- Reservations in French bars and restaurants fell up to 43pc.
- New hotel bookings dropped 47pc on 18 October.
- The cancellation rate was 27pc for the final week of October.
- Paris and Lyon saw the earliest booking pullbacks.
- Restaurant traffic was already down 15pc to 20pc earlier in 2026.
Reservations in bars and restaurants have dropped by as much as 43pc in some French cities following recent civil unrest street demonstrations and widely broadcast footage of disorder. Data shared by RMC indicates that table and seat bookings fell as much as 43pc in affected urban areas. Industry groups and reports point to public unease and broadcast images of riots clashes and looting that have discouraged patrons from going out.
The drop coincides with broader pressures on France’s hospitality and tourism sectors including hotel booking pullbacks and cancellations around major metropolitan hubs like Paris and Lyon during the autumn school holidays. The Groupement des Hôtelleries and Restauration reported a 47pc drop in new hotel bookings on 18 October alone alongside a 27pc cancellation rate for stays scheduled during the final week of October.
Luxury and premium hotels in major hubs like Paris and Lyon experienced the earliest booking pullbacks from international visitors. Major global markets including the United States China and Germany rapidly updated travel advisories for France following the unrest. Industry groups note that restaurant traffic was already down 15pc to 20pc earlier in the year due to high inflation and rising menu costs.
