Tourism in France hugely hit by coronavirus

The French tourism industry is suffering due to the coronavirus outbreak and the country's many hotels are dealing with cancellations and declining numbers of bookings. Serge Cachan, who heads the French boutique hotel chain Astotel, said a decision by US President Donald Trump to impose a travel ban on most of Europe as part of containment efforts, had particularly affected the group's revenue.

"Before the Trump decision we lost 50%.... With the Trump decision we lost another 50%, so we go from 50 to 25 (percent), and maybe that the consequences will go to zero," Cachan said.

He added that people in the hotel industry were experiencing uncertainty whether they should remain open or shut temporarily.

In a televised address to the nation on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron, announced that all kindergartens, schools and universities in France would be closed "until further notice," however, he said events - like Paris' mayoral elections, were expected to go ahead as planned.

"The question we are asking ourselves is whether we are going to close the hotels or not, starting on Monday... We have no idea what's going to happen," Cachet said, commenting on the lack of guidelines in his industry.

On Friday morning, the city's famed Champs-Elysees was still full of pedestrians, many of them tourists who may be facing changes to their travel plans.

American tourist Ahmad Hamami, who lives in New Mexico state, said he might have to plan a new route to return to the US.

"(I'm just going to) enjoy my day. And if they can't change my flight, I am just going to go from London, if not, I am going to go back to Spain and just go home from there," Hamami said.