Parisians are urging tourists not to travel to the city this year, especially during the Olympics, as locals ramp up efforts to keep crowds to a minimum.
Residents have used platforms such as TikTok to warn influencers that they may not be given a warm welcome when they arrive later this summer.
One Parisian student who goes by Leo Nora on the platform issued a warning that has since been viewed more than one million times. She said: “If you are planning on coming to Paris for the Olympic Games, why?…Do not come.”
Ms Nora is not the only Parisian to exude displeasure at the number of tourists about to arrive in Paris for an event which could trigger a ‘superwave’ of bed bugs and STDs according to some experts.
Paris remains one of the closest cities to London – with Eurostar, ferry and flight options getting tourists into its airport in under four hours. It’s also a popular holiday-spot for families who sight-see in Paris while stopping off at Disneyland.
The New York Times reported that Miranda Starcevic, a French American, posted a video on TikTok in which she said: “This is a video for anyone that’s coming to Paris Olympics 2024. Don’t come. Cancel everything.”
Ms Starcevic later claimed that no one wanted the Olympic Games and that it was a “hot mess”. Also potentially creating a mess could be angry Parisians pooing into the Seine as part of a protest on June 23 in reaction to £1.2bn being spent to clean up the river ahead of Olympic events being held in it.
Dubbed a “s*** flashmob”, the hashtag #JeChieDansLaSeineLe23Juin which translates as 2I s*** in the Seine on June 23” has gained traction on X in France.
The protest ahead of the Olympic Games comes after experts warned that the city could become the base for another bed bug crisis similar to that which became an issue last autumn.
Speaking to Express.co.uk about the matter, Dr Chris Papadopoulos, Principal Lecturer in Public Health at the University of Bedfordshire said: “The Paris Olympics could indeed trigger a superwave of bed bugs.
“With thousands of visitors from all over the globe, bed bugs could easily hitch a ride in luggage, clothing, and personal items.
“This mass movement of people creates the perfect storm for the bugs to spread through hotels, public transport, and other communal areas.
“They are also highly resilient and capable of long-distance travel in human belongings. When these visitors return home, there is a real risk of them carrying bed bugs with them which could potentially spark infestations in other countries.”
As well as bed bugs, there are concerns over STDs potentially becoming an issue during the tourist spike.
Sexual health expert Mo Carrier warned: “With athletes and tourists flocking to Paris and the celebrations in full swing, there’s likely to be a lot more social and sexual interactions.
“If people return home to the UK without getting tested after unprotected sex, we could see a surge in STDs, adding to an already worrying trend.
“Effective public health measures, education campaigns, and easy access to testing and treatment will be crucial to avoid an STD epidemic.
“It’s great that athletes are being given condoms, but I think the public should too. It promotes safe sex and makes condoms more accessible.”
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