Businesses near Paris’s competition sites are finally seeing an uptick in visitor numbers after a significant slump in June and July due to security measures. Despite expecting 15 million visitors during the Olympic games, restaurant and bar owners in the area did not experience the boom in business they anticipated. Many establishments reported losses ranging from 30% to 60% in visitor numbers in the lead-up to the events.
Restaurants like Apollon and Le Centenaire had to remove their terraces and lost a significant portion of their seating capacity due to security measures, resulting in price increases and early closures. However, some businesses, like the Bar du Central, saw a small increase in clientele since the Olympics began.
Outside the competition sites, the situation is bleaker, with establishments losing revenue due to the lack of locals and tourists. Despite the initial setbacks, restaurant owners are optimistic about the upcoming Paralympic Games and the long-term benefits of the Olympics in terms of increased tourism.
Overall, there is hope that the publicity generated by the Olympics will attract more visitors to Paris in the coming years, with the city already seeing a 20% increase in visitors at the end of July compared to the same period in 2023. While there is disappointment over the initial impact on businesses, there is a belief that Paris will see a nice influx of tourists at the end of the year and the beginning of 2025.
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