France vows to find the perpetrators; attacks may affect tourist numbers
AFP 31 March 2013
Paris - Mass muggings and attacks on Chinese tourists in Paris have spawned alarm and warnings of a decline in the number of free-spending visitors from China who swarm to France.
More than a million Chinese visitors come every year to France, a country which for them epitomises luxury, romance and quality products.
But that may change, said an expert, citing a slew of recent attacks which he says take the sheen off the "City of Lights".
"This has become a scourge. Since the past year, we have been seeing attacks almost every day," said Mr Jean-Francois Zhou, the head of Ansel Travel, which specialises in tours to and from China.
On March 20, a group of 23 Chinese were robbed in a restaurant shortly after landing in Paris' Charles De Gaulle airport.
Their passports, plane tickets and cash were stolen and the group leader sustained an injury to the face.
"The situation is serious. If these attacks continue, we may have to pay the price," said Mr Zhou.
In February, "a minibus caught in a traffic jam was attacked, its windows were smashed and handbags stolen", he said, adding that there was a more recent attack on Chinese at a four-star hotel in Paris.
In October last year, several Chinese visitors were robbed at the famed Louvre museum in the heart of the city, he said.
Mr Li Peng, who is in charge of consular affairs at the Chinese Embassy in Paris, said: "There has been an increase in the number of complaints filed over the past year.
"In a week we could have five to six demands for travel documents" to replace stolen passports, he said.
French Tourism Minister Sylvia Pinel pledged that "everything will be done to find the perpetrators" of the latest mass mugging, and underscored "the determination of the French government to ensure the security of tourists in France".
Mr Zhou said the Chinese were targeted as they were big spenders, adding: "Some of them carry up to 20,000 euros (S$32,000) for shopping."
Many Chinese Internet users reacted angrily to the attacks.
One said the incidents "impinge on the esteem and respect of Chinese people", and added: "We must demand justice."
Another said: "The French government should give the Chinese people a reasoned explanation, and the criminals should be severely punished."
Other reactions were more nuanced. The incident "shows the dark side of developed countries, but also highlights that Chinese tourists stand out too much", said one post on Weibo.
"They spend a lot of money, take a lot of cash along with them, they even wear luxury jewellery to flaunt their wealth. It's better to keep a low profile."
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Chinese visitors to Paris hit by mass muggings
France vows to find the perpetrators; attacks may affect tourist numbers
AFP
31 March 2013
Paris - Mass muggings and attacks on Chinese tourists in Paris have spawned alarm and warnings of a decline in the number of free-spending visitors from China who swarm to France.
More than a million Chinese visitors come every year to France, a country which for them epitomises luxury, romance and quality products.
But that may change, said an expert, citing a slew of recent attacks which he says take the sheen off the "City of Lights".
"This has become a scourge. Since the past year, we have been seeing attacks almost every day," said Mr Jean-Francois Zhou, the head of Ansel Travel, which specialises in tours to and from China.
On March 20, a group of 23 Chinese were robbed in a restaurant shortly after landing in Paris' Charles De Gaulle airport.
Their passports, plane tickets and cash were stolen and the group leader sustained an injury to the face.
"The situation is serious. If these attacks continue, we may have to pay the price," said Mr Zhou.
In February, "a minibus caught in a traffic jam was attacked, its windows were smashed and handbags stolen", he said, adding that there was a more recent attack on Chinese at a four-star hotel in Paris.
In October last year, several Chinese visitors were robbed at the famed Louvre museum in the heart of the city, he said.
Mr Li Peng, who is in charge of consular affairs at the Chinese Embassy in Paris, said: "There has been an increase in the number of complaints filed over the past year.
"In a week we could have five to six demands for travel documents" to replace stolen passports, he said.
French Tourism Minister Sylvia Pinel pledged that "everything will be done to find the perpetrators" of the latest mass mugging, and underscored "the determination of the French government to ensure the security of tourists in France".
Mr Zhou said the Chinese were targeted as they were big spenders, adding: "Some of them carry up to 20,000 euros (S$32,000) for shopping."
Many Chinese Internet users reacted angrily to the attacks.
One said the incidents "impinge on the esteem and respect of Chinese people", and added: "We must demand justice."
Another said: "The French government should give the Chinese people a reasoned explanation, and the criminals should be severely punished."
Other reactions were more nuanced. The incident "shows the dark side of developed countries, but also highlights that Chinese tourists stand out too much", said one post on Weibo.
"They spend a lot of money, take a lot of cash along with them, they even wear luxury jewellery to flaunt their wealth. It's better to keep a low profile."
AFP
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