Olympics security thins out tourists, business activity

Fabrice Pierret is used to catering to hordes of tourists who pack Le Lutétia, a brasserie he manages on the Île Saint-Louis, where a splendid view of the Seine River, with a glass of red wine and steak frites, has long made it a popular stop for visitors.

- LIZ ALDERMAN

But with the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics just days away, the crowds have thinned to a trickle. Business is down 50 percent - and more for shopkeepers nearby - as tough new security measures and an unexpected drop in tourism turns some of Paris's most famous venues into veritable ghost towns.

"It's a catastrophe," said Mr. Pierret, surveying his near-empty terrace. Before him, thousands of brightly colored bleacher seats lined the quays of the Seine, which are now cordoned off. The river flowed by quietly-devoid of traffic-ascene reminiscent of Covid lockdowns.

"The Olympics were supposed to be great for business," Mr. Pierret said. "Instead, we're being hit really hard."