Latest
issue
Get Attractions Management digital magazine FREE
Sign up here ▸
Jobs   News   Features   Products   Company profilesProfiles   Magazine   Handbook   Advertise    Subscribe  
NEWS
Tourism chiefs call for action after Paris attacks cost industry €750m
POSTED 24 Aug 2016 . BY Tom Anstey
Officials have called for major investment into the region’s tourism sector to help protect jobs Credit: Shutterstock.com
Terrorist attacks, strikes and serious flooding have cost Paris an estimated €750m (US$847.5m, £640m) according to new statistics, with tourism chiefs calling for action in the face of an “industrial disaster” for the French capital.

France relies heavily on its tourism industry, with the sector generating 7 per cent of its annual GDP.

But its numbers have dipped significantly since the terrorist attack in November were 130 people were killed, which also followed an attack in January 2015 on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Strikes and floods have also played a part, with major visitor attractions such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre closed as a result.

Between January and June 2016, Paris welcomed a million fewer visitors compared with the same period in 2015. Figures from the French capital’s tourist board also shows that hotel stays are down 8.5 per cent in the Ile-de-France region, with an 11.5 per cent decline in foreign tourists. Paris’ most popular visitor attraction – Disneyland Paris – has also been feeling the sting, with numbers down 11 per cent between April and June.

The largest decline came from Japan, where numbers have almost halved for the first half of 2016. Russian visitors have also dropped by more than a third, while Italian visits are down a quarter and Chinese visitors by a fifth.

The statistics paint a worrying picture, even more so considering that Paris was one of the host cities for this summer’s European football championships, which failed to arrest the decline in visitor numbers.

"It's time to realise that the tourism sector is going through an industrial disaster," Paris region tourist board head Frederic Valletoux said in a statement.

"This is no longer the time for communication campaigns but to set up a relief plan."

In order to address the problem, Valletoux called for major investment into the region’s tourism sector to help protect jobs, also calling for the government and trades union to address the issue.

Wider France has taken several hits in recent months, most recently when a gunman drove a truck into crowds of people celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, killing 86 people. Two weeks after that two men killed a priest in Normandy, pledging allegiance to terrorist group the Islamic State (IS).
RELATED STORIES
  French strikes shut down Eiffel Tower


Strikes across France against controversial labour reforms forced the closure of the Eiffel Tower in Paris yesterday (28 June) – the second time in a matter of weeks.
  French floods cause emergency closure of Paris museums


Two major museums in the heart of Paris have been temporarily closed so that their priceless works can be moved to higher ground amid the threat of flooding from the River Seine.
  Historic Paris building to become museum for billionaire fashion mogul's art collection


Parisian billionaire and philanthropist François Pinault, is taking over a historic commercial building in Paris to showcase his €1.2bn (US$1.4bn, £950m) modern art collection to the public.
  Armed man arrested outside Disneyland Paris


French media is reporting that a man with two firearms has been arrested outside the entrance to a hotel at Disneyland Paris.
MORE NEWS
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
Efteling expands family offer with new Hooghmoed drop tower
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
+ More news   

COMPANY PROFILES
Painting With Light

By combining lighting, video, scenic and architectural elements, sound and special effects we tell s [more...]
IDEATTACK

IDEATTACK is a full-service planning and design company with headquarters in Los Angeles. [more...]
Sally Corporation

Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V.

