China 'discouraging France trips'

[LaoSexMachine]

China 'discouraging France trips'
Beijing's official tourism body is urging tour operators to stop selling holidays to France, the French foreign ministry has said.
The claim comes amid souring relations between the two countries after the Paris leg of the Olympic torch relay.
Thousands of pro-Tibet protesters disrupted the event last month, and managed to extinguish the flame.
However Beijing said that it had "simply reminded Chinese tourists to be careful about their security."
Estimates suggest that about 700,000 tourists from mainland China visited France last year.
"Our embassy in Beijing is currently taking steps with the Chinese authorities to find out the reasons that could have motivated (the move)," said foreign ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has suggested that he may boycott the opening ceremony of the Olympics, unless China started talks with the Dalai Lama.
And Chinese nationalists have called for a boycott of French goods.
The Olympic Torch relay was also disrupted a number of cities, including London and San Francisco.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/7428403.stm

[Orbiter]

fascistic way of thinking in china shouldn't come as surprise.

[packetloss]

No it shouldnt, nations do stuff like this all the time. Tourism and trade is a good way to leverage your position against another nationstate - Its better than some sort of battle isnt it?

China's opinion is that the french government didnt do enough to protect chinese intrests when they were there as a guest - So issuing warnings to its citizens about the same is a good political leverage.

[vinny_121_ND]

I doubt tourism is going to drop because of this. It's paris, city of love. Tour de france, always wanted to go and see a stage. In a year, we will all forget about these protests.

[Macs.]

Freedom Fries, anyone ?

[deagle]

so instead of China doing damage control to save "face", and suggest more tourism so both sides can learn more about each respective culture, they do this ??

pretty dumb really

[FIA_cn]

Beijing's official tourism body is urging tour operators to stop selling holidays to France, the French foreign ministry has said.
never heard so, I'm willing to have a trip to france anytime...as long as I can afford...

[Lerclair]

Articles about China from BBC ? 50% off from the truth department. Until I see something concrete or official, I'll sustain from fully believing.

BTW, a lower Chinese tourist percentile visiting France this year is a given.

[boreal]

I doubt tourism is going to drop because of this. It's paris, city of love. Tour de france, always wanted to go and see a stage. In a year, we will all forget about these protests.

http://www.arrakeen.ch/usamex/212%20%20Tijuana.JPG

Tijuana is the city of love, and the tour of France is far better on TV than in the road.

[Ordie]

I can't blame them. The Euro is too high.
The Chinese would get a better deal in Buenos Aires.

[Lambert58]

I doubt tourism is going to drop because of this. It's paris, city of love. Tour de france, always wanted to go and see a stage. In a year, we will all forget about these people being butchered for no reason.

fixed that for ya.

[...WARLORD...]

man China retarded! That wont stop anyone, if anything, it will be the Gas prices.

[vinny_121_ND]

man China retarded! That wont stop anyone, if anything, it will be the Gas prices.

China is not retarded. Companies know that china is a money making machine. total consumerism among the huge population. If chinese citizens boycott a brand, or a tourist destination, that's bad business.

[Doublethinker]

It is strange, that after massive campaigns de facto working not as much against Chinese government (you don't like it? Protest at the embassy, don't buy Chinese goods or something), but against Chinese people, you guys are surprised to see them retaliate.

The Chinese were extremely happy that they were honored with the right to be a host country for the Olympics.But after the Olympic torch was extinguished multiple times and after some countries announced that they could boycott the Olympics and after each and every 'decent liberal European and American' made it a rule to demand that Olympics aren't held in China, the Chinese felt that instead of becoming more accepted in the Western world, the Olympics were being used to humiliate and denounce the country and its people as a whole.

And combined with comments like 'Earthquake in China is a consequence of their bad karma' and other bull****, I see pretty clearly why the Chinese are pissed and alienated by such moves.

When you **** on another guy's parade, don't come telling him that you did it 'just because you didn't approve of his government'.

[Nansouty]

700 k chinese tourists visited France last year. This indeed may seem to be a lot, but France welcomed some 79 million visitors in 2007 :

http://www.tourisme.gouv.fr/fr/z2/stat/chiffres/att00009212/ccles_gb.pdf (check p.7 )

IMO, the skyrocketing fuel prices will have a more telling impact... as well as on the Beijing Olympic Games perhaps.

