Paris now tries to become tourist-friendly (2)

Email|Print|Comments       twitter     facebook     Sina Microblog     reddit    

So why are tourists flocking to France but unwilling to part with their cash once they get there?

Partially it’s because France tends to be a short-stay location.

Pinel, the tourism minister, says regions should work together as partners, not competitors.

“Our special difficulty is that we’re a country that is visited, notably the Ile-de-France region (around the capital) and Paris, but has trouble capturing visitors for a long time in other regions.”

But the crowds of tourists descending on Paris are part of the problem.

“It’s sometimes a bit difficult to marry the Parisians with their 30 million tourists,” says Audrey Epeche, who works in the office of the deputy mayor in charge of tourism. She attempts to explain the city’s reputation for rudeness.

She adds that this tide of visitors every year — Paris is definitely among the most visited cities in the world — also leads to the petty crime the city has become known for. In April, employees at the Louvre walked off the job to protest swarms of pickpockets often operating in the museum. The Paris police department has created a guide in six languages on how to avoid thieves and scams.

The government and city are determined to change what they can, including the reputation for snobbishness.

Working on the hunch that the frigid welcome has dissuaded tourists from spending more, Paris’ Chamber of Commerce and its Regional Tourism Committee have create a guide for people working in hospitality.

Called “Do You Speak Touriste?,” the guide focuses a lot on the obstacle of language.

“When you go to a foreign country, and see that the person in front of you is at least trying to start the discussion in your language, a barrier breaks down,” says Quentin Boissy D’Anglas of the Chamber of Commerce.

The guide — available in hard copy and online — offers a few phrases in the languages of the 11 most popular countries of origin for tourists. It also offers clues to what tourists are looking for: A Brazilian wants to feel he is seeing the “hidden” Paris and a German appreciates a handshake.

The advice can seem simple: Most tourists — surprise! — are looking for good service. But Pauline Frommer notes that small matters of politesse can make a big difference on impressions. She suspects that part of the French reputation for rudeness in the US stems from Americans’ misunderstanding of the French rules.

We Recommend

• Air Forces arrive at designated area to join China-Russia drill
  
• Hospital comes to aid of tragic family of ‘Chinese Cabbage Dad’
• Czech artist performs bubble show at Hong Kong mall
• Italian Supreme Court confirms Berlusconi's jail verdict
• Run naked as punishment for missing sales target
• International Grand Bazzar in Urumchi,Xinjiang