Paris in August usually is a Paris with fewer Parisians and a lot of tourists. But this year, because of the health context foreign tourists are not there. As for tourism, the year 2020 looks very bad for Île-de-France: since the beginning of 2020, the region records 16 million fewer visitors. A loss that could go on for the rest of the year depending on the evolution of the coronavirus epidemic.
This slow-down is highly noticeable in Paris. In the world before, the Seine was full of bateaux-mouches crowded with tourists greeting passersby relaxing on the quays. Now, these boat cruises sails in Paris but with a handful of passengers on board (but the enthusiastic waving-hello still go on). Along the quays, second-hand book sellers are trying to survive: even though listed as UNESCO intangible heritage, their profession that also makes Paris’ charm is now in a difficult position. For them, recovering after lockdown has been hard.
Amid summer sales in department stores that are usually stormed, it is much calmer. The most touristic sites are relatively empty: a 5-minute waiting time to go to the Eiffel Tower – it would have been unthinkable in normal times! For some of these places, a gauge limiting the access could explain this exceptional slow down, but this is not the only factor: for the Louvre, foreign travelers represent about 75% of the visitors.
And this is an opportunity that all those staying in Paris have grabbed and many of them have started a museum marathon and discover the greatest landmarks in Paris as they are less crowded. And economically-speaking, it is a hard blow.
In this gourmet capital, it is not rare to see new gourmet addresses. As soon as they are closed, they are replaced, and in some streets, they even play musical chairs. And yet, more and more curtains remain down. The transport strike and coronavirus epidemic combo would have had the best of some restaurants. And gourmet restaurants are not safe either.
As for hotels, the assess is not encouraging. The most famous palaces in Paris delay their reopening, as they lack bookings. Interviewed by 20 Minutes, Protourisme office director general Didier Arino says in July the amount of nights decreased by 70%. In Paris, half of hotels are closed and state a 35% occupational rate, which means it is 30 points below the average enabling to be harmonious.
