2024 Summer Olympics are making waves in Paris, France, but local businesses are saying sales are anything but booming.
Despite the influx of visitors and tourists coming to watch the games, local business owners are reporting slow summer days due to several factors affecting the city and surrounding areas, including acts of vandalism and security issues.
In addition to increased security measures across the city, including metal detectors and police checkpoints, some landmarks and tourist attractions also have restricted and restricted access for visitors, meaning surrounding businesses are suffering.
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“It's been very slow since the beginning of June,” the owner of the menswear store told Jean-Pierre Salson. Associated Press. “July is worse. There are far fewer tourists, of all countries. I think they're avoiding France and Paris because they're afraid of the Olympics.”
While Parisian locals often opt to leave the city for summer vacations, tourists without tickets to the games are also avoiding the area.
In a joint statement Paris24a group of restaurant, hotel, retail and nightclub unions said that, despite optimistic forecasts, “many professionals have seen their incomes drop by 30 percent compared to previous years.”
Hotel prices have also risen, prompting visitors to choose other European countries to visit this summer.
“It's very quiet now,” said Guillaume Faller, a restaurant manager in Paris AP. “Much quieter than the same period last year. But I think it will pick up in a few days. I hope so, anyway.”
Airlines are also feeling the brunt.
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Earlier this month, Delta Airlines announced it was anticipating a $100 million quarterly loss due to the Olympics.
“If you're not going to the Olympics, people aren't going to Paris … very few are going,” CEO Ed Bastian said at the time. “Business travel, you know, other types of tourism are potentially going elsewhere.”
The 2024 Summer Olympics began on Friday, July 26 and continue until Sunday, August 11.