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Boycott grinds on against French food, wine, travel
France continues to take it on the chin — and in the gut. Nearly one in five Americans who regularly buy French products say they have stopped because of France's outspoken opposition to the war in Iraq, according to a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup survey. The French Government Tourist Office — which figures France will lose about $500 million in American tourist business this year for a variety of reasons — is taking the situation so seriously that it is about to begin a multicity campaign promoting travel bargains to France. ''We're going to talk directly to the American people,'' says Robin Massee, a tourism spokeswoman.
Bad move, better to give the American people 6 more months to forget instead of reminding them that you still exist.
Their research shows they need to. More than 41% of Americans with French travel plans have modified them in some way, according to a consumer survey on the tourist office's Web site. Requests for French travel information were down 34% in March, Massee says.
I'm disappointed it's only 34%
''There's still a lot of anger out there,'' says Roger Simmermaker, whose Web site (www.howtobuyamerican.com) touts the ''biggest French Boycott List anywhere'' of French companies. ''This isn't going to go away anytime soon.'' Signs of damage:
  • Travel. The French tourist office is about to launch a Club France card with the lure of 10% discounts on everything from plane tickets to hotel bills.
  • Trade shows. This summer's Paris Air Show, an aviation convention attracting the world's biggest aerospace companies, expects far fewer U.S. visitors.
  • Investments. Montana divested all $15 million worth of French company shares its state investment board managed. ''There's a concern about the price of French stocks if Americans refuse to buy French products,'' executive director Carroll South says.
  • Restaurants. Andre Rochat, owner of three French restaurants in Las Vegas, will go to court to pursue charges against a caller who threatened him. The restaurateur's business is off 25%. ''I'm an American citizen,'' Rochat says. ''What about my rights?''
    Heheh HA!
  • Consumer products. While limited in scope and effect, American boycotts of French companies have hit everyone from Dannon to L'OrÚal.
  • Wine. Sales of French wine — the symbol of French culture — are way off. Bill Deutsch, whose company, W.J. Deutsch & Sons, is a big U.S. importer of French wine, says his sales are off 10%. ''I've never witnessed anything like this,'' he says. Supermarket chain Harris Teeter has stopped advertising French wines in its weekly circulars. ''Why put something out there that may provoke a negative reaction?'' poses spokeswoman Tara Stewart.

Posted by: Domingo 2003-05-01
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=13726