To be sure of meeting Americans in Paris, head for the Place de la Bourse. At the Palais Brongniart, the former Paris Stock exchange, American power has been proudly displayed, with its flag colors and the initials USA in gigantic letters on the façade of this neoclassical temple. Not just anyone can get in: To follow the events broadcast inside, and perhaps meet some athletes, the price is astronomical: €325 per person.
"The people who did this are marketing geniuses," said Amanda Klecker, a New Yorker Le Monde met outside with her partner, sister and dog. Even if she finds it "a bit expensive," she plans to go anyway. Just like a Californian family of five. For the period of the Games, they rented an apartment on Airbnb in the central Marais neighborhood. It's a 10-day trip they won't soon forget. "We're fascinated by the number of terraces," said Johnny, one of the sons.
During the Olympics, Americans have arrived in force. They account for 15% of the foreigners who have come for the event – some 136,000 people, according to the latest figures from the Paris tourist office. It's the continuation of a strong trend since 2022: Never before have so many Americans stayed in the capital.
In 2023, 5 million American tourist arrivals were counted, 9% more than in 2019. A record. "For 2024, we should exceed this figure again," said Hugo Alvarez, head of foresight at Atout France, the state agency in charge of tourism. Above all, these tourists have never spent so much in France. The figures speak for themselves: In the first half of 2024, tourism receipts from the US jumped by 64% compared with 2019 levels. Stays have lengthened, and the average spending of an American has increased by 40% in five years.
"Americans benefit from a favorable exchange rate and a very dynamic economy. The gap in GDP per capita with Europe has widened. This explains why there are more of them and why they spend more," said Alvarez. This increased presence is also linked, in his view, to the post-Covid spread of remote work and the possibility of combining work and vacations.
Paris also holds a special appeal for Americans. "The myth is still very present: the gastronomy, the heritage, the cultural richness and all these marks of the past, which contrast with the very recent history of the United States," said Lindsey Tramuta, an American journalist based in Paris. France's popularity has also been boosted by the success of the Emily in Paris series, on Netflix since late 2020.
You have 26.23% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.