The Paris Olympics 2024 attracted millions of tourists to the capital of France, which brought noticeable benefits to the hotel industry, although not all sectors of the economy felt the affirmative impact of the event. The French tourist industry, despite first difficulties, yet noted an increased number of hotels, although at the same time any tourist attractions, restaurants and another cities lost attendance.
Statistics and location of hotels
According to a study published by the Paris Tourist Office on 12 August, between 23 July and 11 August 2024, Paris visited 11.2 million people who participated in events related to the Games. Interestingly, although this figure did not exceed the results of 2023, it was very close to the mark of 11.3 million visitors.
A large part of the tourists were French – up to 85% of the full number, of which 45% came from the Ile-de-France region. In turn, 15% of tourists were foreigners, mainly from the USA, Germany and large Britain. It is worth noting that the number of abroad tourists was higher than in the same period of 2023, which shows an expanding interest in Paris internationally.
Paris hotels recorded an 84% bet, an increase of 10 percent points compared to the same period in 2023. In particular, luxury hotels have achieved awesome results, with 85.5% of them being covered, which means an increase of 16.5 percent points. The benefits of this were not limited only to Paris, but besides to another cities hosting Olympic competitions specified as Lille, Marseille or Châteauroux, where the number of overnight stays purchased increased by 16% respectively for home tourists and 18% for abroad tourists. The full profit for hoteliers across France is estimated at EUR 357 million.
Impact on another tourism sectors
Unfortunately, not all tourism sectors have felt the affirmative impact of the games. Restaurants and hotel owners distant from Olympic competitions, as well as popular tourist attractions, reported a decline in attendance. An example is Disneyland Paris, which noted a crucial decrease in the number of visitors during this period. In addition, tourists visiting Paris frequently gave up visiting museums or eating in restaurants, which had a direct impact on the gross of these industries.
Future projections
Despite any difficulties, the overall impact of the Olympics on tourism in Paris was assessed positively by experts. The general manager of the Paris Tourist Office, Corinne Menegaux, expressed hope that the effects of the Games would have a long-term impact on the number of tourists visiting the capital of France. According to her, it can be expected that the games will exert a "lease effect" on tourism for the next 2 to 3 years.
It is besides worth noting that the upcoming Paralympic Games, which are to attract about 4 million additional guests, of which 90% are French, can besides contribute to a further increase in the number of tourists. In total, August 2024 can attract up to 15 million visitors to Paris.
Summary
The Paris Olympic Games 2024 had a crucial impact on the tourist manufacture in France, especially the hotel sector, which saw a crucial increase in the overlap. Despite any challenges, specified as the decline in attendance in restaurants and museums, the overall balance seems to be positive, and future years may bring further benefits from the alleged leverage effect. The tourism manufacture in France is looking forward to further events that will attract even more tourists.
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The impact of the Olympic Games in Paris on tourism and the hotel industry
