The Atout France – France Tourism Development Agency has revealed how the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games contributed to one of the most memorable years for France’s travel industry.
The games provided a unique opportunity to showcase France’s rich heritage and strengthened its image as a must-visit destination. In total, 12 million tickets were sold for the games while nearly five billion viewers worldwide tuned in. Overall in 2024, France welcomed more than 100 million international tourists, generating €71 billion in revenue.
Nathalie Delattre, France’s minister of tourism, said: “2024 will remain engraved in history as an exceptional year for France. The commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral have all contributed to an unprecedented level of international recognition for our country.
“The Paris 2024 Games showcased France’s ability to organise innovative, accessible, and secure major events while highlighting our regions. The whole world has dreamed while witnessing images of France – its landscapes, historical monuments, and iconic sites. This legacy commits us to continuing our ambition: making France the world’s leading sustainable, innovative, and inclusive tourist destination by 2030.”
Sustainability was another key pillar of the 2024 Olympics, with 95% of the infrastructure used for the games already existing, while 100% renewable energy powered the events alongside a 54% reduction in carbon emissions compared to the average for London and Rio Games.
Paris 2024 also accelerated major sustainability projects, including the Centre Aquatique Olympique, built with recycled materials and featuring a solar panel-covered roof, now serving local sports training and community activities. Additionally, the Grand Paris Express, a transformative infrastructure project, is set to deliver more than 200km of automated metro lines and 68 new stations by 2030, significantly improving accessibility to key tourist destinations.
Looking ahead to 2025, the positive impact of the Games is expected to sustain this momentum. Forecasts indicate continued growth in international tourism arrivals, with air travel increasing by 10% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to 2024. Visitors inspired by the games can follow in the path of the torch, see the Olympic sites and, beginning in June 2025, witness the return of the Olympic Cauldron in the Tuileries Gardens.
To read more about the Paris 2024 tourism legacy see calameo.com
Image: The Eiffel Tower was a venue during the Paris 2024 games (Credit: Visual China Group by Getty Images via Atout France)