Association of Retail Travel Agents Warning.....

07/23/2009

ARTA E-NEWS FORJuly 24, 2009

France Tells Its Tourists They May Have To Pay For Own Rescue
France's Foreign Minister has told French tourists they could be asked to pay back the cost of rescuing them under a bill unveiled this week. The bill targets french nationals who travel without a valid reason, to dangerous areas, despite travel warnings. The state wants them to pay all or part of the costs incurred from rescue operations, according to a government statement. The government wants travellers to take out better insurance. It cost the French government hundreds of thousands of euros to bring French tourists from Thailand during last years riots. State officials also stepped in after one of a group of French tourists was kidnapped in May in Pakistan's restive southwest. If approved the bill would also apply to transport companies, insurers and travel agents who "fail in their obligations." Under a 1985 law, French citizens already have to reimburse the state for mountain rescue operations if they are found to have caused an accident by taking excessive risks. I believe we will see more countries doing this as the world gets even more dangerous in certain areas.