Regards, Ivan
Posted on 10/09/2004 4:39:36 PM PDT by MadIvan
The French are arrogant, rude and surly to foreign visitors.
For once - quelle surprise! - the thought comes not from an embittered tourist but the leading French politician behind a damning report on how the Gallic welcome leaves much to be desired.
Senator Bernard Plasait, a member of France's upper house of parliament, has concluded what millions of visitors have known for years. "Our bad image in this area, the arrogance we are accused of, our refusal to speak foreign languages, the sense we give that it's a great honour to visit us are among the ugly facts of which we should not be proud," reads the first paragraph of his report, commissioned by the government.
"Certainly these accusations don't date from yesterday," the report continues. "In the 18th century, Horace Walpole wrote that he couldn't stand the French. 'I detest them for their insolent and misplaced air of superiority,' he declares.
"Where does this detestable reputation, which is like a ball and chain, come from?" His conclusion is that the French have only themselves to blame for their notoriety.
Mr Plasait's report was commissioned by the prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, after a drop in the number of tourists visiting France last year.
France is still the world's number one tourist destination in terms of numbers. But the report concludes that this is meaningless as a considerable proportion are just passing through on their way somewhere else.
"To claim we are the 'number one tourist destination in the world' doesn't count for anything," says the report. "Among the 75 million visitors counted in 2003 were those who were only crossing the country, once on their way to Spain or Italy and a second time to return home."
The report says a more realistic way of judging is by the annual income from tourists that places France in third position with €30 billion (£20.4 billion) after the United States - €73 billion - and Spain, on €33 billion.
It also says an Ipsos survey of world travellers who were asked which countries they would most like to travel to placed France fourth behind Italy, Spain, Britain and equal to the US.
The government was particularly alarmed by the 21 per cent drop in spending by US visitors to just under €5.2 million, The report focuses on visitors' first impressions of French airports, ports and railway stations - which, it concluded, were "often negative".
It criticised a lack of warmth and professionalism among staff, and a failure to regard the customer as king.
Paris' main airport Charles de Gaulle/Roissy, which handles almost 50 million passengers a year, was singled out for a particular slating. Surly staff, slow baggage handlers, a lack of "Welcome to France" signs, confusing directions, poor transport connections, slow and dirty trains and taxi drivers who do not speak English were among the complaints.
The report also attacks immigration officers for giving a bad impression of the country, singling out those at the Eurostar terminal in London. "Instead of behaving like ambassadors for France, they don't even respond to 'hello' or a smile," it says.
"A welcome without a smile and without warmth is like a cold shower for a traveller who is expecting to be enchanted by a romantic city," says the report. "Our welcome has to be magic, it has to give an image of excellence and availability."
Laurent Monsaigneon, the director of ports in the Cote d'Azur, believes that the problems lie in cultural and social differences. "The Anglo-Saxons and Scandinavians are instilled with a certain attitude very early in infant and primary schools that includes respect and listening to others. The French put more emphasis on performance," he said.
"When Americans are formally introduced, they don't give their names but exchange a few polite words and engage in conversation which is superficial but gives the other person confidence. In France we size each other up on our education and social standing, rather than attempt to find out about the other person. The mediocrity of the tourist welcome 'a la franaise' is due in part to unease during initial contact."
Mr Plasait concludes his report with 81 proposals on how the French can become better hosts. He says that they have to become motivated and enthusiastic. "They have to learn that the tourist is not a nuisance but a benefit. Our welcome is not good enough. This is not a fantasy but a cruel reality."
Leon Bertrand, the minister for tourism, said: "Our aim is to let tourists know that France is trying to improve its welcome, and the French that they have to do better."
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
Someone in France bought a mirror. Wow.
F the french.
Parfois, le français utilise leurs cerveaux, parfois ils ne font pas. Quant à John Kerry. ..he n'a pas de cerveau.
You can go to a translator online and translate it if you want. I think it's good.
I wonder how they'll treat Kerry after he goes on vacation there after his election loss...
Will they consider him one of them?
ROFLMAO!
Now if they'd only breathe thru their nose!
I`m not sure, not many people retreat TO France. Maybe if he walked in backwards...
Euro-Disney!!!!!
The french are unbathed and cowardly bores who can embrassez mon âne Américain.
I still would never voluntarily spend my hard earned money in a country that doesn't even bother to hide it's didain for Americans. I've been through Charles Degaulle airport and its nothing special. I'd much rather take my family to the Grand Canyon in the US than Paris. If I never see the Eiffel tower I'n not going to feel that my life is somehow incomplete. I say lets the frogs reap what they've sown.
Reminds me of a certain presidential candidate with A Plan.
"The French put more emphasis on performance" WTF.
And their unemployment is???????
Pretty funny.
Laurent Monsaigneon, the director of ports in the Cote d'Azur, believes that the problems lie in cultural and social differences. "The Anglo-Saxons and Scandinavians are instilled with a certain attitude very early in infant and primary schools that includes respect and listening to others. The French put more emphasis on performance," he said.
Now this on the other hand is just befuddling
"The government was particularly alarmed by the 21 per cent drop in spending by US visitors"
I could have gone to Europe this year, but chose instead to go to Florida. The people will be happy to see me and my $$ going in to their economy will help them dig out from all the trouble.
The Frogs are not going to change at least 1,000 years, probably more, of surly behavior for any number of government reports. It's part of their culture to be rude and surly. I don't speak French, but have read a little of it. I have heard the way they talk to each other, and the way they turn a phrase, directly translated into English would disgust and embarrass virtually anyone in the English speaking world. But for them, it's just the way they talk - and think. The way we might view French is that it is like street Ebonics with some Gangsta thrown in. Because it has been around so long and used by so many people, it has taken on the imprimature of a cultured language. It's hopeless to expect them to change.
"The Anglo-Saxons and Scandinavians are instilled with a certain attitude very early in infant and primary schools that includes respect and listening to others. The French put more emphasis on being prissy little assholes."
I've never understood why the French refuse to speak foreign languages. They are destroying their languages' usefulness by keeping it pure. One of the major reasons that English is so useful is that we steal words from other languages.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.