China/France

Chinese tour operators drop France boycott

Article published on the 2008-07-04 Latest update 2008-07-04 13:50 TU

A Europe tour including France on the China Travel Service website
(Photo: China Travel Service)

Chinese tourism websites are once again offering trips to France, after a month-long unofficial boycott. France disappeared from destination options at the end of May following the violent protests when the Olympic torch came through Paris on 7 April, the reception of the Dalai Lama in the French capital shortly afterwards, and uncertainty over whether the French president will attend the Olympics opening ceremony.

The boycott was not imposed directly by the Chinese government. But according to French ambassador to China, Hervé Ladsous, Chinese visa applications to France have gone down by two-thirds.

He said he would have liked a “positive, concrete” statement from the government that visits to France were not banned.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Monday that he would announce early next week whether or not he will attend the opening of the Olympic Games on 8 August. He said it would depend on the evolution on the dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama.

In response, China has called on France not to link Tibet with the Olympic Games.