FRANCE | The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics have provided a boost to France's accommodation industry, according to Airbnb.
With just over a month to go until the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, interest in the event hass influenced how guests are travelling this summer. As of March 31st, nights booked during the dates of the Olympics are over five times (400 percent) higher than they were in the Paris region the same time a year ago. Paris, the most searched city on the platform during the event, has seen an all-time high for active listings. There’s an increase of nearly 40 percent in the Paris region compared to a year ago, as hosts prepare to welcome domestic and international travellers.
While guests from over 160 countries and regions have already booked their stays during the event, travellers coming from the US have led Olympics-related travel, booking more than 20 percent of stays in or near host cities during the Games. The big medal-winning countries of 2020 are also strongly represented in terms of the nationality of guests travelling to France during the Olympic Games: most of the 10 countries that have booked the most travel to France are among the top medal winners from Tokyo 2020. French guests are currently in third place in terms of nights booked, but domestic bookings are expected to increase closer to the event as most ticket-holders are French.
In terms of growth, Asian countries are on the leaderboard: Airbnb has witnessed the highest increase in travellers coming from Mainland China, India, Hong Kong (SAR) and Japan. This is followed by Czechia, Mexico, Ireland, Brazil, Luxembourg, and Colombia.
It’s not just central Paris drawing visitors this summer. Places like Saint-Denis, Châteauroux and Lille have also seen a significant rise in interest thanks to the strategic decision to host Paris 2024 throughout France.
Airbnb data revealed some of the top destinations outside central Paris favoured by different nationalities looking to support their national teams during the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. Dutch and Australian guests, among the top of the medal table for field hockey, booked the most nights to the Colombes area, where the sport will be played. One of the top destinations for Spaniards and Brazilians is Bordeaux, where their national football teams play two matches. One of the top destinations for Chinese guests is Vanves, near the venue for table tennis, a sport that the Chinese have long dominated.
“Airbnb will play an important role in accommodating the increased influx of visitors coming for the Games, providing varied and affordable lodging options and supporting the overall economic growth in areas that haven’t always benefited from tourism. The Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 highlights how Airbnb helps disperse travel and spreads economic benefits by allowing people to stay in local neighborhoods, close to Olympics venues, like Saint-Denis or smaller cities like Chateauroux,” said Clément Eulry, Country Manager for France and Belgium at Airbnb.
