France is expecting 15 million visitors to Paris and other areas of the country that are hosting the 2024 Olympic games.
And while the mood is celebratory as France and most of the world wait patiently in anticipation of the Summer Games, there’s plenty to be cautious about, too. Top concerns include petty crime, bed bugs, traffic, labour strikes and terrorism.
Are these issues realistic? Perhaps. Are they worth preparing for or at least familiarizing yourself with? Let’s take a closer look.
Petty Crime and Scams
Travellers are often concerned about falling victim to scams and fraud while visiting a foreign country. Criminals may take advantage of the influx of tourists during the Olympics to engage in fraudulent activities such as fake ticket sales, pickpocketing, or identity theft.
Blending in will be difficult for Olympic spectators from other countries, but they can tone down the typical tourist look, avoid known crime areas and be more aware of others around them. Looking and acting like a tourist can produce assumptions that you are inexperienced, naive, lacking cultural awareness, and wealthy.
Traffic, Traffic, Traffic
Travelers attending the Olympics who are concerned about transportation will likely experience challenges. Navigating crowded public transportation systems, dealing with traffic congestion, and ensuring timely arrival at event venues can be stressful for visitors. Language barriers and unfamiliarity with the local transportation infrastructure can add to these headaches.
The Olympics will test the famous Paris underground metro system, partly due to staffing shortages but also managing the peaks in demand as fans enter and leave stadium events. The Paris bus system makes stops everywhere, and the buses are numbered to represent the lines they travel by. Travelers will need to know their destination to determine the bus line required.
Driving around Paris will be dicey due to planned road closures, especially near landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Champ-de-Mars, Trocadero, and others. Use only authorized taxis since there has been an increase in fakes and drivers looking to take advantage of travellers.
Labour Strikes
Labour strikes, public transportation worker disruptions, political unrest and protests are all potential concerns for travellers visiting France this summer, whether they’re attending the Olympics or not. Civil unrest, demonstrations, or worker walk-outs can disrupt local services, transportation and public safety. Travellers may get caught in a volatile situation or face travel disruptions due to labour strikes or political instability.
Bedbugs
In France, like in other countries, bedbug infestations can occur in places with a high turnover of people and frequent travel, such as hotels and accommodations popular with tourists. By following a few rules, travellers can take precautions and reduce the risk of encountering bedbugs.
First, inspect the bed and surrounding area for signs of bedbugs, such as dark spots on the mattress or bed frame. Next, keep luggage off the bed and elevate it on a luggage rack or stand. Third, wash clothes in hot water and dry them on high heat after returning from a trip. Finally, use protective mattress covers and keep your belongings organized to reduce hiding spots for bedbugs.
While bedbugs can be a concern in France, using preventive measures and staying vigilant can help travellers minimize the risk of encountering these pests during their stay.
Terrorism
Safety and security are among the most extensive dangers and fears for travellers at any major international event like the Summer Olympics. With the threat of terrorism looming globally, there is a significant concern for the safety of both athletes and spectators. France has experienced terror attacks in recent years, which raises the fear of a potential security incident during the Olympics. French officials are not relying solely on their security forces to prevent terror attacks. Officials have contacted foreign allies to send several thousand members of their security forces to help.
While there have been terrorist attacks in France, prevention at the Olympics is an international effort, and France has good counter-terrorist capability. It is working with multi-national task forces that have been preparing for years to keep the Olympics safe from attack.
Travel Protection
Whether travelling to the Olympics in France, a music festival in Brazil, or any other major event in an unfamiliar destination, you should hope for the best travel scenario — but prepare for the unexpected by purchasing a travel protection membership and travel insurance.
The two services fulfil different travel needs. Travel insurance is designed to provide financial reimbursement for trip interruptions and medical insurance coverage. A travel protection membership, like Global Rescue, provides emergency field rescue, medical evacuation and transport, and medical advisory services at no additional cost.
Written by: Harding Bush
BIO:
Harding Bush is a former Navy SEAL and associate director for security operations at Global Rescue, the world’s leading medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services provider. Bush is an expert in procedures for high-risk travel, cultural awareness, crisis preparedness and operational planning.
