Paris locals say Montmartre now like theme park given post-Olympics journey

All throughout Europe, officers in in style trip locations have been grappling with the ravages of overtourism — prompting locals to talk out concerning the pressure this has taken on their communities. 

Last 12 months, over three million individuals traveled to Paris, France, to witness the 2024 Olympic Games.

About 230,000 Americans attended the Olympics, accounting for the biggest group of international guests, in response to the official web site Paris je t’aime.

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Now, locals within the hilltop space of the 18th arrondissement, Montmartre, are sounding the alarm concerning the surge of tourism in Paris. 

Following the Olympic Games, the variety of guests touring to Paris has skyrocketed, in response to Reuters.

Paris officers say 2025 might rank as one of many busiest years but, as there’s a 20% rise in January bookings in comparison with final 12 months, Reuters reported.

Montmartre resident Anne Renaudi has lived within the space for 29 years. She advised Reuters a historic part of town now seems to be like a theme park after it was made well-known within the film “Amelie.”

“People come for three hours, have fun, buy a beret or a crêpe, and leave — as if they were in an amusement park,” mentioned Renaudie.

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She mentioned, “We’re down to two or three butchers, two cheese shops. They’re disappearing one after the other … Now, it’s a lot of ice cream, crêpes, taco places.”

Renaudie heads the Vivre à Montmartre Association, which has proposed measures to crack down on the strains of tourism. 

The group has checked out limiting tour teams to 25 individuals, banning loudspeakers and elevating the vacationer tax.

In 2024, 48.7 million guests traveled throughout Paris with about 11 million of them spending time in Montmartre.

One in style landmark that vacationers take pleasure in trying out is the 140-year-old Sacre-Coeur Basilica. It sits atop the Montmartre hill and is surrounded by slender streets for guests to discover. 

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Local resident Anthea Quenel shared her frustration over the tour teams that congest the streets. 

“Sometimes I have to really raise my voice and say, ‘Sorry, I want to pass,’” mentioned Quenel to Reuters.

She added, “It’s like Disneyland.”

The troves of vacationers have impacted housing costs, with the 18th arrondissement mayor addressing the influence on residents.

“For me, the big issue is housing. That means fighting against Airbnb and rental platforms,” mentioned Mayor Eric Lejoindre.

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In the previous decade, actual property costs rose by 19%, in response to Reuters.

Similarly, native residents of Mexico City have been making their emotions recognized about undesirable vacationers visiting their dwelling areas.

Residents had been protesting mass tourism, with a whole lot of individuals taking to the streets and demanding stricter housing legal guidelines and laws to manage tourism ranges.

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Government officers caved to the requests by saying a preliminary plan to handle gentrification and the opposite issues of locals, The Associated Press (AP) reported.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.