US tourists take France off menu; up to 80% dropoff in tourists.

Scotsman ^ | 07/29/03 | SUSAN BELLIN PARIS

[Pikamax]

US tourists take France off menu

SUSAN BELLIN PARIS

AMERICAN anger over the French stand against the war in Iraq has led them to boycott France in huge numbers.

The president of the French travel agents’ union has estimated the number of American visitors plunged by up to 80 per cent in the first half of 2003 compared to the same period in 2002, when some four million US tourists came to France.

César Balderacchi’s calculation was far more gloomy than that of the French ministry of tourism, which says numbers fell by 30 per cent in the first three months of 2003. But bookings may have fallen further during the Iraq war itself.

Americans are said to consider the French opposition to the Iraq war as anti-American. Many are said to be concerned they will not get a friendly reception in France.

The weakening of the dollar against the euro and the fear of terrorism has also driven the drop, experts say.

Paris, but also the Côte d’Azur and Normandy - the three regions most favoured by Americans - have all suffered.

Even luxury Paris hotels like the Hotel George V, off the Champs-Elysées, and the Plaza Athénée, on the exclusive Avenue Montaigne, have felt the pinch.

The George V welcomed "between 12 and 20 per cent fewer Americans" said Didier Le Calvez, the hotel’s director.

Americans are not even climbing the Eiffel Tower to eat in the monument’s celebrated Jules Verne restaurant, where the number of British visitors has overtaken them.

Fifty-nine years after D-Day, United States veterans are even staying away from Normandy beaches and cemeteries. Le Roosevelt restaurant on Utah Beach said business was down 30 per cent this year, despite its strawberry milkshakes and walls papered with pages from the New York Times.

The Hotel de la Mère Poulard at Mont St Michel in Normandy reports losing 50 per cent of its US custom. The tourist office, which doubles as the bureau de change there, is reporting a severe shortage of dollars.

[A CA Guy]

Let them eat cheese!

[xrp]

Why would Americans want to go somewhere they aren't welcome? This is good news for American tourism though. Americans DO take vacations and for every American dollar that isn't spent in France, it is more likely that the dollar will be spent in America.

[Ann Archy]

ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES, fRENCHIE.

[DPB101]

This could mean the collapse of France itself as, with no Americans around, the French are forced to be rude to each other.

[poindexter]

Bummer.

[Gil4]

I haven't been to France, and I'm 20 minutes from the border

[JoeFromCA]

I was in Aosta earlier this month and must confess that I did a one-day tour of the Col de L'Iseran, Col de La Madeleine, up to Albertville, and back to Bourg St. Maurice. However, I spent only 20 dollars Euro in France, so perhaps I can be forgiven.

[The Brush]

The only thing they welcomed was the money anyway.
If I had the choice of an all expense paid trip to France or nothing at all, I'd take nothing at all without giving it a second choice.
If I wanted to be treated like crap I could call my X (Now known as my WHY!!!)

[nutmeg]

Americans DO take vacations and for every American dollar that isn't spent in France, it is more likely that the dollar will be spent in America.

This year, all of our vacation dollars have been/will be spent in the USA. (And we have spent many past vacations in France.)

[Publius6961]

All choices, whether justified or imagined, have consequences.
Even principled or dissimulating ones.

I wish the French luck.

[fly_so_free]

I went to Europe a few years ago, and of all the places I visited , Paris was my favorite. I thought it was beautiful. Also, I got lost a couple of times and people were always helpful, friendly and helped me get back in the right direction. I had no experience of rudeness.

My roomate however (we were staying in London), went to Paris and had a terrible time, said everyone was rude, so I don't know.

The only thing I can say now is that I will NEVER go back there again (unless they have a drastic change in attitude). Its unforgivable, the way they've acted.

I've never visited the states here in my home, so that's what I will do from now on. I'll spend my money here in the USA.

[Maynerd]

I agree completely. I have been to France many times and much to my surprise I loved the country. The people were very polite and helpful. However, after their performance at the UN, the entire country can eff off. Their government is frankly traitorous to traditional western values.
I hope they can regain their bearings within 5 to 10 years. I would like to take my kids there sometime.

[FairOpinion]

Don't forget, we do have friends in Europe, which are also great countries to visit: UK, Italy, Spain and all the E. European countries who stood by us and stood up to the French threat and attempt at blackmail regarding their EU membership.

[Jay D. Dyson]

AMERICAN anger over the French stand against the war in Iraq has led them to boycott France in huge numbers.

The president of the French travel agents’ union has estimated the number of American visitors plunged by up to 80 per cent in the first half of 2003 compared to the same period in 2002, when some four million US tourists came to France.

*raising mug of coffee* Here's to the 3.2 million AMERICANS who gave France the direct "p!ss off" by taking their tourist dollars elsewhere!

Let's keep this boycott rolling!

-Jay

[Bonaparte]

Here's the only "tourist" I would want to send to France...

Edward, The Black Prince

Here he is "touring" the (former) city of Poitiers...

...just before he "paid his respects" to Paris.

[donozark]

Marshal Blucher would be another excellant choice. He so "loved" the French...

[Republican Red]

Le Roosevelt restaurant on Utah Beach said business was down 30 per cent this year, despite its strawberry milkshakes and walls papered with pages from the New York Times.

Yeah, that makes me want to go to France.0 I want to eat in a restaurant plastered with NY Times pages (hurl). These people just don't get it.

[King David]

Oh yeah. I'm really staying away from France because of the "weakening dollar against the euro". Yep. You got me. Dang. Just you wait. As soon as the dollar rebounds against the mighty euro, I'll be on the next plane.

NOT!

[Tunehead54]

French Boycott Bump! Hee hee - if the 80% drop in tourism is due to the Euro/dollar exchange rate then ALL of europe would be suffering similiar declines.

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Keep it up America!