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Despite the excitement surrounding the upcoming Paris Olympics, Flight Centre has observed a surprising trend: a decline in people travelling to Paris while the games are on, making it a great opportunity to nab a deal to a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Flight Centre is reporting in the three weeks the Olympics are held, bookings to Paris are down 25 per cent, compared to the same time in 2023.
July bookings to Paris are also down compared to both August and September bookings, with a 16 per cent rise in bookings for August compared to July and a 33 percent rise in bookings in September compared to July.
Flight Centre New Zealand general manager Heidi Walker says there could be a variety of reasons associated with this.
“Kiwi travellers may be looking to avoid Europe in July as it’s a time when the region experiences some of its hottest temperatures, sometimes reaching up to 40 degrees.
“Another reason for the decline this year may be because Kiwis have a pre-conceived idea that flights may be more expensive because the Olympics are on, but this is not actually the case.”
She says there is still a lot of availability for people who want to experience being in Paris during the games and at a reasonable price as well.
“In spite of what some may have thought, due to a lack of demand there are still some great deals for those that want to attend the games.”
If booking with Flight Centre, return flights to Paris to be there for the duration of the games starts at around $2370 via China Eastern, with one-way flights to Paris in the week leading up to the games starting at $870 flying via Qantas and Xiamen Airlines.
Accommodation options are equally enticing, with a couple’s stay at a three-star hotel in Paris during the first week of the games priced at just over $1000 per person for the full seven days.
“These prices are comparable to the months either side of the event, so it doesn’t look as though there has been significant price hikes to coincide with the games.”
For those eager to witness their favourite sports, tickets are still available for a range of events starting from $257 to watch the rowing, $345 for athletics, $274 for swimming and as low as $49 to watch rugby sevens.
“The upcoming Olympics presents a unique opportunity for travellers to immerse themselves in world-class sporting events at great value and of course get behind the Kiwis representing our country,” says Heidi.
“This is a great time to seize the moment and support our sporting heroes, while fulfilling what for some could be a bucket list dream of experiencing the atmosphere and excitement of the Olympic Games.”
