The head of Paris tourism said on Tuesday that a €750 million loss to the industry compared to the same period last year constituted "an industrial catastrophe".
Tourists outside the Louvre. Photo: Alain Jocard/AFP
During the first six months of 2016, tourist visits in the Ile-de-France region were down by 6.4% compared to 2015; that amounts to one million fewer visitors, and a €750 million loss.
Terror attacks, constant strikes and floods have all contributed to keep visitors away, and in the statement released on Tuesday, the head of the region's tourist bureau called for the government to help the industry.
Tourism is the biggest industry in the Ile-de-France region, accounting for 500,000 jobs.
Figures earlier this month suggested that the whole country has seen a similar drop in tourist visits, with wealthy tourists in particular shunning France for alternative destinations - however, France remains the most visited country in the world. Tourism accounts for 7% of the national GDP, and 13% of that amount is generated in Paris and the surrounding area.
Hotel stays in Paris dropped by 11.4% between January and June compared to last year, the figures show. Meanwhile, some of the city's most famous monuments have seen a notable decrease in footfall; the Grand Palais reported a 43.9% decrease in visitors compared to the first half of 2015, and the Arc de Triomphe saw a 34.8% drop.
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