Disaster for tourism as US visitors shun Paris

The Daily Telegraph ^ | 01/08/2003 | Henry Samuel

[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.

[ijcr]

To add to the tourist trade's woes, even the French are staying at home.

That says it all.

[Pharmboy]

As Austin Powers says: "Boo freakin' hoo."

[Pharmboy]

I stand corrected by my middle daughter. It was Dr. Evil, and it was "Boo frickity hoo."

[LibertyThug]

Instead of offering a tour including Britain, France and Italy, say, we are now replaced by Spain," said M Balderacchi.

Yes, easily replaced and easily forgotten...

[Paul Atreides]

"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.

I love it!

[FoxPro]

Time to visit Paris!

[yooper]

"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."

Dumbass. These idiots still don't get it.

[oceanview]

this is great news, someone email Oreilly.

[xp38]

Sars??!! Since when did France have any Sars cases? That is our excuse here in Toronto!

[Paul Atreides]

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."

I thought it was politically incorrect to wax nostalgic about the 80s.

[xrp]

Woohoo! Kudos to Americans like me and others, who are choosing to spend their tourism dollars RIGHT HERE in the good old U S of A. #1, it helps our fellow American (thus the economy), #2, the USA looks a whole lot prettier than France anyway.

[tet68]

Woe is the po Francais!

Really, my heart goes out to them, really.

Imagine, Americans are subject to hijack and being flown into skyscrapers, and they wonder why tourism is down. tsk, tsk.

I was over the Franch a looooong time ago.

[Texas_Dawg]

lured by France's gastronomy

Looks like gastronomic bypass is even more popular in America than I'd thought.

[Pharmboy]

Two Euros to the dollar, and we'll buy the entire country and throw the socialists and islamists out (pretty empty then, eh?)

[corkoman]

Spain is nice. Frogs are yucky.

[July 4th]

This is what the Parisians have always wanted - a Paris sans Americans. I thought they would have been a little happier.

[Dark Wing]

You will love this.

[tet68]

And consider the Brits, their tourism is down 10% and they are only a chunnel or ferry ride/flight away.

Must be hell being french.

[Interesting Times]

Evidently France isn't attracting enough former members of the Ba'ath Party to make up the difference.

Pity, that...

[nothingnew]

Tsk Tsk Tsk

FMCDH