Visit London, Paris Tourist Office and Eurostar: American Tourists needed!

Visit London, Paris Tourist Office, and Eurostar have partnered up to promote the campaign which urges US travelers to visit #LondonParisNow to discover over 177 Michelin restaurants, 325 museums and galleries, 371 theatres and over 490 nightclubs across the two European capitals which are separated by a short rail journey of just over two hours.

Following research from YouGov Plc, European cities London and Paris will unite for the first time in tourism history in a bid to end US millennial vacation procrastination. Starting on 30 October, the campaign will focus on the ‘power of now’ as both cities provide a lifetime of experiences for all ages across all interests from culture to adventure, history to hidden gems.

With less than one in 10 millennial Americans (8%) having visited both London and Paris, and over seven out of 10 (72%) expressing a desire to visit both destinations as part of one vacation, the two famous cities have teamed up to encourage people to make the journey today, not tomorrow.

The YouGov poll revealed that from checking something off their bucket list to getting up in the morning, American 18-34-year-olds are hitting the “snooze” button on their life more than their Generation X and baby boomer counterparts.

Although there are actions that all Americans put off doing, such as getting healthier** (69% of millennials and 67% of 35 years+) and ending a relationship (32% of millennials and 27% of 35 years+) the research reveals greater disparities between the generations for most activities.

Results show the biggest difference between the generations was around getting up when the alarm goes off in the morning, with over two thirds of millennials (67%) preferring to hide under the duvet, compared to only half of 35 years+ (51%).

The polls showed that calling parents was also less of a priority for US millennials, with almost half (42%) saying it was something they put off doing, while only 29% of 35 years+ delayed checking in with mom and dad.

From the results, it appeared that perhaps most significantly for the so-called #FOMO generation, more millennials are putting off taking a vacation from work (43%) and doing something on their bucket list (55%) than any other age group (36% putting off taking a vacation from work and 49% doing something on their bucket list respectively for 35 years+).

Laura Citron, Chief Executive of Visit London, said:

“Vacation procrastination seems to be a very real problem, with more people than ever putting off taking a break to check experiences off their bucket lists. We want to change that.

“We know that once people experience London and Paris, they fall in love and want to visit again and again to discover more. Just over two hours apart, whether it‘s enjoying an Instagrammable afternoon tea at Sketch in central London or hovering over Paris in Ballon Generali; riding down the Champs Elysees in a sidecar with Retro Tour Paris, or zipping up the Thames in a speedboat rib, visitors can flit easily between the two European capitals and uncover all they have to offer .

“These are destinations that have inspired some of the most prolific minds in the world, from Shakespeare to Monet and that passion and vitality can be felt by all that make the journey.“

Pierre Schapira, Chairman of Paris Tourist Office, said:

“Let‘s keep things simple: two incredible cities, two different cultures, a little more than two hours apart by Eurostar. If you‘re someone who wants to get the most out of life, why pass up the opportunity to experience London and Paris in one go? With so many experiences on offer, you‘ll need a whole lifetime. So, don‘t wait! Start checking off those bucket list must-dos now.“

US Procrastination Table

   
    Statement - Do you EVER postpone or put off doing each of the following?
                                                             % put off doing
                                                      18-34yrs             35+yrs
    Doing things to be healthier (eating better,
                                   exercise etc)         69%                 67%
                  Getting up when alarm goes off         67%                 51%
                               Cleaning the oven         58%                 54%
                   Booking a dentist appointment         57%                 52%
             Doing something on your bucket list         55%                 49%
                     Listening to your voicemail         52%                 47%
                     Taking a vacation from work         43%                 36%
                            Calling your parents         42%                 29%
        Updating anti-virus software on computer         41%                 40%
                           Ending a relationship         32%                 27%
             Writing a screenplay / novel / book         20%                 17%