Tarn-et-Garonne recorded 772,300 tourist overnight stays in July 2026, representing a 0.2 percent increase compared to July 2025 despite heatwaves and economic difficulties. The figures come from a seasonal report published by Tarn & Garonne Tourisme.
The overall stability in visitor numbers came despite severe heatwaves, wildfires, booking cancellations, inflation, and fuel costs. A survey of 192 tourism professionals showed that 60 percent experienced less activity than last year.
The four-day July 14 holiday weekend generated 73,000 overnight stays in the department. That figure represented an increase of 10,000 stays compared to the same holiday period in 2025.
International and domestic visitor markets
British tourists returned as the leading foreign market for Tarn-et-Garonne in July with 36,800 overnight stays. Visitors from Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United States followed in volume.
American visitors accounted for 4.5 percent of international overnight stays. That market grew by nearly 30 percent compared to the previous year.
French domestic visitors comprised the majority of tourists, with 27.6 percent coming from the Occitanie region. The Île-de-France region accounted for 18.9 percent of domestic visitors, while Nouvelle-Aquitaine generated 17.2 percent. Visitors from the neighboring Haute-Garonne department produced 14.1 percent of total stays, ahead of Gironde at 5.9 percent and Paris at 3.7 percent.
Accommodation performance and business outlook
Campsites struggled during July, with 61 percent of surveyed operators expressing dissatisfaction with their business. The heatwave discouraged campers, while booking visibility for August and September remains limited.
Hotels recorded relatively positive results, with 56 percent of operators reporting good business. Restaurants faced greater difficulty, as high outdoor temperatures left dining terraces unusable and resulted in dissatisfaction for 65 percent of operators.
The Gîtes de France network reported a 16.4 percent increase in business volume compared to 2025. Although total contract numbers dropped, higher average rental prices reflected strong demand for high-end gîtes.
Monique Ferrero, director of Gîtes de France, said there was less optimism for August, though last-minute bookings recorded in recent days for the second half of the month could tilt the balance favorably.
Seasonal rental platforms including AirBnB, Abritel, and Booking recorded a drop of nearly 6 percent in overnight stays compared to July 2025. Tarn & Garonne Tourisme noted that these platforms maintain a comfortable reserve following several strong months.
Early August activity remains slow across the department. Survey data from Tarn & Garonne Tourisme indicates that 35 percent of operators view August bookings as little encouraging, 20 percent view them as not encouraging at all, and 34 percent view them as fairly encouraging, while outlooks for September remain cautious.
Museums and swimming locations
Air-conditioned museums recorded a 7 percent increase in visitors compared to July 2025 as tourists sought relief from the heat. The Ingres-Bourdelle Museum in Montauban welcomed 6,540 visitors, driven by its Ingres and Fashion exhibition, where 6,500 people viewed the portrait of the Baroness de Rothschild.
The Moissac Abbey cloister recorded 6,788 visitors during the month. Other top destinations included the Bruniquel Castles with 4,642 visitors, Beaulieu Abbey in Ginals with 3,189, and the Altaïr museum barge at the Montech water slope with 2,723.
Swimming locations and water activities experienced a 40 percent jump in attendance compared to last year. The Ingréo pool in Montauban exceeded 30,000 entries, while the Saint-Sard'Ô leisure park in Saint-Sardos reached 8,574 entries following site upgrades, up from 3,426 last year.
River tourism and hiking trails
River tourism declined on the Canal des Deux-Mers, where 403 boat passages occurred in July compared to 591 last year. The drop was attributed to high temperatures and harbor fees.
Hiking results varied across routes in the department. Shaded trails near waterways saw increased traffic, with the GR 46 up 35.4 percent and the GR 36 up 21 percent. In contrast, the GR 65 route to Santiago de Compostela through Lauzerte, Moissac, and Auvillar recorded an 18.3 percent decline.
