Another European city battles overtourism
Locals report that the historic area now resembles a theme park, with essential food shops being replaced by souvenir and snack stalls.
The Vivre à Montmartre association has proposed measures such as limiting tour groups to 25 people, banning loudspeakers, and increasing the tourist tax.
Concerns also include rising real estate prices, up 19 per cent in a decade, with the mayor of the 18th arrondissement advocating for stricter controls on short-term rental platforms like Airbnb.
Paris tourism reached 48.7 million visitors in 2024, with Montmartre receiving around 11 million annually, and a further 20 per cent rise in bookings is anticipated for 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Pope Leo XIV gets rock star welcome from young Catholics at huge vigil
Hundreds of thousands of young faithful feted Pope Leo XIV like a rock star on Saturday at an open-air prayer vigil outside Rome, after the head of the Catholic church made a dramatic entrance by helicopter. Pilgrims began crying and cheering when the white military helicopter descended over the sprawling site in Rome's eastern outskirts. Organisers said more than 800,000 young pilgrims from 146 countries around the world had assembled as part of a Jubilee of Youth – and perhaps as many as 1 million. Smiling from his popemobile, the first US pope waved to throngs of screaming young people lining his route, many running for a better vantage point. They had already spent the day in the hot sun listening to music, praying and talking with fellow Catholics. 'The pope is here' announced an excited voice over the public address to thunderous applause from the crowd. But the tenor of the event became more solemn and contemplative as the pope took to the stage, carrying a large wood cross. 'Dear young people, after walking, praying and sharing these days of grace of the Jubilee dedicated to you, we now gather together in the light of the advancing evening to keep vigil together,' Leo, 69, told them. In the crowd was French pilgrim Julie Mortier, 18, whose voice was hoarse from singing and screaming for hours. 'We're too happy to be here. Seeing the pope, that's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,' she said. Event organisers said people had continued to arrive during the vigil and that it was possible that attendance numbers had reached 1 million. Most pilgrims said they would camp overnight for a Sunday morning mass at the site led by Leo. That will mark the culmination of the week-long youth pilgrimage, a key event in the Catholic church's Jubilee holy year. Some in the crowd were so far away they could not see the massive stage with a golden arch and towering cross that dominated the open area – which at more than 500,000 sq m was the size of about 70 football fields. 'I'm so happy to be here, even if I'm a bit far from the pope. I knew what to expect,' British student Andy Hewellyn said. 'The main thing is that we're all together,' he said ahead of the pope's appearance, as other young people nearby played guitars, sang or snoozed in the sun. Italian broadcaster Rai called the event a Catholic 'Woodstock', as throughout the day nearly two dozen musical and dance groups, many of them religious, entertained the crowds. In a video message, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed pilgrims to the capital, who were 'praying, singing, joking among themselves, celebrating in an extraordinary party'. The Jubilee of Youth, which began on Monday, comes nearly three months after the start of Leo's papacy, and 25 years after the last such massive youth gathering in Rome under Poland's pope John Paul II. Early on Saturday, groups of young people set off from central Rome for the venue in Tor Vergata. They were ready to spend the next 24 hours surrounded by a crowd of people and sleep under the stars. Victoria Perez, who carried a Spanish flag, could not contain her excitement at seeing 'the pope up close'. 'It's the first time I'm going to see him, and I can't wait,' the 21-year-old said, looking forward to a 'night of prayers under the stars'. French pilgrim Quentin Remaury, 26, said he had been inspired by the late pope Francis's rousing message to youth during a 2016 visit to Krakow, Poland. 'Pope Francis told us to 'get off your couches', and that really gave me a boost,' he said. Throughout the week, attenders participated in church-planned events, such as confession at Circus Maximus, one of Rome's top tourist spots. On Friday, about 1,000 priests were on hand, with 200 white gazebos serving as makeshift confessionals lining the hippodrome where chariot races were once held in Ancient Rome. The pilgrimage unfolds as under-30s navigate economic uncertainty, the climate crisis and international conflict, with some pilgrims travelling from war-torn areas such as Syria and Ukraine. Samarei Semos, 29, who said she had travelled three days from her native Belize to get to Rome, said she hoped Leo would have a strong say about 'third world countries'. The Vatican said that before the vigil the pope had met and prayed with travellers accompanying an 18-year-old Egyptian pilgrim who died on Friday night. Rai News reported that the young woman had died of a heart attack on a bus while returning to her lodging from an event in Rome. Amid tight security, more than 4,300 volunteers and more than 1,000 police were watching over the vigil, organisers said.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Laura Hamilton hits back at cruel troll who said she was 'too old' to wear bikinis as she shares a glimpse from her lavish holiday
