Paris protests: Over half of tourists cancel or leave early
The weekend riots in France have had a ‘catastrophic’ impact on tourism, with over half cancelling or leaving early, it has been claimed.
President Macron chaired an emergency meeting on Sunday afternoon to discuss the French government’s response to disturbances in Paris and elsewhere in the country this weekend.
The president flew in from the G20 summit in Buenos Aires and headed straight to the Arc de Triomphe, the scene of protests against rising fuel taxes and economic reform involving thousands of people on Saturday.
In the country’s worst riots since 1968, over 400 rioters were arrested and 150 people hurt in the captial. Across France 75,000 people were estimated to have taken part in protests, marking the third weekend in a row of protests.
Nineteen Paris Metro stations were shut down, while department stores, including the famous Galeries Lafayettes, closed early.
Away from Paris, protestors blocked off access to a terminal at Nice airport and there were large crowds in Marseille, the Loire Valley and Bordeaux.
One person died on Sunday morning near Arles, in the south of France, after an accident at a roadblock created by protesters.
Images of the violence have had a ‘catastrophic’ effect on tourism, according to the Union of Restaurateurs and Caterers.
It said 50% of tourists in Paris had cancelled their reservations or left the country early, with more starting to cancel elsewhere in France.
Options being discussed by Macron and his advisers include putting troops on the streets and declaring a state of emergency.
Government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux told Europe 1 radio: "It is out of the question that each weekend becomes a meeting or ritual for violence."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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