The services industry in France is 71% (per the 2002 CIA Factbook) of their entire GDP, and that services industry is dominated by tourism.
Posted on 07/31/2003 6:26:09 PM PDT by ijcr
Millions of foreign tourists are shunning France this summer, costing the country billions of pounds and threatening its position as the world's favourite destination.
Travel agents say there is widespread evidence that the tourist industry is suffering as a result of President Jacques Chirac's vehement stand against the war in Iraq. The strong euro has added to the crisis.
According to the president of France's travel agents' union, Cesar Balderacchi, bookings from the United States in the past six months were 50 per cent down on last year, with no sign of improvement as the tourist season reaches its peak. British visitor numbers have fallen by around 10 per cent.
Tourism is of enormous importance to France. Last year, 77 million visitors arrived, lured by France's gastronomy, wealth of history and topographical variety, bringing in £24 billion. American tourists alone accounted for £4.2 billion.
"After the Iraq crisis, many American tour operators just airbrushed France out of their brochures. Instead of offering a tour including Britain, France and Italy, say, we are now replaced by Spain," said M Balderacchi.
A brief tour of the centre of Paris yesterday confirmed his fears, with not a busload of camera-wielding Americans or Japanese to be seen.
On a clear, sunny day, the bateaux mouches that ply the Seine were all but empty. Three or four heads stared balefully from an red open-top sightseeing bus.
"Thanks very much, Tony Blair and friends," said the bus conductor.
"Where have all the Americans gone?" asked a gloomy waiter in a cafe next to Notre Dame. "Usually two waiters are hard pushed to cope during the summer months, but this year it's just me - not enough custom."
Iraq is one factor. But Serge Thellier, who has had a souvenir stand on the Ile de la Cite for 43 years, blamed the dollar. "The Americans were like flies round honey in the 1980s when there were 10 francs to the dollar," he said. "Give me two euros to the dollar and they'll be back, bin Laden or no bin Laden."
According to figures published yesterday by the hotel industry association, hotel bookings were down by a quarter throughout France for July, with the luxury sector the worst hit.
Its president, Andre Daguin blamed Iraq, Sars, oil-sullied beaches from the tanker Prestige, strikes which led to the cancellation of many summer festivals and the recent forest fires. "We have been spared nothing," he said.
Not only Paris is suffering. Tourist visits are down by a third on the coast in Aquitaine and inland in the Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne.
The French Riviera has not been spared either. Rentals of luxury yachts along the coast are down by half. Not a single boat has been hired by an American in Cannes or Monaco, according to one yacht company. "We can expect a lot of firms to go under," said one owner.
In an editorial this week the newspaper Libération said the strength of anti-French sentiment across the Atlantic had been underestimated. "Convinced that the peace of the brave begins at the table, the French never really believed the Americans would fall out of love with them," it said.
To add to the tourist trade's woes, even the French are staying at home. According to a report published yesterday by the national tourist board, only half are taking breaks this summer and for shorter periods. Until recently, virtually the whole of France was on holiday in August.
Good work, but people, we need to get that number UP. Bookings of 90% less than last year is the target number! But, we can certainly see and appreciate efforts so far. Now, let's see if we can acocmplish the same for Canada (except the good parts in the West).
HA! And they don't get away with pretending it's all Chirac's fault either. Add Villipan to the mix, and the arrogant, ignorant french themselves. We read the polls that were taken over there, we read the articles written about us and our president. This is not going to go away soon at all.
Are these people dellusional??
Here they are thinking we're still ready to pucker up as half of us are fantasizing about dropping the Big One on top of the Eiffel Tower.
Toronto...France..Aren't they one and the same??!!
Do you think? LOL, the French look for any excuse to blame but the real reason. Tourism is all but destroyed, and it all has to do with that 10% slide in the dollar. It couldn't have anything to do with Chirac's comments.
A brief tour of the centre of Paris yesterday confirmed his fears, with not a busload of camera-wielding Americans or Japanese to be seen. On a clear, sunny day, the bateaux mouches that ply the Seine were all but empty. Three or four heads stared balefully from an red open-top sightseeing bus. "Thanks very much, Tony Blair and friends," said the bus conductor.
"Where have all the Americans gone?" asked a gloomy waiter in a cafe next to Notre Dame. "Usually two waiters are hard pushed to cope during the summer months, but this year it's just me - not enough custom."
Dang, one almost feels sorry that the French have far fewer US citizens to insult this year. "ALMOST"
Thanks Tony Blair and friends? No, the thanks belongs much closer to home. Thanks Jacques. Your skills at diplomacy rank second to none, as the worst.
I'm raising my own Escargot!
True...romanticizing the Reagan era? They must be hurting!!
The services industry in France is 71% (per the 2002 CIA Factbook) of their entire GDP, and that services industry is dominated by tourism.
...that comment pissed me off. As you say, look a little closer to home. Scum.
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