Security fears cost French hotels $675 mln in 2016[Ynet] Fear of Islamist attacks kept foreign tourists away from Paris and the Riviera last year, costing French hoteliers an estimated 650 million euros ($675 million) in lost revenue, the head of hotel research firm MKG told Reuters on Tuesday.
Activity picked up slightly in the last quarter as hotels, notably in Paris, slashed prices during the year-end festivities and a stronger dollar brought back U.S. tourists.
Trade fairs such as Le Bourget air show, held every other year and next due in June, should help hotel room demand this year though a wait-and-see approach before the spring presidential elections could weigh on business.
"2017 can only be better than 2016 though we are unlikely to return to 2014's levels," MKG's Georges Panayotis said by phone.
Bulgaria to extradite Dutch terror suspect to Netherlands
[Ynet] A Bulgarian court has ordered a Dutch terror suspect who was arrested on a Bulgarian-Turkey border crossing to be extradited to the Netherlands. Police arrested Helena Soontjens as she crossed into Bulgaria on Dec. 21 at the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint at the border with Turkey. She was detained on a European arrest warrant issued by Dutch authorities. On Tuesday, the 33-year-old Dutch national made no statement before the district court in the southern town of Haskovo.
Bulgaria's state-run news agency BTA said she was investigated in the Netherlands for terrorism after a letter she wrote and left in her room said that she was on her way to Syria to join the Islamic State group.
Migrants protest conditions at 2 asylum centers in Italy
| This is the same protest where the rioters set part of the center on fire, according to the Daily Mail, below. |
| From Breitbart: |
3 Jan 2017
“If you want to live in peace, you have to prepare for war” Lega Nord leader Matteo Salvini has said, stating that Europe must rethink its migration policies following the terror attack at a Christmas market in Berlin.
More Asylum Requests in Germany than Rest of EU Combined, Bundestag VP Says Germany’s Migrant Crisis Is ‘Not Over’
3 Jan 2017
Germany received more asylum requests in 2016 than the rest of the European Union (EU) combined. In response to the report, the Bundestag vice-president warned Germany’s migrant crisis was not over.
‘Next Pope’ Says Trump Could Be Like ‘Best President’ Reagan
3 Jan 2017
The Archbishop of Vienna, who is tipped to be the next Pope, has implied the election of Donald Trump is a good thing as Ronald Reagan turned out to be “certainly one of the best presidents the U.S. ever had”.
Young Migrants Wreak New Year’s Eve Havoc in Bavarian City
3 Jan 2017
While much of Germany was at relative peace on New Year’s Eve
| ...peace being defined as migrant crimes ignored and unrecorded, or prevented by overwhelming and expensive police presence... |
Sex Attacks Plague Austria’s New Year’s Eve Celebrations
3 Jan 2017
Emergency services were inundated Saturday night across Austria as multiple reports of sex assaults have emerged and many were committed by young men described as having a foreign appearance.
‘Insecurity’ Drives Soaring Number of Belgians to Apply for Gun Licenses
3 Jan 2017
The number of Belgians applying for firearms permits has skyrocketed, with applications in one major province more than doubling in just five years, according to the authorities.
| More from Breitbart: |
3 Jan 2017
French authorities have been accused of a cover-up after claiming New Year’s Eve “went off without any major incident” despite more than 1,000 cars being torched in arson attacks.
Revealed: 1,000-Man Mob Attack Police, Set Germany’s Oldest Church Alight on New Year’s Eve
3 Jan 2017
At New Year’s Eve celebrations in Dortmund, a mob of more than 1,000 men chanted ‘Allahu Akhbar’, launched fireworks at police and set fire to an historic church.
Migrants Setting Blood, Faeces ‘Traps’ for Prison Staff
2 Jan 2017
Language classes and the recruiting of ‘Islam scientists’ are among measures announced by North Rhine-Westphalia’s (NRW) justice ministry to combat the rising number of ‘disgust attacks’ in prisons by Maghreb migrants.
| From the Daily Mail: |
03/01/17
Migrants barricaded camp staff members inside a reception and set part of their camp on fire in the Cona, Italy in a protest over living conditions. Photo shows the Cona camp near Venice.
| This is the same protest that "ended peacefully after a few hours", according to Ynet, above. |
03/01/17
The rescue crew on board a former fishing trawler intercepted the migrants on board a highly overcrowded rubber dingy as it attempted to cross the Mediterranean from Libya.
Germany to fast-track deportation of failed asylum seekers after Tunisian, 24, killed 12 people at a Berlin Christmas market despite having no right to stay in the country
03/01/17
Interior minister Thomas de Maizière (pictured) said the government needs 'more powers' to get failed asylum seekers on planes more quickly