Paris tourism industry takes hit during Olympics

While big crowds have gathered to watch the Olympic Games, the tourism industry in Paris has taken a surprising hit this summer. Elaine Cobbe explains why.
"CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell" delivers the latest news and original reporting, and goes beyond the headlines with context and depth. Catch the "CBS Evening News" every weekday night at 6:30 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network and at 10 p.m. ET on the CBS News app.
Subscribe to the "CBS Evening News" KZbin channel: / cbseveningnews
Watch full episodes of "CBS Evening News": cbsnews.com/ev...
Follow "CBS Evening News" on Instagram: / cbseveningnews
Like "CBS Evening News" on Facebook: / cbseveningnews
Follow "CBS Evening News" on X: x.com/CBSEveni...
Download the CBS News app: cbsnews.com/ne...
Try Paramount+ free: paramountplus....
For video licensing inquiries, contact: [e-mail]

[@ARM317]

Don't want to hear it, hotels jacked up the hotel prices 3 and 4 times normal rates. They can only blame themselves for this.

[@ducat7493]

Same for airBnB owner

[@davecheng4201]

Exactly. Reap what you sow. Unfortunately, the local business owners like cafes/restaurants suffer.

[@Nornapeln]

Keep in mind that hospitality prices skyrocketed. That decline is the cost of their own greed

[@sushifornico]

happens everywhere - regardless of olympics, world cup, major concerts etc

[@jaycho6747]

“Ha Ha!!…” -Nelson Muntz

[@milhouse14]

This is not news. If i want to visit Paris then I'll do it after the Olympics. It's just plain common sense.

[@eddieg6436]

Beautiful city……..that I would NEVER VISIT during the Olympics, or any other huge event.

[@luvzfrance24]

You couldn't pay me to get in that crowd! I was there last year between the last week of June/first week of July and I hated the crowds then and it wasn't the summer peak yet.

[@jeffreymorrison2208]

People are more informed, i was planning a trip but we got advanced price notice ... all of france figured they would suck tourist dry. No thanks ... lots of surounding great places to spend ur money... paris is not one of them this year.

[@dfa3366]

Paris is Paris. Really does not need the Olympics to showcase their city. If I'm planning a visit to Paris and not interested in the Olympics I too would avoid going during the 16 days. I'll chose other times.

[@aab4219]

If it's not unusual to see tourism drop. Then why are you even covering this story

[@jcbbb]

@@aab4219 because it is but as demonstrated by the bots in the comments they want it to appear like something it’s not

[@aab4219]

@@jcbbb Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, just upset he wasn't invited

[@smrk2452]

Bc they can’t talk about what’s really going on.

[@Kenzie_Hill]

Reporter forgot to mention the price hike (tripled price of a hotel room; hotel tax added just for the olympics; record crowds; and half the sites were completely closed or pre-booked and walk-ins were turned away. Olympics didn't help, but the city and hotels sure were making money in other ways (just not food)

[@gabrielcarvalho6085]

WHO named Paris as their favorite vacation destination? WHO?

[@erniekwok2752]

not me, it is among the worst places I visited.. a huge regret

[@gabrielcarvalho6085]

@@erniekwok2752 I do not regret, I’m glad that I’ve visited before spending an special moment in the worst place in Europe, like a honeymoon or graduation trip!

[@AZ-vu3wu]

lol Americans France is prob one of their favorite countries out of the 6 they know

[@erniekwok2752]

@@AZ-vu3wu france is a dump

[@vincesales1271]

I was in Paris during the Olympics. And, because of the overall positive experience I had visiting the city in terms of its transportation system, the food, the welcoming neighborhood atmosphere and people, the museums and how they curated items from their exhibition to the Olympic celebration, I will definitely visit Paris again and again. The French did an excellent job! Beyond the medals, the heroic athletes, the other champion is Paris!

[@veronicav2478]

I agree, I just came back 2 days ago with 2 family members and we had a great time 😁

[@anamilena3257]

I second (or third!) your comment! I can’t get over the spectacular Paris I enjoyed just about 10 days ago. I’m sure the atmosphere will be entirely different when returning, but I’m always thankful to have enjoyed the hospitality of such a lovely city during the games.

[@patricktam4278]

Seems like Olympics host cities don’t seem to see a whole lot of increased revenue in tourism from it in general and really end up losing after you take into account the cost of all the infrastructure upgrades cities do to accommodate it.

[@disneyfan8178]

Yes, at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, places such as Disneyland had a decline in attendance during the Games.

[@alexghaddar]

Inflation and over pricing stuff man. Unacceptable!

[@tiamarrow6366]

Just to remind everyone…..most local Parisian’s go on vacation around this time so most places just aren’t open…..

