The Olympics Have Scared Tourists Away from Paris This Summer
The world’s stage isn’t going to be as much of a boon for certain industries as previously expected.
As the greatest athletes in the world begin to descend on Paris for the Summer 2024 Olympics, it appears not very many other people are doing the same—or at least not as many as were anticipated. Like any other Olympics, Paris was expecting the games to draw in hundreds of thousands of tourists. Paris even became the first host city to launch an official hospitality platform in a push to help visitors to the city seamlessly navigate events, hotels, and other trip planning matters.
But all of this Olympics excitement is not translating into the crowds of tourists that people—particularly hotel owners—were expecting. According to a new report by Euro News, hotel occupancy in Paris is down 25% compared to the same period in previous years.
"I think the Olympic Games effect is counter-productive since everything is very expensive," one Parisian hotel director told Euro News.
During June 2023, hotel occupancy was at 90% according to France’s National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. Hotels are now reporting occupancy being as low as 60%. The hotels aren’t the only industry to suffer ahead of the games, either. According to Air France, the official airline partner for the Olympics, flights to and from Paris have dipped significantly during the Olympics, and are much lower than expected.
So what’s driving tourists away from Paris and its many hotels?
The high markup prices in anticipation of the Olympics appear to be one key factor. According to Forbes, the Paris Olympics are on track to be the most expensive in history. Flight prices are marked up. Food is pricier. Hotels are more expensive. Museums are increasing admission fees. Even the metro tickets and tourist fees have been increased. On top of that, most people who have traditionally traveled to the City of Lights are in search of food and cultural experiences. As the Seine is preparing for swimmers and iconic landmarks are being transformed into sports venues, this demographic might be opting to come at a different time instead.
These aren't the only factors to consider, either. In preparation for the Olympics, there are also extensive traffic restrictions making the city impossible to navigate. The city is also currently the site of social unrest as its leadership has been accused of trying to push out migrants and homeless residents of the city, and a contentious and nation-defining election is taking place just weeks before the games are scheduled to start. Plus, Parisians aren’t overwhelmingly happy about hosting the games either—44% of Parisians say that hosting the Olympics is a “bad thing.”
Likely, tourists planning on going to the Olympics will be waiting until the last minute to book tickets and hotel rooms, in the hopes that prices will drop a bit more. But even if Paris doesn’t book out the way the city anticipates, it is still Paris. After the games, the city is likely to recoup its steady stream of visitors seeking its romantic streets, bountiful museums, and flaky croissants.
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