Vekoma Rides has a large variety of coasters and attractions. [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
 

+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
+ More diary  
LATEST ISSUES
+ View Magazine Archive

Attractions Management

2026 issue 1


View issue contents
View on turning pages
Download PDF
FREE digital subscription
Print subscription

Attractions Management

2025 issue 2


View issue contents
View on turning pages
Download PDF
FREE digital subscription
Print subscription

Attractions Management

2025 issue 1


View issue contents
View on turning pages
Download PDF
FREE digital subscription
Print subscription

Attractions Management

2024 issue 4


View issue contents
View on turning pages
Download PDF
FREE digital subscription
Print subscription

Attractions Management News

06 Apr 2020 issue 153


View on turning pages
Download PDF
View archive
FREE digital subscription
Print subscription

Attractions Handbook

2019


View issue contents
View on turning pages
Download PDF
FREE digital subscription
Print subscription
 
ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
 
ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT
ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT NEWS
ATTRACTIONS HANDBOOK
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026
Get Attractions Management digital magazine FREE
Sign up here ▸
Jobs    News   Products   Magazine   Subscribe
NEWS
Tourism chiefs call for action after Paris attacks cost industry €750m
POSTED 24 Aug 2016 . BY Tom Anstey
Officials have called for major investment into the region’s tourism sector to help protect jobs Credit: Shutterstock.com
Terrorist attacks, strikes and serious flooding have cost Paris an estimated €750m (US$847.5m, £640m) according to new statistics, with tourism chiefs calling for action in the face of an “industrial disaster” for the French capital.

France relies heavily on its tourism industry, with the sector generating 7 per cent of its annual GDP.

But its numbers have dipped significantly since the terrorist attack in November were 130 people were killed, which also followed an attack in January 2015 on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Strikes and floods have also played a part, with major visitor attractions such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre closed as a result.

Between January and June 2016, Paris welcomed a million fewer visitors compared with the same period in 2015. Figures from the French capital’s tourist board also shows that hotel stays are down 8.5 per cent in the Ile-de-France region, with an 11.5 per cent decline in foreign tourists. Paris’ most popular visitor attraction – Disneyland Paris – has also been feeling the sting, with numbers down 11 per cent between April and June.

The largest decline came from Japan, where numbers have almost halved for the first half of 2016. Russian visitors have also dropped by more than a third, while Italian visits are down a quarter and Chinese visitors by a fifth.

The statistics paint a worrying picture, even more so considering that Paris was one of the host cities for this summer’s European football championships, which failed to arrest the decline in visitor numbers.

"It's time to realise that the tourism sector is going through an industrial disaster," Paris region tourist board head Frederic Valletoux said in a statement.

"This is no longer the time for communication campaigns but to set up a relief plan."

In order to address the problem, Valletoux called for major investment into the region’s tourism sector to help protect jobs, also calling for the government and trades union to address the issue.

Wider France has taken several hits in recent months, most recently when a gunman drove a truck into crowds of people celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, killing 86 people. Two weeks after that two men killed a priest in Normandy, pledging allegiance to terrorist group the Islamic State (IS).
RELATED STORIES
French strikes shut down Eiffel Tower


Strikes across France against controversial labour reforms forced the closure of the Eiffel Tower in Paris yesterday (28 June) – the second time in a matter of weeks.
French floods cause emergency closure of Paris museums


Two major museums in the heart of Paris have been temporarily closed so that their priceless works can be moved to higher ground amid the threat of flooding from the River Seine.
Historic Paris building to become museum for billionaire fashion mogul's art collection


Parisian billionaire and philanthropist François Pinault, is taking over a historic commercial building in Paris to showcase his €1.2bn (US$1.4bn, £950m) modern art collection to the public.
Armed man arrested outside Disneyland Paris


French media is reporting that a man with two firearms has been arrested outside the entrance to a hotel at Disneyland Paris.
MORE NEWS
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
Efteling expands family offer with new Hooghmoed drop tower
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford– Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx- Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional revenue opportunities.
+ More news   
 
COMPANY PROFILES
Painting With Light

By combining lighting, video, scenic and architectural elements, sound and special effects we tell s [more...]
IDEATTACK

IDEATTACK is a full-service planning and design company with headquarters in Los Angeles. [more...]
Sally Corporation

Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V.

Vekoma Rides has a large variety of coasters and attractions. [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT NEWS
ATTRACTIONS HANDBOOK
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS