Korean travel agencies scale down night tour in Paris

Korean travel agencies are canceling nighttime tours in Paris following a recent incident where armed robbers targeted a Korean tourist bus near Charles de Gaulle Airport.

French riot police officers pass an overturned vehicle in Paris on July 2, the fifth day of protests following the death of Nahel, a 17-year-old teenager killed by a French police officer in Nanterre during a traffic stop. [REUTERS]

Korean travel agencies are canceling nighttime tours in Paris following a recent incident where armed robbers targeted a Korean tourist bus near Charles de Gaulle Airport.

The attack occurred around 11:30 p.m. on June 30, when three armed robbers, whose nationalities are unidentified, assaulted one woman and three teenagers who were retrieving their luggage from the bus that was parked in front of a hotel near the airport. The tour guide and bus driver were absent, leaving only the tourists behind.

"The incident had no connection with the ongoing protests in France," wrote an online user, claiming to be a family member of one of the victims. "While the tour guide and bus driver were away after the bus arrived at the destination, the robbers, who were approximately 195 centimeters tall, forcefully threw the victims to the ground and repeatedly bashed their heads against a street lamp."

While the user criticized the Korean embassy's lax response to the incident, Korean travel agencies responded by suspending night tours, including watching the illumination of the Eiffel Tower, as a precautionary measure in the City of Light.

"We believe that public sentiment in France has somewhat cooled down in the past few days, and the protests have entered a somewhat subdued state — however, there could still be potential risks," a spokesperson from Verygoodtour said. "We are taking measures, including identifying the areas where protests are anticipated and enforcing entry restrictions, prohibiting late-night hotel check-ins and travel through the city center, increasing staff numbers and temporarily halting nighttime tours."

Hanatour has similarly chosen to suspend its operations.

"According to local assessments, the situation doesn't appear to be more problematic than it currently is, yet it is still important to exercise caution," said a spokesperson from Hanatour. "We are reducing evening schedules to ensure guests can return to their hotels by 7 p.m."

"We have received inquiries regarding the protests, but there haven't been any cancellations so far from those departing this week," a spokesperson from Mode Tour said. "While the intensity of the protests has lessened, we are remaining cautious and prepared for any potential safety issues until they are fully resolved — such as temporarily suspending nighttime tours and strictly prohibiting individuals from engaging in free time and independent activities."

In a recent "Special Safety Notice" posted on its website on Monday, the Embassy of Korea in France raised awareness among foreign travelers about recent incidents that could jeopardize their safety during their trips in France, advising Korean travelers to "avoid visiting the outskirts of Paris and choosing accommodations in those areas if possible" and "be cautious of becoming targets of crime when getting in or out of vehicles."

The current protests spreading across France were sparked by the death of a 17-year-old of Algerian descent, who was shot and killed by French police on the outskirts of Paris on June 27.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]