PARIS, 11 February 2019: Tourists visiting the French capital should be vigilant and exercise caution, staying well clear of yellow-vest protests that became more violent over the weekend.
Although travel advisors are not cautioning against travel to France they are warning travellers to be give protests a wide berth and check the situation before visiting popular tourist attractions in the capital.
Travellers are advised to exercise caution if in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests, monitor local media for updates and keep a low profile.
A UK travel advisory, updated 10 February, said “protests linked to the yellow vest (gilets jaunes) movement are continuing across France and are particularly focused on weekends.
“A number of demonstrations have led to violence and extensive damage to property, in Paris and in other towns and cities across the country. A heavy police presence is to be expected and there could be instances of violence.”
The US state department’s travel advisory continues to flag France as a level two risk, or amber alert, that recommends travellers “exercise increased caution”.
The Australian travel advisory recommends a “high degree of caution.”
Since November, when the protests began, tourism and retail shopping as well as entertainment and restaurants have suffered an estimated USD1.1 billion loss in revenue.
Last December, protests and street battles closed tourist sites, shops and restaurants in popular tourist districts. Protest continued mainly at the weekends in January.
At the weekend there were reports of violent clashes in Paris as demonstrators tried to storm the French National Assembly.
Protests are now in their 13th week and in the most recent incidents protesters attempted to breech the parliament’s exterior.
Fighting broke out in front of the National Assembly between protestors and French police retaliated with tear gas and baton attacks to disperse demonstrators, some of whom threw debris at riot police. Cars, motorbikes and trash bins were set ablaze as the protest moved toward the city’s Invalides monument and close to the Eiffel Tower the city’s top tourist attraction.
French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner posted on Twitter his “disgust” as protesters set alight an anti-terror military car. Its yellow smoking plumes, against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, made for a powerful image of rejecting authority.
According to an AP report Police arrested 31 demonstrators during the weekend protests, but France’s Interior Ministry said this week’s protest was significantly smaller than protest last week.