[Russian_dude]

Paris is already bursting from all the tourists. Now there willl be millions of Indians coming too. Nobody will miss the Chinese.

[Russian_dude]

http://www.arrakeen.ch/usamex/212%20%20Tijuana.JPG

Tijuana is the city of love, and the tour of France is far better on TV than in the road.

Slightly higher chance of getting shot in TJ though.

[Orbiter]

are Chinese also boycotting french wines ?

[Russian_dude]

No, they just mix them with more Cola.

[Martel]

Chinese authorities has denied, although original news come from "AFP" which is known for telling much BS ...

[little icebear]

I plan on getting drunk with french wine tonight. For political reasons of course, since I consider it important to show support pour mes amis francais!

[vinny_121_ND]

It is strange, that after massive campaigns de facto working not as much against Chinese government (you don't like it? Protest at the embassy, don't buy Chinese goods or something), but against Chinese people, you guys are surprised to see them retaliate.

The Chinese were extremely happy that they were honored with the right to be a host country for the Olympics.But after the Olympic torch was extinguished multiple times and after some countries announced that they could boycott the Olympics and after each and every 'decent liberal European and American' made it a rule to demand that Olympics aren't held in China, the Chinese felt that instead of becoming more accepted in the Western world, the Olympics were being used to humiliate and denounce the country and its people as a whole.

And combined with comments like 'Earthquake in China is a consequence of their bad karma' and other bull****, I see pretty clearly why the Chinese are pissed and alienated by such moves.

When you **** on another guy's parade, don't come telling him that you did it 'just because you didn't approve of his government'.

Most of the protestors were actually chinese background in France. Not westerners. Western media were denied access in Tibet which is a no no, so they couldn't provide accurate information. All this mixed together created chinese nationalism and anti-western attitudes.

[Mordoror]

I plan on getting drunk with french wine tonight.
my friend let enjoy and savour the wine, not wasting it in order to get drunk

given the price you may have to pay it and the amount needed to get drunk, better for you, mon ami, to drink it slowly during a good meal like we do in France


No, they just mix them with more Cola.
Barbarians !!

[Russian_dude]

Well, for Asians, wine is as strong as vodka.

[LaoSexMachine]

Well, for Asians, wine is as strong as vodka.

Really? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[vinny_121_ND]

Well, for Asians, wine is as strong as vodka.

No it's not. Some asians aren't as tolerant to alcohol. Some like wine, others don't. Personally, I'm not a big fan of any kind of alcohol. :-(

[Chimera]

I plan on getting drunk with french wine tonight. For political reasons of course, since I consider it important to show support pour mes amis francais!

Who talked about wine???

All right buddy, I'll bring a Château Cheval Blanc, 1962 vintage. But we won't get drunk, that would be wrong.

By the way, Robert Mondavi just died a couple of weeks ago. He was one of the first to go to California to make wine, he launched all this brilliant industry that exists now in California. He also learnt the Chinese and Indians to get interested in wine tasting.

The man will be remembered.


http://carolyntillie.com/mondavi.jpg

[Bohemoth]

Nationalism is growing fast in China. I wonder how they want to handle the tourists during the Olympic Games:

Could somebody translate the photo's caption into English? thx

Photo 1/1:
(Hong Kong Newspaper: Singtao Daily, 3rd June 2008)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/kwp/959cc8f8.jpg

[FIA_cn]

Nationalism is growing fast in China. I wonder how they want to handle the tourists during the Olympic Games:

Could somebody translate the photo's caption into English? thx

Photo 1/1:
(Hong Kong Newspaper: Singtao Daily, 3rd June 2008)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/kwp/959cc8f8.jpg



It is said that "foreigners are not allow to enter military facility without permission".

it's a regular convention in every country.

have nothing to do with "Nationalism is growing fast in China"

[Bohemoth]

It is said that "foreigners are not allow to enter military facility without permission".

it's a regular convention in every country.

have nothing to do with "Nationalism is growing fast in China"
Pardon me, neither in my home country Germany, nor in many places I travelled and worked did I ever see such a sign. Neither in public, nor in government areas.

I've seen similar signs only in the books and documentaries about Nazi Germany.

[FIA_cn]

so military facility is free to enter for everybody?

