Zut Alors! Rude French Scaring Off Tourists

Sweeten up, official warns his compatriots

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 2, 2007 10:49 AM CDT

(Newser) – France to the French: Take it easy on foreigners. After the land of vin and fromage fell for the first time in years as the top traveling spot, the tourism bureau has issued guidelines about courtesy, the Guardian reports. “Our greatest handicap,” said a tourist official, “is our perceived lack of friendliness.”

The US and Spain both bested France in tourism income, and the government wants a bottom-up fix. An agency called Meeting the French, for example, will pair visitors with home-cooked meals. What's more, the tourism chief advises his countrymen, “Don't throw change on the counter” and: “If you do speak some English, do not pretend you don’t.”

NICE ((c) CHRIS230)

paris 448 ((c) kalemonn)

RUGBYU-FRA-WC2007-NAM-ARRIVAL (Getty Images)

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S&P Downgrades France, Italy, 7 Others

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Move could end last armed militancy in Europe

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Sweeten up, official warns his compatriots

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Spain • tourism • France • US • hospitality

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

S&P Downgrades France, Italy, 7 Others

Paris and Austria lose AAA status

Basque Group ETA Calls Cease-Fire After 43 Years

Move could end last armed militancy in Europe

Moody's Downgrades Spain, Warns France

Sarkozy vows to take bold action at debt summit

It's Official: US Is World's Coolest Country

Obama, Jay-Z, Steve Jobs help win crown

Deadly Storms Swamp France

Dozens perish after violent winter storm devastates western Europe

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Newser By Users

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