The 2.2 million Chinese tourists who visit Ile-de-France each year are no longer there in recent days. The new coronavirus epidemic has limited travel from China and Asian countries. "The reservations of Chinese tourists decreased by 80% in January and are down by 100% for the month of February," said Didier Kling, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris-Ile-de -France. "Which is quite normal, since there is no longer any plane that can transport them".
Chinese tourists spend the most
A worrying situation for Ile-de-France tourism professionals because Chinese vacationers are the ones who spend the most during their stays in Paris. The president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry thus calls for not to give in to “an unnecessary catastrophism” vis-à-vis the coronavirus, which could have serious consequences for tourism in Ile-de-France.
On the street, Asian tourists experience some discomfort, linked to suspicious looks and behavior.
After Italy, the new coronavirus is now spreading across Europe, but also in Latin America, where a first case was detected on Wednesday in Brazil, heightening concerns around the world.