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Sporadic violence affecting Japanese tourists in Paris and large-scale robbery of a Chinese tourists’ group contributed to destabilize the image of the destination France. French authorities now step in to communicate differently to retain Chinese, Japanese or Korean travellers.
PARIS – The recent violence around the Trocadero Square and the Eiffel Tower following the victory of Paris local football club turned ugly for a group of Japanese, who experienced the rampage of their bus by a group of hooligans. It was a regrettable incident but Asians have recently been increasingly victims of scams or robberies in Paris. Around and in the Louvre Museum, scams to extirpate money from visitors for the sake of a (fake) NGO action, prompted employees of the world’s largest museum to go on strike last April to ask for more security.
Worst was the story experienced by this group of Chinese travellers, who were robbed after being attacked in a suburb following their arrival at CDG Airport. The repetition of the story over the Chinese social media conducted even French President François Hollande to step into the debate and to promise during an official trip to China to reinforce protection for all travellers and of course the Asians.
How is also reacting ATOUT France, the country’s tourism marketing agency to rectify France battered image? According to Stéphanie Cadet, Head of the Press Division for the agency, Atout France and its partners are very conscious of the negative impact that recent violence generated among Asian potential and confirmed travellers. But so far Atout France did not notice any shift in its activities or a slowdown in demand.
This is however not the opinion of the Comité Colbert, a private council representing the interest of 75 top French luxury brands. – among others Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Guerlain, Cartier, Boucheron, Hédiard ou Baccarat. On May 24, the Comité made a formal request to the government to act against rising petty criminality and attacks. General Delegate to the Comitee, Elisabeth Ponsolle Des Portes, declared that it was an extremely serious sign that clients of luxury French houses did not feel safe in Paris.
But so far, both Japan and China PRC, Asia’s two largest incoming market to France, did not overreact. “Bookings are fairly normal for both Japan and China. But assuring the safety of our traveller is vital. Just not to forget is the fact that Paris welcome this days over one million tourists from China“, says Frederic Meyer, Head of Atout France in Tokyo. Meyer notices however that troubles and violences against tourists are mostly concentrated around Paris. Paris Police Department and the Tourism Authority of Paris recently edited brochures about the scams surrounding fake charities providing advices and tips. Atout France posts also regularly information on the safety situation as well as advices to feel better protected. In Japan, Atout France translated all the advices of the Paris Police Department in Japanese language.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
