France Tourism May Get Affected During Christmas 2018 Holiday Season Due to the Ongoing Yellow Vest Protests; Eiffel Tower and Museums in Paris to Remain Closed
Performances which were to be held at the Garnier and Bastille opera houses on Saturday have also been cancelled.
As protests continue in different parts of France, some of the world-famous monuments that receive visitors from across the world will be shut. During the Christmas 2018 holiday season, tourism may get affected as the famous Eiffel Tower and some museums in Paris would remain closed for public on Saturday. It is not sure if the popular Louvre and Orsay museums will remain closed as the French government will consider imposing a state of emergency.
As government fears of more violent protests on Saturday, French authorities have begun tightening security in different parts of the country, especially its capital, Paris. Around 65,000 police were deployed across the country last week to keep the situation in control. France Yellow Vest Protests: Government Mulls State of Emergency Over Agitations Against Fuel Price Hike and Economic Policies.
A football match which was to be held between two of France's biggest teams St Etienne and Olympique Lyonnais has also been called off due to ongoing turmoil in the country. Performances which were to be held at the Garnier and Bastille opera houses on Saturday have also been cancelled. Reportedly, shops along the Champs-Elysees were told to remain closed; warnings have also been issued to libraries and theatres. France: More Than 400 Hurt in a Day and Night of ‘Yellow Vest’ Fuel Price Protests, Says Interior Minister Christophe Castaner.
This may cost the tourism industry thousands of euros as people stay indoors during the holiday season. 'Yellow vest' protestors continued to clash with police last week as water cannons were used to disperse them. As trouble mounted, French President Emmanuel Macron decided to scrap the hike in fuel tax, however, it does not seem to be enough to placate protestors. Eiffel Tower's Original Staircase Auctioned for Over Rs 1.36 Crore!
The demonstrations began on November 17 over the fuel price hike. It went on to become one of France's worst riots in decades as protesters looted shops, set fire to vehicles and protested against the police. Macron had earlier said that the hike was necessary to tackle the threat of climate chang. However, he was criticised for enacting policies in favouring the country's richest section of the society.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 07, 2018 10:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).