SINGAPORE, 25 July 2024: On the eve of the Summer Olympics opening in Paris, Trip.com reports a surge in bookings to Europe during the peak months of July and August.
The Summer Olympics will officially open on 26 July in Paris and will be attended by 10,500 athletes. The closing ceremony will be hosted by the French capital on 11 August.
“The summer travel season is in full swing,” says Trip.com Group, claiming record bookings in June partly due to the Euros hosted in Germany in June and now the Olympics in France. “There has been double-digit growth in travel bookings from global travellers heading to Paris this summer compared to last year, showcasing the potential of sports tourism to win a gold medal in encouraging travel consumption.”
Who books summer travel to Europe?
Among travellers visiting Paris in July and August, Trip.com reports strong bookings from the Chinese mainland (1), Japan (2), South Korea (3), Australia (4), and Singapore (5), leading the booking trends from the Asia-Pacific. Travellers from the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands are booking trips to France to support their national teams in Europe.
Notably, there is also a 105% surge in bookings from Chinese travellers. Paris remains a top destination for Chinese travellers, reflecting their strong desire to experience the French capital’s culture and history.
Chinese tourists are showing a taste for luxury, with the highest booking volume for suites and king-sized hotel rooms among other travellers. This reflects a desire for more spacious and upscale accommodations during their stay. The average spending per Chinese traveller has risen by 65%, with an increase in five-star hotel bookings from the previous year.
Enjoying sports and travel
Asian fans also display distinct differences regarding major sporting events compared to their European counterparts. They prefer to combine their sports viewing with broader travel plans, with them, on average, booking longer hotel stays than European travellers.
Other sporting events, with their diverse range of sports and global representation, also attract international fans from Asia who often combine their attendance with extensive cultural and tourist activities. However, European fans, especially those following football this summer, primarily concentrate on cheering for their national football teams, with shorter stays dictated by the matches. This approach from Asian travellers amplifies the travel experience and encourages a deeper engagement with the host destination.
This summer, Asian travellers spent more time at attractions than European travellers when visiting France, favouring attractions like the Louvre Museum, Palace of Versailles, and the Seine River Cruise.
Travel beyond Paris
More Asian travellers are choosing to explore cities other than Paris, with triple-digit growth among cities outside the capital. The top 10 cities and regions attracting travellers outside of Paris include Nice, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Nantes, of which Nice and Marseille, in the French Riviera, will hold football matches.
For instance, visitors from Japan and Hong Kong are now making reservations to stay in Marseille, Lyon, and Nice, with bookings showing double-digit growth compared to last year. Travellers are seeking a cultural experience inside and outside of Paris, with increasing interest in the French wine region of Provence.
Traditional attractions throughout France continue to captivate travellers from Asia with their rich historical and cultural charm. Top attractions in Paris include the Louvre Museum, the Paris Opera House, the Eiffel Tower, and Disneyland Paris. There has also been a rise in orders for private tours in France, increasing by over 50% year-on-year.
(SOURCE: Trip.com booking trends)
