Paris had 998 travel agencies in 2003 and has only 412 in 2026, that is, 59% less in 23 years, according to a study by the Atelier parisien d'urbanisme (Apur) published on October 12, 2026. The figures for 2003 included several airline agencies, almost all of which are now closed.
The decline is continuous: 39 fewer agencies between 2023 and 2026, then 79 fewer between 2020 and 2023, 100 fewer between 2017 and 2020 and 61 fewer between 2014 and 2017. Since 2014, 279 points of sale have closed. Between 2023 and 2026, Paris lost 510 high street shops, and travel agencies are among the businesses most affected by e-commerce, as well as clothing, banking and insurance. The price of real estate has also led some operators and networks to move to the capital's neighbouring departments.
In the same period, the number of hotels and youth hostels in Paris rose by 57 to 1,997 establishments, despite the growth in short-term rentals. The shrinkage of the physical network and the growing weight of online sales reinforce the importance of working with agencies and digital channels at the same time to reach the French traveller, especially in a destination as booked directly as Portugal.
