Parisian restaurateurs are complaining about a drop in visitors in connection with the Olympic Games which officially begin on Friday.

The strict security measures have had a catastrophic impact on their businesses, according to a joint press release from catering and trade associations.

This was reported by several French media on Friday.

Restaurants and brasseries, for example at the central Trocadéro square, one of the main Olympics venues, are suffering from access restrictions.

It was reported that visitor numbers have fallen by 70 percent.

Added to the reduction from the Olympic restrictions is the bad weather at the beginning of the season.

There is already a reduction in tourists as a result of inflation and the fact that holiday-makers generally tend to avoid Paris at the height of summer.

The Olympic Games will run over 17 days from Friday, ending on August 11.

According to the press release, the safety of visitors is the top priority.

However, the group argued that the authorities should have provided more information about the restrictions so that caterers could have prepared better.

They are demanding swift compensation for the inconvenience they have suffered.

(dpa/NAN)