French tourism down in 2003 as Americans stay away

Reuters ^ | 2/25/04

[areafiftyone]

PARIS, Feb 25 (Reuters) - France, the world's top tourist destination, suffered a drop in visitors and tourism revenues in 2003 as concerns over the war in Iraq and a weak dollar kept away U.S. visitors, official figures showed on Wednesday.

Foreign tourists dropped by 2.6 percent to 75 million last year from 77 million in 2002 in what was a poor year for global tourism, junior minister for tourism Leon Bertrand said.

U.S. visitors fell 18.3 percent to 2.4 million in 2003, when the dollar fell and relations between Paris and Washington soured over France's opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

That was a big blow because U.S. tourists spend more on average than people from other countries and opt for longer stays, according to a report detailing the figures.

"The drop in American revenues was particularly pronounced. For more than 30 years, the United States has been the country that has been the most profitable for France in terms of tourism revenues," it said.

"In 2003, for the second year running, British revenues exceeded those from America," it added.

Tourism contributed 32.3 billion euros ($40.83 billion) to France's current account in 2003, down 5.4 percent from 2002. The drop was slightly compensated by an increase in the number of French people spending holidays at home.

[areafiftyone]

concerns over the war in Iraq and a weak dollar kept away U.S. visitors

UMMMM Tell the truth Reuters for a change. It was because of France's blatent hatred for the U.S. and our president and their refusal to help in the Iraq war and help free the Iraqi people that kept from visiting there. We don't visit Weasels.

[dead]

The only problem with France is that it's full of French people.

[2banana]

Could also be due to the weak dollar and the relatively expensive French tourist industry (ie - there are cheaper places to go).

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Quel dommage, je suis desolee.

[rocky88]

Boo Freakin' Hoo...

Not only have I no desire to visit France because they're a bunch of weenies, but the country is now a muslim-infested cesspool.

[samtheman]

I have travelled to France in the past. Never again.

[SF Republican]

tre bien

[areafiftyone]

I've never been there and its funny because even years ago I never had a desire to go there. I've been to England and Ireland and I definitly want to go to Italy.

[Sunshine Sister]

Very good!

Another thing I have noticed lately. The cosmetics firm Loreal has been putting coupons for their products in the Sunday ads. I have never before seen a coupon from them. I used to use some of their stuff so I noticed when the coupons started appearing.

[martin_fierro]

[Hank Rearden]

There are many other Islamic countries to visit that are a lot cheaper than France. Less smelly, too.

[goresalooza]

I'll be happy to visit France when they 1) give us thanks for saving them from the Nazis in WWII and 2) they tell Bush how dead-on-right he is on the war in Iraq. Until then, I shall spend no francs before a dime! (I know they use Euros..LOL)!

[End Times Sentinel]

That was a big blow because U.S. tourists spend more on average than people from other countries and opt for longer stays, according to a report detailing the figures.

LOL!  Yep, I'd like to see this figure expressed in dollars or euros or whatever those monkeys use for currency.  They can fill their hotels with skin-flint cloggies and tightwad Bucket heads with their snapper change purses.

The whole continent makes me want to puke with their bizarre clothing, barbaric history, and horrific body odor.

 

Owl_Eagle

" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"

[areafiftyone]

[I'm ALL Right!]

I am disappointed with the number of people who STILL went. I even avoid buying products that are made in France, as I don't want to send any money to that anti-American country.

[Prodigal Son]

My wife just back from a ski trip in France. I wouldn't hesitate to go, personally.

[-YYZ-]

OK, help me out here: Cloggies and bucket heads? Dutch and ??? Germans? (but I thought they were known as "square-heads")

[Sunsong]

Nice to hear. Countries like Canada and France that think they are "morally superior" to us and free to bash us and sabotage our efforts to fight terrorism -- also want us to travel to their countries and spend our hard earned American dollars there.

It must be hard for socialists to put two and two together and realize that if they want us to vacation in their anti-American countries they will actually need to change to pro-American.

[End Times Sentinel]

Cloggies and bucket heads? Dutch and ??? Germans?

Two for two, good work otta you!

but I thought they were known as "square-heads"

Probably both.  Q:  Why does a german pay six marks for a haircut?  A:  One mark for each side.

Owl_Eagle

" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

You took the words right out of my mouth.