© Christophe Hochard / RTL
Luxembourg City is bustling with preparations for Pope Francis' highly anticipated visit on Thursday, with local businesses and the hospitality sector gearing up for an influx of visitors despite hotels seeing little surge in bookings so far.
Luxembourg City is gearing up for the highly-anticipated visit by Pope Francis on Thursday, 26 September. And with just days to go, preparations are in full swing across the capital. The hospitality sector, in particular, is anticipating a significant influx of visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the Pope.
Speaking to RTL, Alain Rix, president of the Horesca federation, expressed hopes that the capital's restaurants and cafés will benefit from the occasion. And if the weather cooperates, visitors from Luxembourg and from abroad might even make use of the numerous outdoor terraces of Luxembourg City to enjoy a meal or drink on the day.
Read also: Full schedule unveiled for Pope Francis' visit to Luxembourg on 26 September
However, although the Pope's visit is expected to attract a large number of visitors, hotels have yet to notice an increase in bookings. The capital's youth hostel, for instance, reported to have no significant amount of bookings related to the occasion. A longer visit by the Pope might have had a bigger impact on the sector, some estimate.
Hotels are nonetheless preparing for the occasion, particularly by informing guests of potential traffic disruptions in the city. At Hotel Cravat, guests planning to check in or out on Thursday have been urged via email to plan their arrival or departure accordingly.
