The Louvre Museum evacuated this Saturday, the Palace of Versailles which has suffered its fourth bomb alert since the beginning of the week, eight airports emptied of passengers this Thursday after 11 on Wednesday, some 130 flights canceled and countless delays…
Threats and false bomb threats are creating a climate of tension in the country that could affect tourism a few hours before the start of the All Saints’ holidays.
While the country was in an “emergency attack” situation last Friday, 84% of French people say they are concerned about the situation and 43% say they intend to change their behavior regarding their outings, according to a Elabe survey for BFMTV.
Terrorism after bed bugs
But it is above all the threat of foreign tourism drying up that worries professionals in the sector. The Louvre (8 million visitors in 2022) and the Palace of Versailles (7 million) are two places subject to false alerts that each welcome 70% of non-French visitors. And after the bedbug episode widely reported abroad, the terrorist threat once again darkens the outlook for French destiny.
Although at the moment, regarding this audience, we have not measured a wave of cancellations.
Nowadays it is rather on the side of European tourists where there is the greatest uncertainty. Spaniards, Belgians and Germans have taken to crossing the border to spend a few days in France on the occasion of All Saints’ Day. It would rather be the fear of inconvenience in the country that would make them hesitate this year.
“If the media wants to pay France…”
For North American or Asian tourists who have planned their trip months in advance, the short-term risk seems less significant.
However, these fears arise in a context that is very favorable to tourism in the country. In Ile-de-France, attendance in 2023 was on track to surpass last year’s record of 44 million visitors. As for All Saints’ Day, the period also promises to be very favorable, with an increase in reservations of 5% according to the Umih of Ile-de-France and 3% for the entire country for Atout France.
Source: BFM TV
