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This September, France is once again a hot spot on the international tourism map, due to the escalating wave of protests and strikes across the country. This instability has prompted major countries such as Canada, Australia, and the UK to issue travel warnings, urging their citizens to exercise extreme caution when traveling to France. This situation threatens to paralyze transportation systems and directly affect thousands of tourists, especially after the major strike earlier this month.
Social tensions in France reached a peak with the call for "Bloquons Tout" (Block Everything), a movement protesting former Prime Minister François Bayrou's austerity plans. These proposals, including cuts to welfare spending and the abolition of two public holidays, met with fierce opposition from various sectors of the workforce and trade unions. Eight major organizations, including CGT, Solidaires, FO, and CFDT, simultaneously called for nationwide protests and strikes, expressing deep dissatisfaction with wages and working conditions.
According to Euro News, following a wave of strikes in July that resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations, stranded passengers during the peak summer travel season, and angered airlines, France is preparing for another wave of disruption on September 18-19.
Following the massive protests on September 10th, which saw streets engulfed in smoke and tear gas, France is preparing for another wave of disruption on September 18-19. According to Euro News, this strike is taking place outside of a public holiday, making it even more difficult for passengers to rebook their flights. Airlines have warned of the risk of prolonged congestion and flight delays, a major challenge for the tourism industry, which has only recently recovered from the pandemic.
These strikes are expected to cause serious disruptions to the entire public transport system. The railway sector, in particular, is predicted to be most severely affected. Three unions representing 70% of SNCF workers have registered to strike, threatening to disrupt TGV high-speed train and TER local train services nationwide. In Paris, four unions belonging to the RATP also support a strike, potentially causing chaos on buses, trams, and the subway from September 17-19.
According to AP, the protests and strikes, dubbed Bloquons Tout (Block Everything), are part of a nationwide strike against austerity plans proposed by former Prime Minister François Bayrou.
In addition to transportation disruptions, countries are maintaining a worrying level of terrorist threat in France. The Canadian government has updated its security assessment to "extreme caution," advising citizens to remain vigilant when visiting public places and popular tourist attractions.
Australia and the UK have also issued similar warnings, emphasizing that travelers may face difficulties with transportation, particularly in major cities like Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advised citizens to closely monitor protest schedules, avoid crowded areas, and prepare alternative options. The FCDO even cautioned: "No trip is guaranteed safe in France right now. If you choose to travel there, do your research and purchase appropriate travel insurance."
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau warned that the marches were being infiltrated by extremist and far-left groups, and that the level of violence would escalate.
This instability is having a double impact on the French tourism industry. On the one hand, strikes and protests are causing chaos, disrupting the plans of thousands of tourists. On the other hand, travel warnings from major countries are significantly reducing the number of international visitors to France, negatively affecting the revenue of airlines, hotels, and other tourism services. International media outlets have described this as one of the biggest events of the autumn in France, reflecting rising social tensions and highlighting the fragility of the tourism industry in the context of political instability.
The movement was fueled by anger over inflation and what many viewed as a dysfunctional political class, institutional gridlock, and the austerity measures that had been announced.
In response to this situation, the French government attempted to deploy 80,000 police officers, fearing that the number of participants could reach 100,000.
In light of this situation, officials in several countries and travel experts have urged tourists to closely monitor information from diplomatic agencies, stay updated on strike schedules, and limit travel through protest areas. In particular, those planning to visit France on September 18th should be prepared for the possibility of changes or cancellations. Proactively seeking information and having contingency plans will help tourists minimize risks and avoid unnecessary inconveniences. This highlights the importance of thorough research before each trip, especially when the destination is facing political and social instability.
