Parisian business owners and hotel managers were promised a summer like no other as millions of tourists were expected to flood the French capital for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This influx was anticipated to generate substantial profits for Paris and its surrounding region. However, as the Games concluded, many in the Paris service industry are reporting that it was one of their worst summers ever, primarily due to security restrictions imposed around city-center Olympic venues.
Tom Denaive, who operates a family jewelry store situated between the Louvre Museum and Place de la Concorde—locations that hosted multiple Olympic events—described the season as “dramatic.” The situation worsened in mid-June when the nearest metro station was closed, followed by restricted access to the scenic Tuileries Garden. A week before the opening ceremony on the River Seine, the nearby rue de Rivoli, a crucial pedestrian and commercial artery, was also shut down. Denaive compared the atmosphere to the quieter periods experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting, “It was a dead street.”
Similarly, rue Saint-Honoré, renowned for its prestigious hotels and haute couture shops, also saw a significant downturn. Marina Orlando, store manager at the luxury candle brand Diptyque, reported a 29% drop in sales for August compared to the previous year. Despite the extensive preparations and sacrifices made to be present for the Games, Orlando and others found their stores bustling with staff but nearly devoid of customers. The influx of tourists did not translate into increased shopping activity, as many were focused on attending the sports events and had little budget left for retail purchases.
The government’s data showed a notable rise in tourist numbers, with approximately 1.7 million international visitors and 1.4 million French tourists coming to Paris during the Olympics. Olivia Grégoire from the ministry of companies, tourism, and consumption expressed optimism about France’s tourism outlook, asserting that the country might surpass last year’s record-breaking numbers. However, many business owners, like Patrick Aboukrat and those in the Île de la Cité, experienced severe financial setbacks due to the security barriers and restrictions. A commission has been established to address financial compensation requests from affected businesses, with assessments to begin in January.
