Friday 04 July 2003 Paris woos America  | Paris has launched a campaign to woo back American tourists, who've stayed away in droves following the row between Washington and Paris over the war on Iraq. To celebrate Independence Day, the Paris tourist bureau will be distributing gifts to visitors from the US and draping offices and hotels in the colours of the American flag. From Paris, Caroline Wyatt reports. |
 Listen to the story The French capital is determined to use this Independence Day to woo back America - or at least, the Americans currently boycotting the city. President Jacques Chirac's 'no' to Washington over the war in Iraq has had a real economic impact here. Last year, Paris played host to nearly two million American visitors. This year, the numbers are down by a quarter. With tourism one of France's biggest earners, this is a real problem. So to celebrate the Fourth of July, the Paris tourist board will be handing out free gifts to US visitors, and will even decorate its offices with the Stars-and-Stripes. France has already made a video aimed at luring back US tourists, in which film director Woody Allen expresses his hopes for closer relations:
American film director Woody Allen:
"When I will not have to refer to my French fried potatoes as 'Freedom Fries' and I don't have to 'freedom kiss' my wife, when what I really want to do is French kiss her. So, let's pull together now."
The French video is called 'Falling in Love Again' but judging by the declining number of American tourists here, it may be a rather one-sided affair.
Caroline Wyatt, BBC, Paris.
Listen to the words Independence Day on July 4th 1776 American President John Hancock signed a declaration of Independence from Britain woo trying to persuade people to come back to France boycotting when people boycott a country they refuse to have anything to do with it because they disapprove of it for some reason real economic impact a noticeable bad effect on the economy played host to received as guests biggest earners one of the sectors of the economy which earns the most money closer relations the way that countries - and people - behave towards each other 'freedom kiss' in American English 'French fries' are fried potatoes (chips): but during the Iraq war some Americans changed the name to 'freedom fries' in protest against France's opposition to the war declining number if the number of visitors is declining it is becoming fewer one-sided affair where one country (or person) likes the other, but the other doesn't feel the same way  Read more about this story | |  | | | SEARCH IN LEARNING ENGLISH | | | |
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