Is the communication surrounding the Paris Olympics too negative?
According to tourism professionals, yes.
They castigated anxiety-provoking communication that did not live up to the “
pride
” that the event should inspire.
Critics abounded during the presentation this week of a video game on “
French
hospitality
”
.
They came in particular from members of the France Tourisme Alliance, an organization which brings together large companies in the sector such as Accor, Belambra, SNCF Connect and even Compagnie des Alpes.
“
There was even a news headline on the increase in STDs during the Olympics, it’s nonsense
,” said one participant.
“
It’s unbearable for us traders, hoteliers, cafe owners to host this big event, to prepare for these Olympics and to have the impression of being subjected to it
,” said Alexandre Liot, general manager of Galeries Lafayette France, annoyed. .
This is not the first time that such criticisms have been made by the sector: already, in January, the first employers' organization in the hotel and catering sector in Île-de-France, the GHR, was alarmed by the “
anxious communication
” from the authorities around the Olympic Games.
Rebelote the following month: “
until recently, we had the impression that a typhoon was going to ravage the City of Paris: we said “
we must telework, we must not go on public transport, we must leave the city...
“While it is supposed to be a popular festival, we are supposed to bring people together
,” summarized Vanguelis Panayotis, CEO of the consulting firm MKG Consulting, on Sud Radio at the end of February.
At the beginning of March, it was the turn of chef Thierry Marx, president of Umih, the first employers' organization in the hotel and catering industry at the national level, to worry in the columns of Le
Figaro
: "
France does not enough to ensure the future of its tourism.
Neither on training, nor on taking into account environmental impacts, nor to ensure diversity in the attractiveness of France
.”
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“
Restore this pride to the French
”
The game presented on this occasion was introduced to the press by the president of the Alliance Dominique Marcel as an “
optimistic initiative
”, “
because it carries a message of openness to foreign tourists
” and “
because our country cannot bring himself to comment on the Olympic Games on what would not work
.
The immersive game, accessible via a QR Code and developed by the economic interest group VR Connection, offers two modules, one of general knowledge about Paris, with a focus on the Olympic sites, and another which offers helping tourists in various situations (transport, security, etc.).
The Alliance hopes to disseminate this game to as many people as possible, starting with the million employees of the companies that make it up, tourist offices, taxis, but also the 30,000 police officers and gendarmes who will be deployed during the Olympics, knowing that questions relating to security have been validated by the Ministry of the Interior.
It will be available until the end of the Paralympic Games, and can even be used after the Olympics, sponsors hope.
This 100,000 euro project, however, received neither the green light from the Paris 2024 organizing committee, nor from Atout France, the agency responsible for promoting French tourism abroad, to the great regret of the 'Alliance.
“
For us, it was important to show now to the rest of the world that yes, we are ready to host the Games
,” Leslie Rival, secretary general of the Alliance, explained to AFP.
“
Hosting the Olympics is exceptional.
We must bring back this pride among Parisians, among the French
,” underlined during this presentation Patrick Mendes, Managing Director for Europe and North Africa at Accor, who “
had the chance
” to work in Rio during the Olympic Games organized there. -low in 2016.
Beyond communication, the stakeholders are also awaiting a new meeting of the interministerial tourism committee to address in particular the Olympic Games, which should be held in April.
“
Tourism is never won, partners must work together over the long term
”, because the benefits should go well beyond the period of the Games, argues Dominique Marcel.