[@jcbbb]

@@tiamarrow6366 totally false and quick check of your comments show some type of bot as we’ve become accustomed to

[@Nat007_]

As a French I absolutely agree ! Everything is closed in August ! I enjoy it so much as the streets are empty

[@Litheas]

You take the same date but on previous years then you'll end up noticing that it is crowded. Go check on Google streetview for example, you'll see that Paris is crowded during summer. Especially the restaurants. Just that Olympics' organisation ruined the tourism with everything blocking the way and view...

[@s.p.8803]

Nonsense. Some administrations, repair shops and such are limited. The rest is opened as usual.

[@Nat007_]

@@s.p.8803 Nope, Museums, and certain entertainment places are not opened as usual. I was born here, please you cannot teach me how my country is running

[@user-zn5qg4se6q]

Wanted to go to paris in sept! Nothing in the city under ,$250 nite! Cant afford! Copenhagen it is!!

[@annabarr1304]

You can stay in cute villages like Chantilly for under 100€ a night and take the train in for less than 30min. I do when I travel most major cities. I actually find it more relaxed this way.

[@waysandmeans3984]

Parisians are rude

[@totesgene]

Perhaps it’s a YOU issue. I’ve been to Paris many times and have not experienced rudeness. Perhaps that’s because I don’t just assume everyone speaks English.

[@joelcleare]

Yep. We skipped Paris this year. They may make it up next summer.

[@sundragon7703]

In a way, hotel vacancies are a good thing. Athletes able to flee the Olympic Village (in search of air conditioning and comfy beds) can find accommodations.

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

I postponed my trip to Mt St Michelle, don't want to deal with crowds, extra security and inflated prices. It'll be my 6th or 7th trips to France 😊 i love Nice and the French Riviera

[@s.p.8803]

*Michel

[@MrTM4]

Was there at start of october and just 30min before opening. Weather was rainy, but whole castle village to ourselves until midday. 🥳🥳🙏

[@puccaland]

The decrease was before the Olympics. So far there is a 30% increase of American tourists so maybe people just postponed their trip to be at the Olympics and after the Olympics. We will know more at the end of the year.

[@benfreiler4054]

I went to Paris in December 2022 and a lot of the city was looking pretty rough tbh. My hotel was less than a 10 minute walk from The Louvre. I would like to see the city as it is now, during the summer and cleaned up for the games, to see the difference.

[@mxweng]

Greed. Most of them (hotels, Airbnbs) refuse to lower the price, so I decided not to go this year. French food looks artistic but tastes bland and very expensive. The only thing I found was Evian bottle water (less than 1 euro per bottle).

[@MarquisVonLion]

Good, restaurants are overpriced anyway ;>)

[@puccaland]

In tourist traps only

[@annabarr1304]

In Paris yes, in the countryside and smaller french cities you can find some affordable gems in the Michelin guide easily under 50€

[@MarquisVonLion]

@@annabarr1304 Good to know ;>) Thanks

[@JoseTwitterFan]

Not to mention airfares are sky-high during the Olympics and cheaper during the subsequent Paralympics.

[@xyloren2870]

Nah, I've lost interest going there. Paris seems like a third country now.

[@christophermichaelclarence6003]

It is a bloody Third country. A city of dumb in most areas in Paris

[@okaybud-k4v]

Yeah, it’s not worth going there

[@christophermichaelclarence6003]

@@okaybud-k4v Indeed. Absolutely not worth it to visit Paris. There’s not much to see there. Explore it’s countryside

[@johncote2776]

Follow up after the games

[@sergiosantos2498]

I was there two weeks before the games…the city was packed and the hotels were more expensive than normal.

[@MrBucketlist]

I'm sure that the opening ceremony during the Olympics had people so excited to visit that dump.

[@ApprenPlayer]

The last time that the Olympic tourism was Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

[@Halcon_Sierreno]

To be fair overly tourists places really suck.

[@nyasak721]

With the usual metro price of 2.10€ being 4€ during the Olympics, I skipped my annual month in Paris this July. Everything was going to cost more and some metro stops are closed. No thanks. See you next year.

[@christophermichaelclarence6003]

Wise choise. You could come over to Paris this Winter. I bloody hate Summer, gets getting hot each year Here’s something much outrageous, if you’re planning to buy a pack of tickets during the Olympic Games, 20 tickets. It will cost you around 32€ instead of 14.

[@letsgowalk]

Nobody goes there anymore! It’s too crowded! -Yogi Berra

[@pamelawing5747]

Well duh. What a scoop. I wouldn't got anywhere near Paris right now. Plus it hot and icky. A lot of the hotels are not air conditioned and summer is not a time I ever go. Fall is really nice.

