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French government considers limiting 'no kids' tourism

Emma Pearson
Emma Pearson - emma.pearson@thelocal.com
French government considers limiting 'no kids' tourism
A 'No Kids Zone' sign on a glass door of a cafe in South Korea. Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP

France's High Commissioner for children was on Tuesday holding meeting with representatives of the French leisure and tourism industry over what she described as the 'worrying' rise in tourist sites implementing adult-only entry policies.

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Children's Commissioner Sarah El-Haïry has been holding a series of meetings with unions and business groups representing French hotels, campsites, tourism companies and tour guide operators over the increase in holidays advertised as being 'adults only'.

Although the designation has been common in some global holiday resorts - especially luxury sites - for some years, it has been less common in France but is now growing in popularity.

Despite less than three percent of the tourism representatives questions operating a 'no kids' policy in part or all of their premises, the Commissioner declared that the trend was "worrying".

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“I'm quite frightened, and I weigh my words carefully, of the development of movements, of ‘no kids’ spaces, where children are no longer welcome, where children are pushed out of sight, even banned,” said El Haïry.

"This phenomenon privileges the comfort of adults, to the detriment of the inclusion and well-being of the youngest,” she added.

The subject of kid-free spaces has previously been raised in France as part of a report on the dangers of screen time for children.

"We can't accept that some people decide they no longer want to put up with this or that part of the population, in this case children, and that society organises itself around this intolerance," Socialist Senator Laurence Rossignol told AFP.

"Children are not a nuisance," he added, calling on the government to add the issue to its parliamentary agenda and penalise businesses that promote 'child free' spaces.

 

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BD
There has always been an inaccurate belief among many holiday accommodation owners that a 'no children' policy was already illegal. For me, it simply represents choice something most nations encourage but which, frequently and excessively, is restricted by the French legal systems. I would always prefer to attend a holiday destination that was adults only.

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