The constant presence of tourists in certain streets and their lack of civility are pushing local residents to their limit. The return of tourists to Paris after the Covid-19 pandemic is not welcomed by residents in the city’s most touristy neighborhoods, such as the 7th, 12th, and 18th arrondissements. Many are denouncing the tourists’ incivility and the inconveniences caused by the influx of tourists. However, the authorities have limited options to alleviate the situation.
Paris remains the world’s top tourist destination. In just the first quarter of 2023, the French capital attracted 11.6 million tourists, a level equivalent to pre-Covid-19 levels. This return brings joy to the merchants but not to the residents, as revealed by Le Parisien. Some streets are indeed experiencing nuisances linked to this constant presence.
One such case is rue de l’Université, just a stone’s throw away from the Eiffel Tower in the 7th arrondissement. “I can’t sleep anymore, there’s noise 7 days a week, 24 hours a day,” confesses the concierge of a building located in this well-known street to Le Parisien. According to the residents, tourists are there day and night, causing noise disturbances and leaving their garbage on the ground or on window ledges.
This situation extends far beyond the area around the iconic monument of Paris. In Montmartre, another highly touristy neighborhood, the residents are also at their wit’s end. “The only moment I like [this neighborhood] is between 6 and 10 am,” laments a resident. The same goes for the famous rue Crémieux, a colorful alley in the 12th arrondissement, where the locals’ tranquility is disrupted by photo shoots and disrespectful behavior from tourists.
What solutions are there? As early as 2019 – before the pandemic – the residents’ association of rue Crémieux (12th arrondissement) alerted the city hall, requesting the closure of the street on weekends. Unfortunately, they did not succeed, with the municipality ultimately only prohibiting summer terraces and shootings. In rue de l’Université, the city hall of the 7th arrondissement banned car traffic, but this did not improve the situation. According to some residents, the situation has even worsened since then, as reported by Le Parisien.
The options available to the authorities are limited as these are public spaces. In order to improve the living conditions of the residents, the city hall of the 18th arrondissement stated that it has strengthened its cleanliness and enforcement teams in Montmartre, where a pedestrianization project is also under discussion. Exasperated, some residents are considering moving, especially with the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games, which will not make things easier for them.
