Popular Travel Destinations During the Olympic Games

The Games have begun, and this summer promises a significant boost in travel. Paris has emerged as one of the prime summer travel hotspots in 2024, thanks to the Olympic Games, which are driving up travel demand from Paris airports by nearly 12 percent compared to the same weeks last year. This trend is highlighted in the report "Escaping the Olympics Crowds: Travel Trends from Paris to the World," conducted by Mabrian and The Data Appeal Company (part of Almawave Group). The report focuses on the international destinations benefiting from this surge in demand originating from the French capital.

The analysis covered travel trends during the three-week period from July 22 to August 12, 2024, when the main Olympic events take place. It combined air demand data, including flight searches and air capacity (seats in one-way direct flights searched up to July 16, 2024), with cyclical summer demand trends.

Carlos Cendra, partner and director of marketing and communications at Mabrian, noted that Italy and the United States are the most significant beneficiaries of this increased demand. The surge is facilitated by the combination of increased seat availability to and from Paris due to the Olympics and the general growth in demand for travel abroad from Paris this year.

During the Olympics, air capacity from Paris to the United States has increased by more than 9 percent compared to the same period in 2023. Destinations like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami are seeing strong demand, similar to Italian cities such as Milan, Rome, and Venice.

Paris expects 11.3 million visitors during the Olympic Games 2024 (July 26 to August 11), and an additional four million during the Paralympic Games 2024 (August 28 to September 8). As a result, domestic and international travel alternatives are growing as people seek to avoid the crowded city, which may see its population density multiply fivefold.

According to the Statistics Board of France, around 2.1 million people live in Ville de Paris, the center of the Île-de-France region, home to approximately 12.4 million people. Most visitors to Paris during this major sports event will come from other French regions (86.7 percent), with around 1.5 million foreign travelers, mainly from the United Kingdom, United States, and Germany.

Mirko Lalli, CEO & founder of The Data Appeal Company, mentioned that demand for Paris during the Olympics has been strong since February. Despite price adjustments to ensure occupancy, accommodation rates are 50 percent higher than in the same period in 2023, with OTA saturation up by 30 percent, and lodging nearly sold out for the games' inauguration night.

Flight searches show a shift in travel preferences compared to the same weeks in 2023, with long-haul travel gaining strength while traditional summer destinations see more varied demand. Connectivity from Paris to the United States (up 9.3 percent), Morocco, and the United Kingdom (both up 13 percent) shows significant growth. Traditional summer destinations for French travelers, such as Spain (up 7 percent) and Greece (up 2.5 percent), also see moderate increases.

American destinations like Los Angeles (up 80 percent compared to the same weeks in 2023), Miami (up 74 percent), and New York (up 42 percent) are in high demand. Italian destinations, including Milan (double the demand from last year), Rome (up 53 percent), and Venice (up 46 percent), are also seeing a surge in interest.

Lalli emphasized the appeal of Milan, Rome, and Venice as major air hubs with inherent charm and cultural significance, making them launchpads for broader Italian adventures. The Sentiment Scores from French travelers for these cities are high: 84 for Venice, 82 for Rome, and 80 for Milan (out of 100).

Other favorite city getaways during the Olympics include London (up 22 percent year over year), Barcelona (up 19 percent), and Athens. Key medium and long-haul summer destinations such as Istanbul (up 71 percent), Tokyo (up 45 percent), and Bangkok (up 30 percent) also see increased demand. Additionally, Canada, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates (particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi) are popular destinations during the Olympic weeks.

Conversely, demand for Portugal has slightly decreased compared to the same period in 2023. Portugal, usually among the top three summer choices, has seen a 7.4 percent reduction in air capacity from Paris airports, primarily due to reduced flights connecting Lisbon and Porto.

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