How the Olympics is Likely to Affect Tourists This Year

...and how this might shape (or change) your travel plans

Dear Subscribers,

I’ve gotten several e-mails over the past few months asking whether a planned trip to Paris for spring or summer this year should be delayed in light of the Summer Olympics, owing to fears that things will be simply too crowded, expensive and “intense” to enjoy the city in any normal way.

I’ve also gotten e-mails from readers who are excited at the prospect of being in town during the Games, are looking for ways to take part in some way even though they won’t likely get one of those elusive tickets— but are still anxious to know how to avoid some of the less palatable side effects of this massive event.

So I thought I’d tackle the question head-on and offer some data-driven observations around how the Olympics will likely affect visitors this year, both in the run-up to and during the Games.

One thing that’s certain is that for several months, the city will be somewhat unrecognizable. According to various estimates, including French economics paper Les Echos, some 15.3 million visitors are expected to throng on the capital to soak in the festivities and (if they’re lucky and/or affluent enough) attend the competitions.

Not incidentally, only around 22% of these visitors are expected to have tickets in hand— the rest are coming to soak in the excitement and perhaps try to steal fleeting glimpses of the opening ceremonies along the Seine.

{See related: Paris Firms up Plans for Opening Ceremonies}