Visa data shows boost in tourism in France as the Olympic Games Paris 2024 come to a close

• 42 percent more tourists traveled to Paris in the first week of the Olympic Games, with US Visa cardholders representing the largest share of visitors (72 percent, year-on-year increase)
• Significant increase in travellers to other cities hosting Olympic Games events, including Lille, Saint-Etienne and Marseille
• Biggest spend came from fans who attended the competitions compared to those who did not 

As the Olympic Games Paris 2024 ended with the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, Visa, the Official Payment Technology Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, issued further data revealing the positive impact of Paris 2024 on tourism and spending in France. Not only did Paris attract 42 percent more Visa cardholders in the first week of the Olympic Games than in the same period in 2023, but other cities hosting Olympic Games events also saw significant increases in visitors and spending, especially among fans who attended the competitions.

Paris cementing its leadership as a global destination^[1]

• 42 percent increase in the number of Visa cardholders who travelled to Paris for the Olympic Games Paris 2024
• Other Paris 2024 host cities benefited from the Olympic Games, with Lille seeing a 188 percent increase in visitors, Saint-Etienne 150 percent, and Marseille 48 percent
• Visa cardholders from the US are the largest share of visitors from any country with a 72 percent year-on-year growth, followed by Latin America and the Caribbean (+62 percent) and Asia Pacific (+57 percent)
• Visa cardholders from Europe also traveled to France, including the UK (+53 percent) and Germany (+53 percent)

Top spending patterns^[2]

• Visa cardholders spent more in Paris than in the previous year, with the UK leading the year-on-year growth with a 42 percent increase in their spending, followed by Latin America and the Caribbean (+34 percent) and US (+32 percent)
• Visa cardholders who attended Paris 2024 competitions spent 20 percent more than those who did not, with 39 percent of European fans (excluding France) spending more
• The most significant year-on-year increase in spending levels in Paris was seen in restaurants +49 percent

Charlotte Hogg, Chief Executive Officer of Visa Europe, said: “Our data shows a boost for the Parisian economy from hosting the Olympic Games. Paris has consistently been one of the most visited cities in the world, but I’m sure that the amazing experience of being in the city for the Olympic Games or watching the events at the many iconic venues from afar will draw many more visitors in the years to come. We’re delighted to have played our part in making the Olympic Games Paris 2024 a truly unforgettable experience.”

Visa’s responsibility to provide payment systems for the Olympic and Paralympic Games requires a robust and venue-specific plan combined with large-scale operations. Working hand-in-hand with the Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the last three years, Visa has built a custom payment network across Paris and beyond, which ensures Visa contactless payments are accepted at 3,500 points of sale across 32 Olympic venues and 16 Paralympic venues.

Visa has launched the Visa Go app to connect spectators and tourists with local businesses during Paris 2024.

Image courtesy of Pexels. Photo credit: Naro K. 

^[1] Figures compare the periods from 2024-04-01 to 2024-08-02 with 2023-04-01 to 2023-08-02.

^[2] Figures describe in-person transactions in Paris between 2024-07-26 to 2024-08-02.