France experiences surge in travel demand ahead of 2024 Summer Olympics – with Americans leading the charge

04.03.2024 - 08:04 / traveldailynews.com / Summer Olympics / Vicky Karantzavelou / Paris

For the period of the Olympic Games in 2024, flight bookings, not just searches, to Paris are up 125% compared to the same travel period last year.

SAN FRANCISCO – Sojern, the leading digital marketing platform built for travel, shares its latest travel data* ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics. Slated to be held in Paris, France from 26 July – 11 August 2024, the summer Olympic games will bring together 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) that represent nations from all over the world. The games will be the biggest event ever organized in France.

Between the Super Bowl, Olympics, European Championship, and other major sporting events, ad spending is projected to reach $61 billion this year alone. Not only do these events bolster advertising revenues, but they also drive incredible travel demand, with countries seeing massive spikes as attendees flock to cheer on their favorite teams. For example, flight bookings surged 63% compared to the prior year ahead of the F1 Grand Prix in Singapore and travelers booked their trips to Qatar well in advance of normal leisure travel to secure their place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. These major sporting events also renew interest in host destinations long after the final match. After Qatar hosted the World Cup, the country saw between a 79-255% increase in international lodging searches, bucking seasonal travel trends.

Paris is already a popular destination–6.3 million travelers visited the Eiffel Tower in 2023, surpassing pre-COVID-19 tourism–and the Olympics will only solidify its place as top-of-mind for travelers. Tickets for the 33rd Olympic Games went on sale on 30 November 2023, and travel demand to France has already increased substantially. For the period of the Olympic Games in 2024, flight bookings, not just searches, to Paris are up 125% compared to the same travel period last year.

Arrival dates vary, indicating that travelers likely are planning trips around specific events and available vacation time. Regardless of arrival date, one thing is certain: The majority of travelers are planning to leave Paris the day the Olympics end, highlighting that many are likely coming from countries where companies don’t offer extended leave, such as the United States. Additionally, with an average trip length of 11 days compared to 13.2 in 2023, it’s clear that the games are driving travel decisions.

Historically, Paris has been a top summer destination for travelers around the world, and the Olympics will cement France’s place at the top of their lists. According to Sojern flight booking data, 23.8% of bookings during the Olympic period to Paris originate from the United States, making it the top origin country internationally followed by