Laura Hamilton has hit back at a cruel troll who said she was 'too old' to wear bikinis as she shared a glimpse from her lavish holiday. The A Place In The Sun star, 43, has been enjoying a family holiday at Forte Village resort in South Sardinia. Joined by her children Rocco, 11, and Tahlia, 10 - who she shares with ex-husband Alex Goward - Laura has shared an array of gorgeous snaps as she soaked up the Italian sun. However, the blonde beauty was forced to hit back at a comment from one follower who cruelly said she was too old to wear a bikini. In a clip shared to Instagram, Laura was sat poolside as she flaunted her incredible figure in a blue and white swimsuit. She lounged on a day bed with her daughter as they waved while the camera panned out. In a caption, Laura made a poignant jibe at the troll as she penned: 'Who decides when we're 'too old' for anything? 'I recently read a comment saying I was too old to wear a bikini… and it honestly made me stop and think for a second. 'But then I reminded myself, life's way too short to worry about what other people think. 'Today I'm wearing a swimsuit, not because of the comment I read but because I wanted to and I feel comfortable in it!' 'We all have days when we feel self-conscious, but we deserve to enjoy the sunshine, the beach, the pool, whatever makes us happy, no matter our age and whether we choose to wear a swimsuit or a bikini!! 'Live your life and feel good in your own skin' Fans flocked to comments on her post as many were shocked by the troll's unkind remarks. Comments included: 'You keep going and you look amazing. While you've got it flaunt it'; 'Today I'm wearing a swimsuit, not because of the comment I read but because I wanted to and I feel comfortable in it,' she penned 'Absolutely not! Bikinis don't come with age restrictions—just confidence requirements! The only age limit is the age you stop caring what other people think'; 'People that say negative comments are just jealous! Do whatever makes you feel happy'; 'Wow, glad you didn't listen, some people should keep their comments to themselves. We are all different and we should do and wear what makes us happy.' Earlier this year, Laura revealed that she went on a date with Shaggy - and he made her pay. Laura, who split from husband Alex Goward, 44, in 2022 after a decade of marriage, shared details about her dating life in a new interview on Friday. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail Laura confirmed that she was still single and having fun as she recalled a surprise date from over 20 years ago. Recounting meeting up with Shaggy, she explained: 'I met him for coffee and I had to pay for it. It was at Heathrow airport. 'I'd been working with him, and he said, 'I really want to meet up with you and talk about work opportunities.'' As she soaked up the sun, the blonde beauty hit back at a comment from a follower who said she was too old to wear a bikini Confirming that he made up a song and sang it to her, she continued: 'God, that was over 20 years ago. I'm not sure he'd recognise me now.' Adding of her dating life now, Laura said: 'I'm busy working and dating and having fun, and I prefer to find people naturally rather than being on dating apps. 'I like to go out and meet people who have common interests. I made a decision going forward that I want to keep that aspect of my life private. 'I think it's really important that if I'm dating people - and I have been dating people - if they're not in the public eye, then they have a right to privacy. 'Just because I'm in the public eye – you never know what their job is, and they might need privacy for security reasons, and so I'm always mindful of that.' Laura shares two children Rocco, 12, and Tahlia, 10, with her ex-husband Alex, they split after 13 years together. In a statement at the time, she wrote: 'This isn't something I ever thought I'd be saying but, after 13 years of being together Alex and I have separated. 'Our children are and always will be our number one priority and we would respect privacy for our family at this time.' She has been a presenter on A Place in the Sun since 2012 and regularly posts pictures from her sun drenched holidays and filming trips on Instagram. Laura also explained that her time on the Channel 4 show has seen her through so many life changes, notably her engagement, the births of her children and her divorce. The former Dancing On Ice star described feeling like she had 'failed' amid their separation, which saw Laura move out of the couple's Surrey family home. She said: 'We are co-parenting, and it works. But even that, you know, I kind of felt like I had failed.'
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Friends outraged after Airbnb host cancels booking because of where they're from
Airbnb said they suspended the host and are now investigating the matter after pals Jemma Louise Gough, 38, and Jamie Lee Watkins, 37, were denied a stay in Manchester Two pals who booked a trip to Manchester for a concert were left "gobsmacked" after being denied an Airbnb stay simply because they were "from Wales". Jemma Louise Gough, 38, and Jamie Lee Watkins, 37, had been planning to travel from Cwmbran, South Wales, to see Australian music DJ Sonny Fodera perform at Co-op Live in November. But when they tried to book the one-night stay at a private property in the city, their reservation was abruptly declined. The pair, who wrote on the listing that they were coming 'from Wales to see the gig', were left baffled and politely messaged the host to ask why. The response came back bluntly: "Because you're from WALES." Jemma, a school support officer and mum-of-two, said the message left her stunned. "My mouth hit the floor – nothing else other than 'because you're from Wales'. It was nothing about us going to the concert or whatever, it was just discrimination of the country. We're amazing people, the Welsh are lush. I don't know what me and my friend - or the whole of Wales - did that's so horrible. It's absolutely horrendous." It comes after another Brit abroad slammed an all-inclusive hotel food, asking 'what on earth is this?' Jamie asked the host for further explanation as to why they'd had their booking rejected, saying it was 'discrimination under the Equality Act 2010'. She said her message was read, but received no response. Registered nurse Jamie, who attempted to make the booking through her account, said: "I just thought, 'oh my gosh, how can you say no just because I'm from Wales?'. Se added: "It was really blunt, just one line: because you are from, in capitals, Wales. What difference does that make? I was just a bit shocked really that people still say things like that. If [they] had said 'I don't want people going to concerts and coming back if they'd had a drink or something, I'd be like yeah, okay, that's fine. That's an explanation." An Airbnb spokesperson said: "Discrimination, including on the basis of nationality, has no place on Airbnb. As soon as this report was brought to our attention, we reached out to the guest to provide our support and suspended the host while we investigate this matter."
