The 2024 Olympic Games started in Paris, tourists who want to have fun nearby the biggest sporting event in the world they booked tickets to visit the French capital, while “disaffected” Parisians … packed their bags for abroad.
Faced with a huge “wave” of tourists, Paris is expected to find itself at the Olympic Games, because in addition to the “ordinary” tourists who choose the French capital as a destination for their summer vacations, the city is also expected to include. travelers passing through there “especially” for the Olympics.
Paris is “drowning” with tourists
Since the biggest sporting event will be held from July 26 to August 11, together with the Paralympic Games that will start from August 28 and last until September 8, the visitors are estimated to be no less than 15.3 million, according to in data published in the French travel magazine “Sortir à Paris”.
As he wrote, it is a “frightening” number of people to crowd the streets of the capital, because the population of the Paris region is 12.4 million
Where he goes – the Parisians go
This influx of people in the French capital has angered many residents – who have been unhappy with the strict security measures and restrictions- and decided to pack for vacations in international destinations.
According to Mabrian’s research in collaboration with The Data Appeal Company (part of the Almawave Group), the demand for travel to international destinations from Paris airports increased by an average of around 12% compared to the corresponding weeks. last year.
In general, the connection from Paris to countries abroad registered an increase. In more detail, to the United States (+9.3%), to Morocco and the United Kingdom (from +13% per country) and other traditional summer destinations for French travelers such as Spain (+7%) shows a significant increase or Greece (+2.5%) a moderate increase.
The United States and Italy are the most sought-after destinations for the French during the Paris Olympics.
In the case of American destinations, Los Angeles (+80% compared to the same weeks in 2023), Miami (+74%) and New York (+42%), are the most popular destinations from Paris .
As for Italy, demand increased in Milan (double compared to the same period last year), Rome (+ 53% from last year) and Venice (+ 46%).
During the weeks of the Olympic Games, demand also increases in perennial favorite French cities such as London (+22% from last year), Barcelona (+19%) and Athens (15.3%). as well as the main summer destinations for medium and long trips such as Istanbul (+71% from last year), Tokyo (+45%) or Bangkok (+30%). Other destinations showing increased demand for Olympic weeks are Canada, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
However, as the deputy mayor of Paris, Pierre Rabandan, pointed out to France Bleu, the French capital will be able to welcome all these people because Paris is already “the most touristic city in the world” , while according to estimates, the influx. will be “a million or two more than usual”, because although many tourists will arrive, few locals will leave.