According to a new study, Paris’s iconic Eiffel Tower has been identified as the most scammed tourist location worldwide. The research conducted by the travel agency Bounce revealed that out of 548 reported incidents of scams on the popular landmark, it ranks the highest compared to any other destination. The high number of tourists visiting the Eiffel Tower has led to a surge in scamming incidents in the area.
While the Eiffel Tower has a higher incidence of scams, it is not the most affected location when considering the proportion of scam incidents to total visitors. The Intramuros area of Manila has a scam rate of 0.86%, while it is 0.55% in Beijing’s Forbidden City and 0.50% in Petra, Jordan. The Eiffel Tower ranks fourth, with a scam rate of 0.38%. The report attributes the high incidence of scams at the Eiffel Tower to its popularity, with mentions of scams like the “boullion” game and pickpocketing.
Despite a 44% decrease in theft and scam incidents in the area reported by Paris police last November, tourist complaints have not decreased. The Bounce study also highlights Paris’s overall prevalence in scam incidents, with 2,430 out of approximately 160,000 respondents mentioning scams, representing 1.52%. This rate actually places Paris fourth, as in Riga, Latvia, 2.53% of 3,800 respondents reported scams. The research paints a negative picture of the Eiffel Tower, despite its allure due to its beauty and historical significance.
