The attacks, weather, strikes … have driven tourists from France – Le Figaro

The number of foreign tourists in France fell by 7% since the beginning of this year, reveals the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Jean-Marc Ayrault.

After a 2015 “outstanding”, “2016 will undoubtedly remain one year except for the tourism industry,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, while traveling in the Loire Valley. The number of foreign tourists in France fell by 7% since the beginning of the year, affected by the attacks but also the weather, calendar effects and strikes, explained Jean-Marc Ayrault.

“the arrivals (foreign tourists) since the beginning of the year were down 7% on the entire territory”, with broadly stable region in results compared to last year and a “fragile Paris destination, “said the minister. “The attacks partly explain (these) disappointing trends” and “the security risk perception has had a clear influence on certain client, including the wealthiest, or those from Asia,” says the former prime minister.

“aLSO READ: the French Riviera wants to revive its tourism

the economic difficulties of some countries such as Russia and Brazil also participated in the disaffection of foreign tourists, said Jean-Marc Ayrault. “The bad weather, with fifty more days of rain in the second quarter, the calendar with only two holidays except weekend against five last year or strikes” also explain the disappointing results of the spring, a-t- he said.

it’s not all negative, however, said Jean-Marc Ayrault, citing for example record fill rate in certain host cities of Euro 2016 football, with figures of business up 70% on hotels in Lens, Lille and Saint-Etienne. Cultural events are not left out: the Avignon Festival has seen its attendance increase by 6.5% and the Francofolies de la Rochelle 32%

“The theme parks are expected to grow. over 2% after a 2015 record year “and” income of outdoor accommodations will end the season with 8% growth, “further noted Jean-Marc Ayrault, who after a visit to the cellar of wine producers Montlouis-sur-Loire, walked the gardens of Chaumont-sur-Loire before going to the chateau de Chambord.

Paris remains the black spot. The capital has been affected by the attacks but the strikes and “too high prices,” the minister said. Foreign tourist arrivals and there were down 17% on the weekend of 15 August. In Nice, where hoteliers and airlines have adjusted their prices just after the attack on the Promenade des Anglais on 14 July they fell by 2.4% in the same weekend. “We need a vigorous reaction” as soon as the situation evolves, found Mr. Ayrault.

The minister, who had presented in March a plan worth one million euros to promote France to abroad after the attacks in 2015, centered on Paris and some destinations associated with the Loire Valley, will “mobilize additional 500,000 euros” in aid of this program led by Atout France, covering in particular the French Riviera. The head of French diplomacy, which had already gathered the sector early July as part of government efforts to boost tourist numbers, also indicated that he would convene “early September” a new emergency economic committee of tourism, “devoted to the regions most affected” by this fall.