, particularly Germany, which has not recovered to pre-Covid levels.
Frankfurt in sights: Air Austral's German strategy
To rebalance its visitor mix, the Réunion Tourism Committee (CRT) — created from the merger of two bodies — has announced a partnership between Air Austral and German carrier Condor to open a route between Frankfurt and Réunion via Mauritius. Germany is one of the world's largest outbound tourism markets, and its travellers favour long-stay, high-spending holidays — a profile perfectly aligned with the premium offer Réunion is developing.
« The goal is to stop depending on a single source market and to spread visitor flows throughout the year », said Patrick Lebreton, CRT President. Hotel capacity expansion projects are underway to support this move upmarket.
Persistent structural weaknesses
While overall figures are encouraging, value for money remains the territory's weak point: only 67.4% of visitors express satisfaction on this criterion. Short-term rentals dominate commercial accommodation for the fifth consecutive year, to the detriment of hotels struggling to restructure. The challenge of deseasoning — spreading tourist flows throughout the year — remains central to the CRT roadmap.
Why it matters
Tourism directly impacts employment, the balance of payments, and economic diversification in Réunion. With a structurally dominant mainland French market and a fragile Indian Ocean zone, the opening towards Germany is a major strategic bet. If the Frankfurt-Réunion route materialises, it could inaugurate a new premium era for the island — provided that accommodation supply and visitor experience keep pace.
Sources: Regional Tourism Observatory (IRT), Outremers360, Souslesetoiles974.re — 2026.