2023-09-08 16:41:57
The Rugby World Cup, which begins this Friday, September 8 with the France-New Zealand clash at the Stade de France, constitutes a sort of XXL test match before the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is also intended to be “a showcase of the French art of living, a symbol of unity, of openness to the world”says Atout France, official partner of the organizing committee.
The public tourism promotion agency expects the arrival of 600,000 foreign visitors, for a total number of spectators estimated at 2.5 million people. The opportunity for these rugby supporters to linger in particular in the cities where the 48 matches will be held (Paris Saint-Denis, Lille, Nantes, Bordeaux, Lyon, Toulouse, Marseille and Nice). Especially since the competition lasts until October 26 and in the group stage, each team will hardly play more than one match per week.
Soaring hotel and rental rates
In these cities, the price of hotel rooms has often soared, according to the kayak.fr comparator, which compared the prices offered for booking with those of the same period last year. In Paris, the increase is not what by 9%. But it reaches 137% (multiplication of prices by 2.3) in Marseille, which has the particularity of combining two general public events: the rugby players will in fact cede the Vélodrome to Pope Francis, for the duration of a sold-out mass, on September 23.
Same observation for short-term rentals, according to liwango.com, an industry data analysis tool: “In each of the host cities, the prices of available housing soar, doubling or even tripling on match nights, reaching peaks never before observed during this same period. »
Ordinary trains to transport teams
This World Cup also appears to be a challenge in terms of transport. And the SNCF and its subsidiaries find themselves on the front line. If the plane remains essential to transport supporters of the New Zealand All Blacks or the Australian Wallabies from the Southern Hemisphere, the organizers are relying heavily on the train to minimize the impact of the competition on the environment.
Seventeen of the twenty teams will take TGV and Intercités to reach the stadiums from their base camp. They will also travel on commercial and non-privatized trains, which will perhaps allow fans to meet some of their favorite players on board.
Overall economic benefits estimated at 2.4 billion euros
Eurostar, which connects with the rugby land of Great Britain, is particularly in demand. The SNCF subsidiary expects, over the entire duration of the competition, an increase in attendance of 30% and is significantly increasing its offer, from London, to Paris and Lille.
In total, according to a study by Deloitte carried out for the French Rugby Federation, welcoming visitors to the World Cup could bring in 916 million euros. The overall economic fallout from this event could rise to 2.4 billion euros.
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