Paris holidays: Falling prices spark surprise dip in tourist crowds

Despite concerns related to high prices and crowds before the Olympic Games, now might unexpectedly be a good time for a holiday in Paris, argues the BBC. The Olympics have deterred many tourists, and restaurateurs and hoteliers have been forced to lower prices to attract customers.

Sports fans might think that the capital of France has recently become the "centre of the world," but—as the BBC notes—the relatively quiet streets and empty tables in restaurants "tell a different story." Many Paris residents have left the city for the summer, and foreign tourists, contrary to appearances, have not shown up because they were scared off by inflated prices and crowds.

In recent days, the French media has mentioned, among other things, the surprise of Parisians who managed to get seats on the metro during peak hours. There has also been a sensation about an "abandoned Disneyland."

Local media noted that those who dreamed of having the famous amusement park "all to themselves" could fulfil this dream during the Olympic Games. The waiting time for the main attractions has been reduced from 30-45 minutes to a maximum of 10-15 minutes.

Initially, it was emphasised that staying in Paris during the Olympic Games was "only for the rich". However, hoteliers and restaurateurs told the BBC that they were forced to lower prices to attract customers. One Paris restaurateur stated that July was the worst month for him in 25 years because, as he explained, people still ordered meal deliveries even during the pandemic.

Raphael Batko, a representative of DoYield, a hotel marketing company, said that in June and July, an "avoidance effect" was observed. However, he added that the number of visitors has recently increased and is now satisfactory.

A restaurateur from the Latin Quarter (the university district of Paris) reported that one can now have a meal for €8. Average hotel prices have returned to €261 per night (last month, they were €347). The BBC also noted that lower rates apply to Airbnb.

The hotel reception manager admitted that bookings only reached normal levels after the rates were halved. Another BBC interviewee said that lowering prices was not enough to attract customers. – We didn't gain anything from the Olympics – she concluded.