What travelers need to know about Paris
November 16, 2015
The Eiffel Tower, according to its own webpage, will remain closed to the public until further notice. Usually this Paris landmark has an average of 15,000 to 20,000 visitors a day. Disneyland Paris will also remain closed until Tuesday, but museums like the Louvre re-opened on Monday afternoon. French president François Hollande declared a state of emergency on Friday and ordered three days of national mourning to be held. Therefore many tourist sights, cafés and restaurants were closed over the weekend.
No significant restrictions for air or rail travel
Air and rail travel are running according to plan and the metro lines are also operational again. But travelers may experience some delays due to stricter security, more stringent passport and luggage checks. Main roads and motorways are also under under tighter security.
Support from travel operators
The two leading German travel operators, TUI and Thomas Cook, are allowing those booked for Paris holidays to cancel and be reimbursed at no cost. Speakers for both companies emphasize that this is a goodwill gesture. Lufthansa passengers can also re-book their flights at no extra charge until Wednesday, according to the press spokeswoman from the flight operator.
Following the terror attacks, the online portal Airbnb has activated a disaster response service. The offer is for the families of those killed or hurt in the attacks, and who will need to stay in Paris. Anyone stranded in the French capital and in need of accommodation is also free to use the service to find accommodations.
Are there economic consequences for France?
With 16 million visitors from abroad every year, Paris is among the most popular tourist destinations worldwide. France, with 54 million visitors in 2014, is even more popular than the US. Should last week’s attacks impact the tourism industry, that could also have consequences for the country’s economy as a whole. Tourism makes up about seven percent of France’s GDP. The stock markets have shown slight dips in airline and hotel shares. Most economists, however, do not expect an economic crisis.