Paris tourism on the rise despite economic woes

PARIS — Paris tourism officials said Tuesday they expect visits to hold up this year despite a huge drop in the number of U.S. visitors — many pinched by an expensive euro, fuel-inflated prices for airline tickets and economic woes at home.

The number of Americans, traditionally the largest group of foreign visitors to the French capital, tumbled 20% in the six months until June, according to figures based on overnight hotel stays. Paul Roll, director of Paris' Tourism Office, said he expects a similar fall in the second half of the year.