Go Ahead with the Trip or Cancel? Tourists 'On Alert' as Protests Spread Across France

Plans to Restrict Protests Amid Looting and Arson
Uncertainty Grows Among Tourists Planning Trips to France

As large-scale protests continue across France, looting and arson have also broken out in some areas, heightening anxiety among tourists preparing to travel. Online, some people have shared experiences of completing their itineraries while avoiding protest areas, while others have reported seeing signs of damage throughout city centers.

On October 19, posts seeking advice about conditions in France and travel itineraries appeared one after another on social media and social networking services (SNS). One traveler posted under the title, "Is anyone canceling their trip because of the protests in Paris?" and asked other users for their opinions.

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One person staying in Paris said, "I've been in Paris for 10 days now. On days when there were demonstrations, I avoided those areas, so I haven't had any problems at all." They added, "The protesters and police aren't interested in tourists," and said they thought traveling would be possible if visitors prepared for transport disruptions. Others, however, said it was difficult to be optimistic given that damage had occurred even in major tourist and shopping areas. A traveler who had arrived in Paris a few days earlier said, "There was debris all over the city," adding, "I saw shards of glass and dented chairs, and the Champs-Elysees was quiet."

These accounts show that even people staying in the same city of Paris may experience different conditions depending on where they go and at what time. Reuters reported that a Dutch traveler visiting Paris with their children had to evacuate a hotel near Place de la République because of the unrest. The traveler compared the conditions around them at the time to a battlefield.

Protests over Education Conditions Joined by Anger Over Rising Prices

The protests began last month, when high school students called for improvements to poor educational conditions. They spread to public high schools in other areas after a rally in support of striking teachers was held in Créteil, on the outskirts of Paris. Students are calling for more teachers and repairs to aging school facilities. This month, teachers' unions, major labor unions, and civic groups joined the protests, broadening the focus from education to dissatisfaction over the rising cost of living and fuel prices, as well as declining public service quality. The protests drew a wider range of participants and spread to more areas as grievances over educational conditions and the cost of living converged.

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According to an Associated Press report, about 550,000 people took part in nationwide demonstrations on October 17, by the authorities' estimate, while organizers put the figure at about 800,000. In addition to labor unions and student groups, activists seeking to revive the Yellow Vest movement, which began in 2018 in protest against a fuel tax increase, also took part. Most participants marched peacefully, but damage mounted as some groups attacked shops and public buildings. In Paris, shop windows were smashed and vehicles set on fire, while looting and property damage were also reported in Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Strasbourg, and other cities.

Luxury stores and department stores were also affected. Yonhap News, citing local media, reported looting at the Galeries Lafayette department store in Rennes and at luxury stores in several parts of France. In Limoges, a 19th-century city hall building caught fire and its clock tower collapsed, while shops and a police station were attacked in Marseille.

French authorities have said that about 2,400 people were arrested nationwide in connection with the unrest and that about 1,000 police officers and gendarmes were injured. Clashes also resumed yesterday afternoon around Place de la République in Paris, where police used tear gas. The French Federation of Commerce and Distribution estimated that about 1,500 businesses nationwide had been affected, with losses totaling hundreds of millions of euros. Major retailer Carrefour also said that 50 of its stores had been affected, 20 of them by looting.

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Macron: "Anger and Shame" Over Looting and Violence

In an address to the nation on October 18, President Emmanuel Macron said he felt "anger and shame" over the looting and violence. He asked, "How can the French do this to France?" and stressed that there was no justification for violence. At the same time, Macron said peaceful protesters raising concerns about educational conditions and the cost of living must be distinguished from those involved in looting and destruction. He made clear that he recognized the legitimacy of citizens' demands while insisting that those responsible for violence would be held accountable.

He warned that those involved in looting would have to pay for the damage and that those who had sought to undermine the republic would be held responsible. He also identified radical far-left groups and criminal elements as being behind the violence. This was the French government's assessment. He also pledged to step up security measures. Macron said he would allow mayors and local government officials to ban certain gatherings when necessary to protect public buildings and shops. However, he did not declare a state of emergency, as some right-wing politicians had called for.

President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised address to the nation on the 18th that he felt "anger and shame" over the looting and violence. EPA-Yonhap News Agency

He also said the government would review whether its response had been appropriate. He instructed officials to determine whether there had been problems with intelligence gathering or police preparedness before the protests. The aim was to examine not only the punishment of those involved in violence, but also whether the authorities had adequately anticipated and prepared for the unrest. He also called for social dialogue. Macron asked the government to organize talks this week involving students, teachers, members of parliament, labor union representatives, and business leaders to develop concrete solutions. Reuters reported, however, that he did not outline specific support measures or budget adjustments in his address.

Meanwhile, as the protests intensified, safety guidance was issued for travelers to France. On October 14, the South Korean Embassy in France issued a safety notice regarding the large-scale protests, urging people to avoid areas near demonstrations. The embassy advised those who had no choice but to pass by a protest site to leave promptly and take particular care to avoid harm.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.