Terrorism, infestations, and tourism taxes—France has a lot of negative headlines at the moment. Should you worry? Is Paris safe?
France receives more international visitors each year than any other country, and there’s a lot hitting the news wires about the country right now, raising questions among travelers whether their plans may need alteration.
Pest infestations, rising tourist taxes, and terrorist threats have all been reported in recent days.
So, what’s going on? And should you worry?
Should You Worry About Bedbugs in Paris?
The first reports of bedbugs in Paris arose during Paris Fashion Week in late September, when several attendees shared video to social media complaining of bedbugs in accommodations and the occasional rat on the Metro. While local authorities promised immediate action, and the stories were widely reported in the media based on the handful of social media posts (Fashion Week attendees being famously reliable narrators not at all prone to breathless hyperbole), regulators and many visitors found there to be little substance to many of the reports.
It’s also worth noting that bedbug infestations are not entirely uncommon. One was reported in New York City in 2010, while another media outlet reports (not alarmingly) that it’s not just Paris—that bedbugs are everywhere.
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Before cancelling that trip to France, check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s guide on identifying signs of a bedbug infestation. If an accommodation has signs of bedbugs, let the front desk or landlord know, and refuse the accommodation until a suitable alternative can be found.
Should You Worry About Terrorism in France?
France raised the terror alert to its highest level on Friday following a fatal knife attack in the northeastern town of Arras. A teacher was killed and two others were wounded in the attack by a former student, who local officials say had a record of Islamic radicalization.
Over the weekend, popular tourist attractions in Paris, including the Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles in neighboring Versailles were evacuated after each facility received anonymous threats.
The French government separately announced that foreign nationals with suspected terrorism ties could be arrested and deported. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has instructed authorities to pay close attention to young people from the Caucasus Region—the origin of the accused stabber in Friday’s fatal attack.
It’s worth noting that there’s been no recent change in the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory Level for France. It’s currently at Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution. The State Department advises Americans traveling in France to be aware of their surroundings, follow instructions by local authorities, and avoid demonstrations and large gatherings or protests that sometimes turn violent without warning.
Should You Worry About Increased Tourist Taxes in Paris?
Also reported in the media, but not an immediate threat to tourism costs, is a proposal that would increase the cap on accommodation taxes in the region surrounding Paris. Local officials announced an agreement that would allow for an up to 200% increase in the tourism tax collected on accommodations in the region.
The Île-de-France Region, which includes Paris and the surrounding suburbs, would allow local communes to choose to raise the accommodation taxes to more than three times their current level. The taxes, however, are a flat tax per night, starting at €1 for the most basic accommodations and €5 for the top-tier palace hotels.
France’s tourism minister is quick to point out that communes, or local governments, and not required to increase the tax—only the cap is being raised for those that do wish to collect higher taxes. The increased taxes would go to pay for improvements to regional public transport. The head of the region’s public transport network said that without the increased revenue from accommodations taxes, that transit passes could increase by up to €7 to cover the system’s additional costs.
The measure still requires votes to be included in the 2024 budget before it goes to a vote in the French parliament.
France appears to be having a spell of attention in the worldwide media, but the country’s issues seem relatively routine—other countries in Europe also have increased terrorism threats, many of them are also dealing with bedbugs and other infestations, and increasing tourism taxes are a hot topic in virtually all tourism-supported economies as conversations shift from tourism promotion toward tourism management.
In the meantime, France remains the world’s most visited country.