[J-10]

I wonder how they want to handle the tourists during the Olympic Games:




Beijing reminds foreigners to behave during Olympics
*******, Monday June 2 2008

BEIJING, June 2 (*******) - The organisers of this summer's Beijing Olympics on Monday reminded foreigners coming to China for the Games to behave, warning them that everything from protesting without permission to sleeping outdoors was banned.

The extensive list, written only in Chinese and put on the organisers' official website (www.beijing2008.cn), also said that purchase of Olympics' tickets did not guarantee the holder would automatically get a Chinese visa.

Entry would be banned to anyone who was intent on "subversion" upon arriving in China, those with mental illnesses and ******ly transmitted diseases and people who wished to engage in prostitution, the rules read.

"Foreigners must respect Chinese laws while in China and must not harm China's national security or damage social order," the rules say.

The stability-obsessed government, determined to ensure the Olympics go off without a hitch, has in the last several months tightened controls on visas, residence permits for foreigners, and places of entertainment.

The handbook warns the estimated 500,000 overseas visitors who are expected to come to Beijing this August that China is still a country with many off-limits areas and beholden to bureaucracy and public security organs.

"Not all of China is currently open to foreigners, and if foreigners do not have permission they should not go into areas not opened it," it reads.

"Foreigners must carry with them relevant documents. The police, in the course of doing their job, have the right to check foreigners' passports and other documents," the handbook says, adding foreigners must register with the police upon arrival.

The government has denied keeping a blacklist of what it considers potentially troublemaking journalists, but is desperate to avoid activists from human rights or pro-Tibet groups from staging protests at the Games, hence tougher visa controls.

"Foreign spectators will not necessarily automatically get visas just because they have bought Olympic tickets, and still need to apply for visas in accordance with the rules at Chinese embassies," the list says.

The handbook also outlines six activities which are illegal at cultural or sporting events, which include waving "insulting banners", attacking referees or players and smoking or lighting fireworks in venues.

And you can forget about sleeping outdoors to save a bit of money.

It's banned, in order to "maintain public hygiene and the cultured image of cities". (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Nick Macfie)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/feedarticle/7555500

[Bohemoth]

so military facility is free to enter for everybody?
A military off-limits sign wouldn't say "foreigners" out.
A military facility is off-limits for any civilians without permission, countrymen and foreigners alike.

[FIA_cn]

do they say there are no off-limit sign for civilians?

[Bohemoth]

do they say there are no off-limit sign for civilians?
This discussion ends nowhere.
My suggestion to you: Try to forget about what the Party told you and travel the world. Relax and open your eyes and mind. We in Germany say: "Travelling educates".

[FIA_cn]

do you know about 100 years ago, in China's soil, there are some sign in the entrance of public park told " Chinese and dogs are not permitted to enter"?

[vinny_121_ND]

English translation in China is more humorous than offensive. Engrish they call it.

[Ordie]

What if one can't read either English, or Chinese?

Best advice for dealing Chinese Cops from my experience, act dumb, stupid and speak loudly in Spanish. (It works everytime).

If followed by a plainclothes cops, challenge and ask them for directions for the nearest KFC. (It scares the heck out of them that they are found out).

Overall there are a few places that are off limits. Most of China is open and relaxed, especially outside the cities. Most of the locals are friendly and are eager to practice English.

[Bohemoth]

What if one can't read either English, or Chinese?

Best advice for dealing Chinese Cops from my experience, act dumb, stupid and speak loudly in Spanish. (It works everytime).

{...}
Well, as a Spaniard you don't need to act dumb and stupid. rofljoke

[Ordie]

Well, as a Spaniard you don't need to act dumb and stupid. rofljoke

LOL

The Spanish are born anarchists.
There's not a civil code they haven't broken or created because of them.

[boreal]

LOL

The Spanish are born anarchists.
There's not a civil code they haven't broken or created because of them.

A way of life, you know p-)

[IronFinn]

700 k chinese tourists visited France last year. This indeed may seem to be a lot, but France welcomed some 79 million visitors in 2007 :

http://www.tourisme.gouv.fr/fr/z2/stat/chiffres/att00009212/ccles_gb.pdf (check p.7 )

IMO, the skyrocketing fuel prices will have a more telling impact... as well as on the Beijing Olympic Games perhaps.

I was one of those 79 million last year and again this year. Great country. I really would love to move to souther france, to Côte d'azur. C'est trés bon!