[@patstar5]

Who would want to visit Paris, it’s a sht hole.

[@fuzzy1237]

Horrible place

[@design6282]

Very similar to what happened to Las Vegas during the F1 race. This is just natural but parents will rebound shortly after once the Olympics are over and everything's cleaned up. They'll do just fine. Think of it as a 12 billion dollar advertisement for the long run. And plus they got a lot of infrastructure upgrades.

[@jaiho9442]

Inflation in Western countries has skyrocketed. I rather go to Asia instead. Much better food, nicer people, and very low crime.

[@flowersinherhair]

Shouldn't there be more tourists than usual?

[@christophermichaelclarence6003]

There usually a lot of Tourists in Paris. But with Olympic Games, the prices are soaring. You’ve got to make a choice. Watching the games or visiting Paris.

[@Reconseal4050]

Way too expensive and way too crowded during the games. If you came for the game then your just here for the games. No need to run up your spending even more! 😂

[@davemmar]

When I was in Paris for the 2019 Tour de France I visited the Louvre, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Rodan Museum and other sites. I purchased a one ticket buys all for about $200 which also included unlimited ride on the Metro. Plus I spent the day eating at fab restaurants, and buying paraphernalia so I am not sure these Olympics junkies aren’t just as free spending as me. I mean Paris and all it has to offer is just a fab place to explore.

[@baldeagle4710]

I mean I’m not visiting the louvre when USA basketball is playing in a gold medal game or when Simone biles is winning her 50th medal

[@bradleybruvva3021]

Paris didn’t exactly make themselves look too great during these Olympics.

[@stenbak88]

It’s all about the prices stop with the excuses. The government over taxes their citizens which in turn makes business raise prices

[@Motiv8_Motiv8]

I think we need to take a look at moving the olymics to the middle east or SE ASIA. Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, SIngapore?

[@CarlH08]

We were going to Paris this summer but decided to go to Italy instead. Hotel rooms are just too expensive for now. We’ll wait until november to go visit Paris instead.

[@ntatenarin]

People are "climbing" the Eiffel Tower? LOL, I'm actually imagining people doing that.

[@inquisitvem6723]

Their tourism didn’t decline. If anything, they have even more from those who came to see the Olympics and hotels all booked out with higher prices too.

[@user-ei7ud5oj5b]

What a great summer to visit Paris if you mixed Olympics with Parisien museums.

[@phihuynh131]

Paris is NOT the most visited city in the world 0:08 . It is Istanbul, Turkey

[@starsmoon0216]

Greedy hotels and restaurants jack up their prices to an unaffordable price for most people😡😡

[@nedludd7622]

No surprise for the International Olympics of Corruption.

[@gwapakaayobabe]

And, city of love it isn’t! They’re not really very hospitable there. Guess what, the citizen’s of its surrounding European countries like the Netherlands, Belgium or Germany, they would prefer to visit each other’s countries for the hospitality and cheaper prices. Nobody there (well maybe a few) would think of going to Paris first for a vacation..

[@ydne]

Only Paris could complain that the Olympics hurt visitation. Elder Autumn Buyer's tourism might thrive after the Olympic exposure? Something to tell their grand kids, who are now getting ready for school, about since they just saw the places on TV.

[@puccaland]

The decrease was before the Olympics and was only 15% for all the tourists. So far there is a 30% increase of American tourists so maybe people just postponed their trip to be at the Olympics and after the Olympics. We will know more at the end of the year.

[@nedludd7622]

​@@user-gi7vs2rp2qTransportation is easy? Metro stations closed, bus lines suspended. There a main line near me which is often closed in the afternoon to early evening and it is not near the center. Thousands of people use it daily for work. The Olympics are trash.

[@christophermichaelclarence6003]

​@@user-gi7vs2rp2qParis is apparently and actually the most visited country due to French sterotypes. Cuisine, arts, music, cheese, baguette

[@spacecadet2226]

They found Scary Spice!

[@GaGaObession]

I went to the Olympics mainly for the sports & to watch the events / soak up atmosphere! Walking around Paris in breaks between my events was just a bonus as a backdrop 🥳 a lot of people have already been to Paris, so visiting to the Louvre / going up the Eiffel Tower wasn’t a priority as mainly came to watch the sport & use up that time wisely

[@erniekwok2752]

no one climbs the tower.

[@randomtraveller8116]

Economic 101, price vs demand.

[@Rell791]

I hear those Arabs got their on game

[@LSAworship]

7 euro for a coke bottle at City Center restaurants.. no thanks. We were there Mid July.

[@Shh007]

Start treating tourist better! Stop jacking up the prices just because you’re a tourist.

