Posted on 11/07/2005 8:41:40 AM PST by ncountylee
PARIS, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Fear is growing among French restaurant owners and shopkeepers that violence in poor suburbs of Paris and major cities will damage France's image and keep foreigners away from the world's top travel destination.
The United States has warned citizens to avoid the rundown suburbs hit by unrest since Oct. 27. Calls for caution have also come from countries including Australia, Canada, Britain, Russia and the Netherlands.
"It's really worrying. The tourists will stay away," said John Diaz, polishing miniature models of the Eiffel Tower in his souvenir shop next to Notre Dame Cathedral.
"Lots of people have come in here and asked me whether it is safe to go to the Eiffel Tower. This is really hurting the city's image," said Diaz, who has run his shop for 14 years, but cannot remember such violent riots ever happening before.
The riots started when two teenagers were accidentally electrocuted while apparently fleeing police in a Paris suburb and has since spread to other French cities.
There has been little violence in Paris itself but more than 30 cars were torched in the capital at the weekend.
France's tourism minister said the riots could become a problem for France's reputation if they lasted.
"It is clear that if this movement -- which has already lasted 11 days -- continues, we will have to address concerns about our image," Tourism Minister Leon Bertrand told Reuters.
Tourism is a major employer in France, accounting for some 6.5 percent of French gross domestic product. Foreigners spent some 33 billion euros ($39 billion) in France last year, official data shows.
The industry was hit two years ago, when France's opposition to the U.S. war in Iraq, lingering effects of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and economic woes led to a dip
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
"Right now, I'd say that the Islamofascist riots hurting tourism should be the least of France's worries."
Really? Seems to me that if the roles were reveresed, many freepers would be worried about business first and foremost.
"Y'know - I've always wondered if this was due to serial or parallel flow"
It got both of them, I'd say parallel. However, there would be more current driven in a serial arrangement.
Isn't this tantamount to worrying about your lawn in the face of an impending nuclear explosion?
A married couple we are friends with came over for dinner last night. They were talking about another trip to Paris (they travel a LOT on vacation).
They didn't even know about the French riots. After I told them what has been going on for the past 11 nights, they decided to not to visit France.
I can't imagine planning a pleasure trip to Paris under the current circumstances.
I wouldn't be caught dead drinking a glass of French wine.... let alone planning a trip to Paris (under any circumstances).
Thanks to the lack of coverage in the MSM?! Obviously your friends are not FReepers.... after this, maybe they will be?! :-)
So, kind of the frog in boiling water scenario...the decline was so slow, they have no idea they're in deep crap.
The question is, are they capable of realizing this means that there is no fence sitting in the war on terror. They can either break out their burkas and dust off their prayer mats or they can help us and Britain out.
I'm also sure they haven't figured out that if they think Christians are too strict and oppresive, they're in for a rude awakening when they get taken over by the Muslims...a VERY rude awakening...just ask the Afghani's.
I don't know . . . somehow I think the last words were -
"Mohammed- give me your hand"
ZOT
Des jeunes ont attaqué un bus à l'aide d'une bouteille d'essence enflammée à Sevran mercredi soir. Une handicapée n'ayant pu s'échapper à temps du bus a été grièvement brûlée. La sûreté départementale de Seine-Saint-Denis a lancé vendredi un appel à témoin.
The tourism industry needs to switch its focus from Western consumers to Muslims and Islamic Extremists...
Why fight it -- exploit it
Kind of ironic, isn't it? When New Orleans was in trouble, the MSM greatly exaggerated the riots that were going on.
Now that Paris REALLY IS on fire, they want to downplay it.
That is a stellar idea. But no catch and release policy.
The French restaurant owners are right. Who wants to go to a place where they'll set you on fire if you don't get off the bus fast enough?
The Froggies will shoot to kill if the Muslim mob starts torching wine, cheese and Galois cigarette warehouses
One evening at the height of the troubles, I received a warning from a friend in the local police force that rioters were headed for our city center. My husband was working there and I set out to pick him up. I was moved to the side of the road to make way for truck loads of police in riot gear headed into the town center. I remember putting my head on my hands on the steering wheel and weeping. Could this really be happening in England?
My thoughts and prayers are with the innocent people in France.
Frances image? They need not worry. No one is going to France anytime soon.
France could make billions selling terrorist hunting permits. A new and untapped market for them. They could make money and get rid of terrorists at the same time. A win/win situation.
Offer special "Riot Tours". ;-)
Well now, we can't have the tourism industry hurting, can we. NOW we'll see them crack down on the rioters. I guess immolating a handicapped woman isn't enough to get them to put a stop to it.
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