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| Europe |
| U.S. tourists stay away from France |
| 2003-07-29 |
| The number of American tourists visiting France has dropped dramatically this year, by as much as 80 percent in the first half of 2003, the newspaper Liberation reported Monday, quoting the president of a group representing France’s travel agents. "Our colleagues across the Atlantic no longer schedule France," Balderacchi told the daily newspaper. Balderacchi’s somber assessment was countered by the Tourism Ministry, which put the decrease in American visitors at 30 percent for the first five months of 2003, attributing the decline mainly to the weak dollar. The weak dollar...Yeah, that’s the ticket!....How ya feelin now Jacque? Dominique? Tough being the |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #11 NMM: They won't have to tear it down. Add a dome, a few minarets, and you got instant mosque. They would have to fumigate that infidel stink out though. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-7-29 9:28:30 PM |
| #10 However, they have landed the new Al-Qaeda headquarters to be built on the former site of Notre Dame Cathedral. That should increase pilgrimages |
| Posted by: Not Mike Moore 2003-7-29 8:42:22 PM |
| #9 God, I love the marketplace. Capitalism is so elegantly agile when it comes to moving resources to -- or away from -- an alternative. |
| Posted by: Highlander 2003-7-29 4:51:24 PM |
| #8 The weak dollar (or strong euro) is a weak excuse. How are US tourists in Germany, Italy or Spain doing? And Britain isn't exactly cheap either. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-7-29 2:48:09 PM |
| #7 The frogs being visited by plagues? |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-7-29 2:35:21 PM |
| #6 The Polanisians should be able to pull up the tourist slack. They are used to having their nosed pinched by the well bread. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2003-7-29 12:30:39 PM |
| #5 Nice--the French are going to be hurting this year. Americans aren't spending money there; the Eiffel Tower had to be closed for some time due to fire; and now the Riviera itself has some raging wildfires, per the post above. Perhaps this will motivate the voters to put Chiraq out on his butt come election time? |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-7-29 12:22:43 PM |
| #4 PD, those abuse free Americans can go to Quebec if they need abuse. If that's not enough perhaps they could wear a George W. Bush shirt and visit one of the largely liberal cities in America. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-7-29 10:53:25 AM |
| #3 The hell with France. Barcelona, baby... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-7-29 10:47:33 AM |
| #2 I worry about our mental health. I can see a business opportunity, though. All those 'Merkins who used to go over to Phrawnce will be having DT's soon from the lack of abuse and insolence. Opening a chain of salons where people are served teeny tiny portions of unidentifiable meat swimming in a myriad of sauces (but tastefully and arfully presented - on dirty plates) and chicory coffee that's gone cold by incredibly arrogant snobby waiters who are inclinded (it's in the Union Rules, I'm sure) to debase and abuse the clientele - it can't miss! They'll come for the fix. They'll come back "or I shall taunt you a second time!" Without it, WTF would they talk about at the next cocktail party? Nope. Can't miss. |
| Posted by: PD 2003-7-29 9:55:39 AM |
| #1 oops - should've credited Drudge with a hat tip |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-7-29 9:19:04 AM |