The terrorist threat in France seen from abroad
On May 12, a new knife attack was perpetrated on the national soil, this time in the heart of the capital in the district of the Paris Opera. An attack reopening the plague of a country bruised by terrorist attacks on many occasions over the last 5 years. Between solidarity, criticism and fear, return on the reaction of the foreign press and the impact on tourism in France post attacks.
The terrorist threat in France seen by the foreign press: from support to criticism
In the aftermath of the attacks of November 13, 2015 in Paris, a real wave of emotion has swamped the whole world, the foreign press displaying the solidarity of other nations towards France. However today we are witnessing a questioning of the means implemented by the government to prevent these attacks. In the aftermath of the latest attack on Saturday, May 12, 2018, the international press said that "life was normal on Sunday. A dramatic event to which the French seem to have become accustomed to, thus increasing the risk of a recrudescence of terrorist attacks. Thus the foreign press qualifies France as "target No. 1" of terrorism in the West.
A criticism of the government shared by the French and the international press
According to 58% of French the government does not do everything to prevent terrorist attacks on the national territory. A few days after the van attack on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, The Wall Street Journal highlighted the limits of the fight against terrorism, both in France and internationally, despite the multiplication of measures. The American press underlines in particular a lack of means for the French security forces to face the threats. It is estimated that for every 10,000 people under surveillance in relation to terrorism, fewer than 5,000 agents are assigned to monitor them. A ratio that should be reversed according to US newspapers.
Abroad, Paris and France worry tourists a little more
The world's leading tourist destination, with 19 million foreign visitors in 2014, the economic impact in the tourism sector has been disrupted after the attacks of November 2015. If this decline in activity was only of short duration, the increasing number of attacks could ultimately have a much consequent scope. China has already experienced a wave of cancellation of trips to Paris after the Bataclan attacks. Hotel bookings in France saw a drop of 20% in the wake, while air transport fell sharply. In the minds of many Chinese tourists, "security in France leaves something to be desired".
Nevertheless, the presence of military patrols reassures a little more today tourists from around the world, Paris still remaining in the minds of many travelers, the capital of love.
In recent years, the fight against terrorism has evolved in response to an increasingly present and oppressive threat. Whether it's the government or even private companies like IPS Bodyguard, the terrorist threat has gone up a notch on the priority ladder.
