Reflections on Paris Olympics 2024 and Global Tourism

The top most attractive event for 2024 is no doubt the Paris Olympics 2024. Held in one of the most unique cities around the world, Paris, the capital city of France, has a long standing as a city defined by luxury and aesthetics.

As CCN highlighted prior to the Olympics, “This summer, crowds are expected to flock to Paris for the summer Olympic games... and almost every aspect of visiting the French capital is likely to become trop cher for ordinary travelers.” And even though Paris occupies the 12th position on the list of the most beautiful cities around the world according to the UK's Online Mortgage Advisor site, the globally acknowledged culturally rich city received massive visitors for the Olympics.

According to Visa, a world leader in digital payments, there was a 42% increase in the number of Visa cardholders who traveled to Paris during the first week of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Moreover, other Paris 2024 host cities like Saint-Etienne and Marseille benefited from the Olympic Games with a significant increase in the percentage of visitors.

Again, interestingly, Forbes also reports that Americans were the largest group visiting Paris for the Olympics—there have never been more U.S. visitors in the capital—around 136,000 people, 15% of the total number. The country welcomed thousands of visitors from around the world. France was really a big hit for tourists in 2024.

There was also a surge in the population within the country; restaurants, hotels, iconic historical places, among others, and businesses had a swell time. Customers had a variety of options to choose from when it comes to dining experiences. Airbnb, for instance, which is notable for enabling tourists to have a seamless hospitality experience, recorded a significant boost in bookings.

With the experience and leisure opportunity for visitors, France has for sure left a footprint on the minds of tourists. The country might be seeing a boost in its hospitality industry.