The French overseas territories are launching a new initiative to attract tourists from Northern Europe, particularly Scandinavia, where people are said to have "a need for light" and enjoy higher average salaries. Tourism is a crucial part of the economy in these regions, contributing about 10% of their GDP, according to Régis Cario from the Directorate General of Overseas Affairs (DGOM). In Réunion, for example, most visitors have traditionally come from the French mainland, but the island is now aiming to attract more tourists from Northern Europe, as explained by Lavinia Joseph, director of the Réunion tourism committee. This effort includes attending events like the third "Overseas Workshop," held in Paris, where representatives from six other overseas territories and Wallis and Futuna met with 44 tour operators from eight European markets, including the Baltic countries for the first time. The push to target Northern Europe is based on several factors. Benoît Chollet, director of Nordic and Baltic countries for Atout France, the French tourism development agency, notes that people from these small countries, with high salaries and a love for travel, are "willing to travel far" and often seek destinations with natural light. Additionally, they tend to be environmentally conscious, a trait that aligns with the overseas territories' emphasis on sustainability. "They are all a little like Greta Thunberg," Chollet quipped, highlighting the shared values between Northern European tourists and the French overseas regions. Recent changes in flight routes have also contributed to this shift. Air France moved flights to the overseas territories from Orly Airport to Roissy-Charles de Gaulle in the spring, resulting in a "very good dynamic" and a more than 65% increase in bookings from Northern Europe to the overseas departments between April and August. Jérémy Baumann, Air France’s Caribbean commercial director, anticipates that this trend could lead to 3,000 additional visitors annually if it continues. For Morad Tayebi, head of the Europe agency of the Guadeloupe Islands tourism committee, the move to Roissy is a "game changer," as it simplifies the travel experience for European tourists. He is focused on attracting "tourists with high contribution value" who stay longer and spend more, rather than the large resorts seen in places like the Dominican Republic. In the Pacific, Aircalin is also capitalizing on this growing interest, offering a route from Paris to New Caledonia via Bangkok since December 2024. This connection is seen as a "springboard" for exploring the French archipelago. Meanwhile, French Polynesia is emerging from a period of record tourist numbers, with around 281,000 visitors in 2025, and Europe remains its top market in terms of both volume and overnight stays. According to Vaihere Lissant, director general of Tahiti Tourism, Northern European tourists are a "captive clientele" due to their affluence and interest in unique travel experiences. With these efforts, the French government aims to reach a tourism revenue target of 100 billion euros by 2030, up from 77.5 billion euros currently, viewing the overseas territories as an essential asset in achieving this goal.