Parisians will flee the Olympic Games due to an avalanche of tourists

Parisians will “flee” the French capital from July 26 to August 11, 2024, when the 2024 Olympic Games will be held there, due to the arrival of tourists from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Spain, Germany and France itself.

While international travelers flock to Paris for the Olympics, Parisians are opting for domestic tourism in different parts of the country, said Noreen Henry, chief revenue officer at Sojern.

At this point, hotel reservations by Parisians traveling to other places in France increased by 49 percent during the season compared to 2023, added the management of the platform designed to boost the growth and profitability of the travel industry .

The 2024 Summer Olympics will bring together 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), representing nations around the world. The games will be the largest event ever organized in France.

Obviously, Paris is already a magnet for tourists, as 6,300,000 tourists visited the Eiffel Tower in 2023, exceeding pre-Covid-19 tourism. The Olympic Games will reinforce its place as a priority destination for travelers.

On November 30, 2023, tickets for the 33rd Olympic Games went on sale and demand for travel to France has already increased significantly.

“For the Olympic Games period in 2024, flight bookings – not just searches – to Paris have increased by 125% compared to the same travel period last year,” said Noreen Henry.

He added that most travelers plan to leave Paris the day the Olympics end, suggesting many are coming from countries where companies do not offer extended permits, such as the United States.

Paris has been a popular summer destination for travelers from around the world, and the Olympics will cement France’s place at the top of their lists.

According to Sojern flight booking data, 23.8% of bookings to Paris during the Olympic period come from the United States, making it the top country of origin internationally. They are followed by Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan and Spain. The United States led the medal count at the 2020 and 2016 Olympics, which may be contributing to demand.

Since Paris experiences strong travel demand during the summer, travelers should book their trips in advance during the games.

Lille, Nice, Corsica, Lyon and Toulouse are the main destinations for Parisians during this period, giving hoteliers across the country the opportunity to attract Parisians to their properties during the Olympic period, commented the chief revenue officer. from Sojern.

“We are excited about the growing interest in Lyon as a tourist destination, and we look forward to welcoming visitors before and after the Olympic events,” said Mathilde Carpentier, Director of Partnerships and Promotion at Only Lyon Tourisme et Congrès.

“Lyon, just 2 hours by train from Paris, offers the perfect combination of sports, gastronomy, culture and the renowned Art of living French,” commented the tourism promoter in Lyon.

“Having recently hosted major events such as the Women’s Football World Cup and the Rugby World Cup, we are well prepared to deliver a memorable French experience,” he added.

“Whether they come from near or far, Lyon aims to take advantage of growing travel demand to establish a lasting appeal for new visitors,” said Mathilde Carpentier.