French told to shed spiky image

If you go out on the French streets tonight, you're in for a big surprise. Well, that's if the government get their way. Frustrated by yet another survey which reveals that Gallic charm (or the purported lack of it) may be scaring tourists away, Sarko's groupies have officially declared war on the 'râleurs' who scoff arrogantly at foreign visitors to the Hexagon. While progress has been made in recent years, it's not enough, according to Luc Chatel, the Secretary of State for Tourism. With 62% of tourists declaring themselves generally satisfied with the warmth of their welcome in France (according to Ipsos), these figures compare quite shabbily to the mediterranean charms of the Spanish and the Italians.
With travellers becoming ever more picky, the French are keen to head off an exodus of cashed-up punters to their latin rivals. Some new measures are already on their way to appease demanding globe-trotters. Look out for......a standard Parisian taxi fare between the airports and the centre of town, airport massage and light therapy to de-stress the weary... a shiny leaflet to help newcomers called 'Bienvenue en France'.....and these just for starters. All this said, not all are taking the statisitics to heart. Thierry Baudier, for example, the Director of 'Maison de France' remarked to La Libération that 'Of the 79 million people that visit France every year, we can't imagine that they are all masochists.'

French words of the day: 'un râleur' - someone who moans a lot!