You're going to Disneyland!
Well, that's what French President Francois Hollande did last week. Hollande took the opportunity presented by his visit to Disneyland Paris to celebrate the park's 25th anniversary to take a verbal shot at U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump had made his own crack at France — specifically Paris — during a speech at a conservative political convention last week, claiming that a friend named Jim had told him that he wouldn't visit the French capital anymore, following the 2015 terror attacks in the city. Hollande fired back, suggesting that he should invite Trump to visit Disneyland Paris so he "understands what France is."
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo also piled on, posting a photo of her at the Eiffel Tower with Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
To @realDonaldTrump and his friend Jim, in @LaTourEiffel we celebrate the dynamism and the spirit of openness of #Paris with Mickey & Minnie pic.twitter.com/VdIq3uWkO3
— Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) February 24, 2017
Paris long has been the world's most popular tourist destination, but the community and its attractions — including Disneyland Paris — have endured a sharp drop in tourism since the 2015 attacks, though Mayor Hidalgo noted in a subsequent tweet that bookings from American visitors to the city are up 30% so far this year.
It's hard to imagine President Trump taking up President Hollande's presumed invitation, but as some of the world's most famous tourist destinations, the Disney theme parks have ended up in the news with world leaders many times over the years. U.S. Presidents Obama, Bush (Sr.), Reagan, and Carter all visited Disney parks while in office. But those were all for routine, photo-op speeches. The really fun incidents involved foreign leaders who couldn't get into the parks.
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev famously threw a fit when local police wouldn't let him head down to Disneyland on a trip to California in 1959. And the recently whacked son of former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong Nam, pretty much lost his chance to succeed his father when he was caught by Japanese customs officials trying to visit Tokyo Disneyland using a fake Dominican passport.
And I've even had my own encounter with a foreign leader while working at Walt Disney World (with a future president of France, no less!), while my sister had her own run-in with a U.S. president at the Magic Kingdom.
So, you'll never know whom you might run into at a Disney theme park. Or... at the gate trying to get in.
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The risk to peoplr from terrorist related activity in the west is over-exagerated, and whilst prudent measures should be taken, money could be Far better spent in protecting people from things that are much more likely to harm them.
In the US it's even more disturbing when you look at terrorism in relation to other violent deaths. Look at these historical numbers:
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/02/us/oregon-shooting-terrorism-gun-violence/
Oor look at the amount of people die in a vehicle in the US in relation to the EU, it's shocking. All this doesn't stop me from going to the US, or France or Belgium or where ever...
I've always believed and have heard/read elsewhere that Walt Disney World in Florida holds that honor?
Or is there some technicality in the wording that makes both statements true such as 'most popular' vs 'most visited?'
"A group of Roma women are accused of setting off firecrackers on the city's Metro system so that crowds would fly into a panic, thinking a repeat of the horrific Islamic State (ISIS) massacre was unfolding.
They then went around and robbed tourists in the confusion, pickpocketing them of valuables as they tried to flee for their lives."
"About forty South Korean tourists were robbed in Paris at the weekend when men climbed aboard their coach shouting threats."
"Tourists driving to France this summer are warned to beware of robbers disguised as police who are stopping cars and stealing valuables"
"Armed robbers forced their way into a private Paris residence where Kim Kardashian West was staying, tied her up and locked her in a bathroom before making off with more than $10 million worth of jewelry, police officials said Monday."
"In China the words "Paris" or "France" are synonymous with "romantic" and the French capital is a honeymoon destination of choice. But a growing number of Chinese tourists are being robbed in Paris and France's image is taking a battering as a result.
Gan Di, a medical student, took his wife there after their June wedding. Aged 27, he belongs to the balinghou, or "post-1980" generation, those who benefited from the economic reforms of the past 20 years and now travel around the world – as 83 million Chinese did in 2012. But his Parisian honeymoon turned sour after a ride on the Metro. "It was very crowded and they took advantage of us being pressed together," he said. The pickpockets made off with his phone and wallet."
This is aside from the terrorist attacks.
There's also the gritty side of Paris. "“Chinese people romanticize France, they know about French literature and French love stories,” said Jean-Francois Zhou, president of the Chinese association of travel agencies in France. “But some of them end up in tears, swearing they’ll never come back.” "
If so please don't presume to tell us how 'safe' or otherwise our continent is on the basis of some internet stories and reports.
I mean that is America first right?
You guys kill me (literally). You claim that Paris is unsafe whilst living in one of the most dangerous countries in the world. I take far more of a risk visiting Disney World that I do visiting London or Paris or pretty much anywhere else in in Europe.
BTW: Liberal hand waving resulted in a convicted rape felon was allowed into the Academy Awards. Tourists beware. #FakeOscars
These events you mention may reflect a trend, they may not. An analysis of the events in the greater context of crime in Paris needs to occur to determine whether these reflect a true change in crime in Paris.
I live in Melbourne. A few years ago there were several isolated events of Indian students being mugged in our city and there was a big deal made over it and how it was unsafe to travel here. Looked at in the bigger picture, these students were living in a worse area of town and the crime rate was essentially unchanged.
Most big cities have places you should avoid at times, however a random tweet about places police avoid means nothing.
Point is, avoiding travel to Paris, or almost anywhere in western Europe because of safety concerns is silly. It would be like not sending your kids to school for fear of them being shot
"An analysis of the events in the greater context of crime in Paris needs to occur to determine whether these reflect a true change in crime in Paris."
Yes, go right ahead.... until then, whatever you're saying means nothing to the tourists who are already avoiding Paris.
People are also avoiding Egypt due to crimes directed towards tourists. Tourists can only take so much before their fortitude gives.
"Point is, avoiding travel to Paris, or almost anywhere in western Europe because of safety concerns is silly."
Beyond common sense. People are spending tons of money to go on vacation. Kim Kardashian lost millions of dollars worth of jewelry and valuables from her Paris trip. Given the options, going to a different destination isn't a hard choice.
"Etienne said 4 months ago
This article reflects pretty much reality. Tourists must be very cautious in Paris (especially the ones from Asia) which is becoming more and more dangerous. I'm sorry it may sound harsh to read but yes it is the truth. I'm a frenchman and been living in France for 48 years.. I was even born here, and insecurity has never been at such a critical level since a few years. I would strongly advise people to absolutely avoid metro and RER past 22h, especially the north lines (13... etc..) which can be really dangerous.
"Country of the human rights".. blah blah... blah blah.. solidarity, friendship... nice words for tourists..
Reality is different! ..Communautarism is pleaguing the french society since a few years, and justice is not repressive enough. Most of the pickpockets come from eastern europe (Romania, Bulgaria etc...) and are minors. As such, once caught by the police, they can only be released a few hours later as there is nothing that can be done to stop them juridically speaking.
France could really do way more than "better"... I wished we could just do "much" better to attract tourists again. I quit Paris a few years ago to settle down in Toulouse and for nothing on earth I would come back living in Paris again. Much too unsafe to my taste.
Go rather visit Barcelona, it's a much much safer place and the locals are really nice. Sure you don't get to see Tour Eiffel and Le Louvre... but at least you'll keep your belongings safe... when it's not your health!"
https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/europe/france/crime-in-france
Fact is, there are dangers everywhere if you look for them. Just got to get on with life.
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