ABOVE: The Louvre is a top attraction

Tourism in Paris is on the rise

Paris tourism officials said Tuesday they do not expect to see a drop in the number of visitors this year despite a huge drop in the number of U.S. visitors who felt the effect of 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.

The drop was compensated for by an increase in visitors from Britain, which overtook the United States as Paris' top foreign client in the first half of this year. Overall, the number of visitors increased 2.2% to 17.3 million.

Paris has also seen increasing numbers of new visitors from places like the Middle East, India, South America and Eastern Europe.

"Paris is doing well," said Jean-Claude Lesourd, president of Paris' Tourism Office. "2008 will be a very good year — as good as last year, and perhaps even better."