Spiralling travel and accommodation costs, French political tumult and security concerns are discouraging many sports fans and visitors from attending the Paris Olympic Games this summer.
Cities that win a coveted chance to host the world's biggest sporting event often do so on expectations that they will attract throngs of visitors to showcase themselves and boost their economy.
But Paris has a handful of factors going against it that have held down bookings.
Flight bookings to the French capital - an indicator of tourist activity - are expected to increase by 10% year-on-year from June 6 onwards, according to flight ticketing data firm ForwardKeys.
That is a stark contrast to the 115% increase in tourist arrivals for the 2016 Rio Games. Even the Tokyo Games, held during the COVID-19 pandemic, saw a 20% increase, ForwardKeys said.
Data from Paris-based consultancy MKG shows hotel reservations have dropped since last year for the weeks ahead of the Olympics, along with a 25% revenue decline for much of June.
The data alongside interviews with travel agents, sports fans and ticket sellers show high prices and security concerns are making even the most ardent Olympic fans reluctant to attend.
"Right now, it's the lowest bookings we've seen in 25 years for almost any sports event," Alan Bachand, a sports travel agent based in the United States, told Reuters.
The findings underscore the challenges major cities face hosting international sporting events - they are already crowded and expensive, scaring off more price-conscious consumers.
They also show that unrelenting travel demand, with travellers willing to splash cash on experiences rather than goods in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, is slowing as they become more sensitive to increased prices.
London experienced something similar in 2012. It only saw a 3% increase in arrivals, as many tourists steered clear of a city that would normally be inundated with tourists over the summer.
Still, it will be a blow for the French capital - one study recently estimated the Games would generate up to $12 billion in economic benefits to the Paris region. Last year, the Australian state of Victoria withdrew from staging the Commonwealth Games because of ballooning costs.
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