Paris in Olympic glory: Tourism sector satisfied with summer games
The Olympic Summer Games concluded on Sunday evening with a colorful closing ceremony. The initial tourism figures for the capital region, covering the period from July 23 to August 11, indicate that the 11.2 million spectators roughly matched the expected 11.3 million and were on par with the number of visitors during the same period last year.
Paris, already a "very touristy capital," faced the challenge of emphasizing additional values during the Olympics, said Corinne Menegaux, the general director of the tourism office. She highlighted themes such as sustainability, mobility, and water quality in the capital. "The Olympics were a great way to highlight all of that," she said.
Now, the industry hopes for a good Paralympics season and positive effects for the rest of the year and the next two to three years, Menegaux emphasized. Around four million spectators are expected for the Paralympic Games, mainly from France.
During the Olympics, 85% of spectators were from France, with 45% from the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris. Of the 15% international visitors, the most came from the US, Germany, and the UK, with more present in Paris than in the same period last year.
After a slow start in July, hotels in central Paris enjoyed an 84% occupancy rate during the games, ten percentage points higher than the previous year. High-end hotels and accommodations particularly benefited. Other host cities like Lille, Marseille, and Châteauroux also saw increases in overnight stays by both domestic and international guests.
Market research firm MKG estimated that French hotel operators made a profit of 357 million euros, which should offset the gloomy period before the games. According to MKG, room prices were sometimes more than double what they were before.
The excitement around the games also boosted the earnings of short-term rental operators like Airbnb and Abritel. According to AirDNA, a company specializing in such rentals, occupancy in Paris during the games was 62%, higher than the previous year.
However, not all businesses benefited. Restaurants and shops away from the venues and fan zones, museums, and usually popular destinations like Disneyland Paris saw a decrease in visitors. Menegaux from the Paris tourism office noted that this was not "normal tourist behavior" for those in Paris for the games.
Despite this, Menegaux looks optimistically to the future. She expects the next tourists to be drawn to Paris by the atmosphere and the successful organization of the games.
Shine once again, Paris, as the Paralympic Games are set to highlight the city's commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. The city's hotels and accommodations, already prospering during the Olympics, anticipate continued success, aiming to shine brightly for the incoming Paralympic spectators.
