The French government publicized their new scheme in revitalizing the agitating tourism industry of Paris. This scheme of French government includes the employment of English-speaking tourism volunteers. The administration is also pushing for the term ‘state of emergency’ to be changed to ‘state of high security’. Terror attacks and flooding in France led to a 13% fall in visitor numbers between January and August this year, compared to the same period in 2015. It caused the loss of €1billion in monthly tourism revenue. The authorities came with their six-point plan to attract foreign sightseer back to the French capital. The plan will mainly focus on security, hospitality, and quality of service.
There will be a thousand of volunteer ushers who will start working on Christmas period this year. The volunteers are English-speaking students who will be hired as interns and will be positioned at key landmarks around the French capital to help guide visitors and make them feel welcome. There is a fiscal estimate allocated to give English lessons to tourism workers, including taxi and bus drivers. Mobile police stations will be installed at tourist hot spots around the city to help the visitors feel more secure. French government’s desiderata is to enhance the exploit of the vacationist. This will be done by ventilating on their official website, mobile application, and to their City Pass, used for public transport and entry into popular tourist attractions.
Vocabulary:
scheme – an official plan or program of action
revenue – money that is collected for public use by a government through taxes
sightseer – a person who is traveling around a place and looking at interesting things
usher – a person who leads people
fiscal estimate – budget or money used for public spending
desiderata – something that is needed or wanted
exploit – an exciting act
True or False:
- The French government doesn’t have any plans in improving their tourism industry.
- State of high security is the new term to be used instead of state of emergency.
- The number of visitors in Paris declined between February to June this year.
- The administration would like to focus on the security, hospitatlity and quality of service.
- There is no budget allocation for English lessons for tourism workers.
Defend your argument:
- Do you think the scheme of the French government will attract tourists again? Discuss.
- Do you think that French government made the right decision in putting budget for the English lessons of the tourism workers? Explain.
- Do you think the administration should focus only on hospitality, security, and quality of service? Why or why not?
- What could be any other things that the French government should do in order for them to win back their tourists?
- Do you think the administration should also devise a plan to lessen the terrorist attacks in their country?
Express your opinion:
- What do you think is the role of tourism in the growth of cultural experience in your country?
- How can you promote the tourism of your country to other nationalities?
- Why do you think tourism is an important industry of a certain country?