It’s an attitude exemplified perfectly by French president Emmanuel Macron who has announced a new pricing structure for Paris’s museums. Speaking earlier this week to announce a revamp of the Louvre (the Mona Lisa is getting her own room) he said that visitors from non-EU countries will from next January be charged a higher entry fee, which would fund the museum’s facelift.
There have been plenty of complaints from the expected online factions about the unfairness and the lack of fraternité from Macron. But let’s face it, he’s right. Not just because it’s quite rock and roll to fund a museum revamp with foreign money, but because we Brits deserve to pay more when we go abroad because, let’s face it, we’re awful.
Last time I was in Paris, a few months ago, I spent half a day wandering the Musee d’Orsay. Every single Brit I observed there was not looking at the pictures with their eyes, but exclusively through the camera on their phone. In lots of cases, they were chatting loudly (in English) while taking pictures of themselves with the pictures.
I don’t believe the bluster about Macron’s “unwelcoming” pricing policy putting tourists off. When did the Parisians ever want us to feel welcome before?
How to not look like a tourist in Paris
Read MoreI already pay a British tourist tax when I go to Paris, largely in the form of dramatically over tipping at every restaurant in a very transparent attempt to make grumpy French waiters love me.
I’ve occasionally been asked by a French person if I’m German or Spanish and regarded it as an absolute triumph of espionage. I don’t want people to know that I’m English when I’m abroad because my nationality is synonymous with being rude, ignorant and gauche.
All of that said, my desire to emulate the French doesn’t stop at serving enormous portions of chocolate mousse after a meal, though. I think we’d do well to emulate Macron and start charging tourists who come to the UK in much the same way. Charging a small fee – known as a city tax – like they do in Paris, Venice, Florence, Seville and so many other cities, to anyone who comes to the UK.
I doubt it would put anyone off visiting, and it would go some way to compensating for the sea of rucksack wearing European teenagers clogging up the platform at Camden, the starry eyed Americans dragging suitcases down the wrong side of the escalators and whoever it is that slows down to 10mph on the A303 to get a look at Stonehenge. Because yes, the Brits can be unbelievably annoying abroad – but we’re absolutely not the only ones.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Britons being charged more for the Louvre? It’s what we deserve )
Also on site :