Despite the accumulation of natural catastrophes, social movements, terrorist attacks and economic depression, tourists are still present in France. And we might almost admire them for all the challenges they must get through to reach the destination. While their numbers may be smaller, there are still plenty left to welcome under excellent conditions.

This means that the appeal of France lives on and hospitality professionals are lucky to be on such a market. Such tourists should be pampered just a bit more to make them ambassadors to the destination France. And yet nothing has really changed along the links making up the chain of services, particularly in terms of transportation, transfers and airport reception. Roissy CDG is an embarrassment and impossible ordeal, regardless of the terminal, for all international arrivals, passengers in transit or departures. The ingenious engineers have multiplied and stretched the interminable corridors, waiting areas are too small and create bottle necks where traffic gets mixed up in every direction. Border police justify their temper and inefficacy with the ongoing under staffing. Waiting lines for duty-free purchases surpass those found at Space Mountain in the middle of school holidays. But there's no entertainment to help tourists remain patient when they have spent thousands of euros shopping in Paris.

The next step is hardly more encouraging: they need to get into the city. Whether in Paris ore the Riviera -France's two hubs for massive visitor arrivals, no practical or economic solution has been implemented. Travelers may choose between chaotic and crowded public transportation that is not very secure and overpriced or taxis that are even more expensive. Fluidity, efficacy, quality: these words have disappeared from the vocabulary of transfers. Not until 2025 will there be an Express connection offering a solution worthy of the capital, after years of procrastination by politicians of all persuasions.

In France, in particular, the world of transportation intended to connect the continents, facilitate travel and feed all other destinations is the weak link in the international tourism chain. For a variety of reasons both the national airline and SNCF defend their own agendas and fight against any liberalization of the sector to the detriment of the common good despite persistent proposals hailing from top engineering schools. CEOs are chosen for their proximity to the person in power rather than their industrial vision and penchant for cooperation. Corporatism in France is not dead; it even has some fine years ahead considering the lack of consideration for the chain of services.

France cannot continue to isolate itself on the European continent, particularly as neighbors, such as Germany and Great Britain, open their doors more easily to younger generations and innovative companies. Even under pressure, national companies are invested in their public mission, forgetting that the break will happen without them. With the Caisse des Dépôts, which was once responsible for unifying and financing major infrastructures, Air France, SNCF and the ADP, is of a new gang of four that is paralyzing our growth rather than stimulating. In the end, it is the other links that suffered the consequences. It would be natural for all businesses in the chain to express themselves concerning the direction transportation is headed in. While only the quality of the overall experience counts, all the efforts of hoteliers and other will be cancelled if transportation in France remains as pitiful as it already is. Decisions are made quickly when French prices are exorbitant and the rest of the world is very open to international travel.

After hosting COP 21, it would have been easy to believe that France had grown aware of the interest in making its transportation policy part of sustainable development. More fluid transfers, more attractive prices, more practical schedules, more frequent service are all reasons for preferring public transport and limiting carbon emissions. It's still the beginning of the year, with good resolutions and good wishes, and hope that political leaders will react quickly. After all, the creation of a European Youth Pass for rail transport shows that good decisions are possible to facilitate travel.

Georges Panayotis
Chairman & CEO
+33 (0) 1 56 56 87 87
Hospitality ON

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