[@bonniebob2802]

This isn’t unexpected considering Paris is so packed for the Olympics with fans. I know in the USA we have been breaking traveling records every couple months so people just going to less crowded or crazy locations. Paris will be back after Olympics.

[@puccaland]

The decrease was before the Olympics. So far there is a 30% increase of American tourists so maybe people just postponed their trip to be at the Olympics and after the Olympics. We will know more at the end of the year.

[@brentday5388]

I wouldn't want to waste money watching a man beat on a woman the Olympics is going down hill

[@yvonneplant9434]

Can you identify the countries where those people are from on a map?? 😂 At least they're white so that part should work for you! 😅

[@puccaland]

What are you talking about?

[@user-jz8rd4ly4c]

The majority of people who watch the Olympics don't care about the issue you people are making. Chromosomes are not a perfect indicator for determining biological sex, please educate yourself. No man has fought a woman.

[@mandelm2001]

What a bizarre take.

[@edmerc92]

Long term, it won't matter. The Olympics have been a massive showcase for the city and it will probably break tourism records after this.

[@erniekwok2752]

Paris is my worst place visited.

[@posthocprior]

Paris is not the most visited city in the world. Bangkok, Thailand surpassed Paris, last year, to become the most visited city in the world.

[@Lexispicebaby]

They said ONE of the most

[@jenniferrosal185]

No , it was Istanbul, Turkey.

[@amazinggirl12]

If it’s going to make up for it why is this news?

[@BA-mv8pp]

My wide is half French, we've visited a couple times. Paris is over rated. The Louvre is nice for sure, and the architecture. But you can get world class sites in other cities around the globe. Paris is dirty in a lot of areas, a surprising number of graffiti filled slums, and pricey as @@@@.

[@allanmejorada5846]

With many pickpockets where french police cant do.... no, thank you!

[@johntexas7493]

Only politicians makes money in this olympic

[@VVV953]

Yeah I'm sure it has nothing to do with your political party

[@Bitter_Pill_]

In other words, Olympics fans are BROKE.

[@SnowiiAj]

Paris still have to recover on the useless waste of money they spent on failing to clean the sewer 1.5 bilion btw 😂

[@erniekwok2752]

if I want to support Paris.. I would go to a real business owned by a french.. not an American transplant.

[@smrk2452]

I think too many people are so offended by the opening ceremony that they’ll never visit Paris again.

[@jcbbb]

Maybe feeling like the demons are tryin to summon the antichrist wasn't a great tourism strategy idk *shrug emoji*

[@tiamarrow6366]

WTF? You make no sense bro 😂

[@jeffreymorrison2208]

Yea, that didnt help. I saw what u saw 100%

[@jeffreymorrison2208]

​@tiamarrow6366 most without a 6th and 7th sense never see demons. Count yourself lucky and live your life under your blessing.

[@flowersinherhair]

Mocking Jesus usually a mistake

[@occitaniejemesouviens7508]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@annachern6976]

Paris...yuk. Why would you go there at all?

[@s.p.8803]

Because it's a beautiful and extremely interesting city

[@annachern6976]

@@s.p.8803 that's why tourism is 15% down during the olympics 🤣🤣

[@christophermichaelclarence6003]

​@@s.p.8803you mean a bloody cuty that used to to be Monarchy for over ahundred years like our land Great Britain.

[@MatthewBookof2]

I’ve been to Paris, Va. but wouldn’t go to France if it was free. Just another city.

[@s.p.8803]

Your loss

[@MatthewBookof2]

@@s.p.8803 Nope.

[@evanmurphey]

If Paris is as gay and overrated as I’ve seen on TV I’ll surely never be stepping foot there

[@whiteybester9160]

Who cares. Paris must fall

[@christophermichaelclarence6003]

Bloody hell yeah

[@youngroyalty86]

Bedbugs and overpriced maybe lol

[@puccaland]

What bedbugs? Only tourist traps are overpriced.

[@GreySky-s1m]

Paris is a dump. I’d much rather vacation in SE Asia. Much nicer people and cheaper.

[@user-bm4ic4kx2w]

Looks like its Americans fault

[@puccaland]

The decrease was before the Olympics and was only 15% for all the tourists. So far there is a 30% increase of American tourists so maybe people just postponed their trip to be at the Olympics and after the Olympics. We will know more at the end of the year.

[@pavelstoikov3780]

Gay Olympics trans Olympics god job :D

[@fredly3303]

Good. Woke olympics is awful.

[@sugarmagnolia1475]

2028 🇭🇹 🇭🇹 Haiti 🇭🇹 They speak french for a reason

[@Nat007_]

Most visited city in the world ? London no ?

[@s.p.8803]

Nope