German cities and Paris recently thrived as they played host to two of Europe’s most monumental events in years. In July, Germany welcomed the UEFA European Football Championship, drawing fans from across the continent to witness the pinnacle of European football. Just a month later, in August, Paris and France took center stage with the Olympic Games, showcasing the world’s top athletes in a celebration of sport, culture, and unity. These events not only impacted the local economies but also solidified these cities’ status as premier destinations for global gatherings, leaving a lasting legacy on both the region and its people.
The UEFA European Football Champions in Germany
Approximately 2.67 million fans attended the 51 games played across ten stadiums, which surpasses the previous record of 2.43 million set at Euro 2016 in France.Â
According to UEFA, The ten Fan Zones in the host cities have welcomed a total of 5.8 million visitors, and counting, during the championship. The evening that hosts Germany played Spain in the quarter-finals became the highest-attended day of the tournament with a total of 547,000 visitors across the Fan Zones.
The city of Berlin hospitality sector, including hotels, restaurants, taxi services, and cultural venues, saw a significant boost. Mastercard reports a 16-32% increase in hospitality sales during June’s group stage matches compared to last year. Budget accommodations like hostels and 2- to 3-star hotels were particularly busy.
In the final weekend, overall hotel occupancy hit 90%, with luxury 5-star hotels, especially their suites, fully booked.
The Olympic Games in Paris
The sabotage of the French high-speed rail before the Games and the heavy rain during the opening ceremony could have spelled disaster for any event. Yet, Paris has emerged as the true winner.
Paris provided stunning backdrops of the various games As crowds cheered for events in breathtaking locations—beach volleyball by the Eiffel Tower, equestrian competitions at Versailles, and skateboarding at Place de la Concorde, for instance. In terms of tourism and hotel occupancy rates, there were the initial fears that tourists might avoid the city due to high prices and congestion.Â
However, by August the situation had changed. Paris had seen a surprising 20% increase in tourists and an over 80% hotel occupancy rate during the opening days of the Games.
French citizens, initially expected to avoid the city, were flocking to Paris and experiencing the Games. According to the Paris Tourist Office, the Greater Paris metropolitan area saw an estimated 11.2 million visitors during the Olympic Games from July 23 to August 11. This figure, which includes tourists, daytrippers, and residents, closely aligns with the projected total of 11.3 million visitors, marking a 4% increase compared to 2023. Notably, French visitors made up a significant 85% of the overall attendance at the Games.Â
From July 23 to August 6, hotel occupancy in central Paris reached 84%, showing an increase of 10.1 percentage points compared to 2023. The most significant growth occurred in the luxury segment, where occupancy climbed to 85.5%, up by 16.5 percentage points from the previous year.
But who was the surprise loser? According to many reports, Disneyland Paris felt more like a ghost town than the usual fairytale destination during the Olympic Games. The theme park faced an unexpected decline in visitors, with attendance dropping by 20-30%. Attractions had little to no waiting times, creating a dream scenario for those who did visit.
Several factors contribute to this downturn: the Olympic Games drawing attention away from the park, unpredictable weather, rising ticket prices, ongoing construction, and a lack of new attractions. Additionally, with over 50% of its visitors usually coming from abroad, Disneyland Paris was hit by the shift of international tourists toward the Olympics.
Want to know more? The Jesta Freak International Sports Events Pyramid highlights how certain global sports events captivate billions of people, drawing massive attention through live audiences, television broadcasts, and online streaming. Take a moment to pinpoint the events that you simply can’t afford to miss and put on your bucket list.
We already know that the next Summer Olympics will take place in Los Angeles, USA, from July 14 to 30, 2028, and in Brisbane, Australia, in 2032. As for the next UEFA European Championship, it will be hosted by the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2028.
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