Parisians look to cash in as excitement builds for Summer Games

WATCH: Ross Cullen on how Paris is preparing for the Games

Paris is the capital of the most-visited country in the world and it is a year-round hit with tourists. Add in the biggest multi-sport show on earth and you can see how the city will also be one of the world's busiest cities this summer.

‌The hotel industry is looking to welcome all those visitors for the Olympics and Paralympics. Yet according to the hospitality sector, there are still issues surrounding staff working during the 2024 Games that have not been ironed out with the city and Games authorities.

"Will we be able to find enough staff to welcome the tourists who will be coming to Paris? There's also the question of training new employees," said David Zenouda, president for the Paris region of the Union of Trade and Hospitality Industries.

"We're starting to get some answers about delivery and logistics. Then there's the very important question which the government has to answer: site security and how we're going to ensure that the sites are secure enough to welcome our customers."

Thousands of Parisians are looking to cash in by renting their apartments for the Games. The mayor Anne Hidalgo pleaded earlier this month for them to remain in the city this July and August. She is urging them to stay to enjoy the Olympic and Paralympic atmosphere.

Hundreds of thousands of people traditionally leave the city in the summer and go on holiday. Despite the mayor's plea, many locals say they are still planning to head out - and try to make some money while they are away. The local government is doubling subway fares and tripling the tourist tax during the Games.

"For the Olympics and Paralympics, the Paris capital region transport body will increase its transport options considerably," said Valerie Pecresse, president of the Paris capital region.

"It is unthinkable that locals would pay for this. So we are going to create a new transport pass to allow people to move around the whole Paris capital region. It will cost 16 euros ($17.10) a day. That is a fair price."

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The local authorities argue they need to raise prices to be able to improve services, but some people in the French capital think the authorities are exploiting the expected surge in visitors.

Some of the less anticipated impacts of the Games are the expected pressure on the transport system, an exodus of locals, and increased security measures.

But the Paris Games will be the greenest-ever, and they are forecast to come in on-time, and with a smaller budget than in the previous Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Rio and London.

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