'No-Kids' Holiday Venue? Think Again, Says France
The French government is mulling measures to clamp down on adult-only hotels and restaurants, with a top official warning that hospitality venues excluding children in a so-called "no kids" strategy were dividing society.
While Paris is considered one of the most child-friendly cities in the world, more and more venues in France have been shunning children in an effort to shield customers from kids' unpredictable behaviour and noise.
The government on Tuesday held a roundtable meeting with key industry players to discuss a trend that France's high commissioner for childhood, Sarah El Hairy, has said should end.
Socialist senator Laurence Rossignol has introduced a bill that would make it illegal to ban children from venues in France.
"Children are not a nuisance," said Rossignol, adding that the bill is aimed at promoting "a society that is open to children".
"We cannot accept that some people decide they no longer want to tolerate a particular section of the population, in this case children," she told AFP.
El Hairy said excluding children was infringing on their rights, putting pressure on their parents and dividing society.
"There is a growing intolerance, and we must not allow it to take hold," El Hairy told broadcaster RTL. "We are pushing children and families out, and in a way, this is real violence," she added.
"It's not in our culture, it's not our philosophy, and it's not what we want to see as the norm in our country."
On Tuesday, she brought together representatives of the tourism and transport industries, including Airbnb, to discuss the "no-kids" trend.
In France, adult-only services are currently limited.
According to estimates from a travel industry union, they represented around three percent of the market in 2024.
Questions about children's place in society have been at the forefront of the public debate in France in recent years.
The French Federation of Nurseries has repeatedly called on lawmakers to ensure children's right "to make noise".
In the spring of 2024, a report submitted to President Emmanuel Macron said authorities needed to create alternatives to help children reduce the amount of screen time and "give them back their rightful place, including their right to be noisy".
A few months later, the government's High Council for Family, Children and Age (HCFEA) warned about the lack of spaces for children, pointing to the "harmful consequences for their physical and mental health".
Rossignol praised El Hairy's initiative to gather together tourism and transport executives, but said more needed to be done.
"Now we need to go further," she said. "The president's camp must put this issue on the parliamentary agenda."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
2 hours ago
- The Print
French trade minister meets Piyush Goyal, says France one of India's best economic partners
'With my Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal, I reaffirmed a conviction: France is one of India's best economic partners… Reforms, stability, innovation, access to EU and India markets: there's everything to strengthen our bilateral relationship,' Saint-Martin stated in a post on X. The minister highlighted the potential to further strengthen bilateral ties through 'reforms, stability, innovation, and enhanced market access to the EU and Indian markets.' Paris : French Foreign Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin on Tuesday reaffirmed the 'conviction' that France is one of 'India's best economic partners' after his meeting with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in Paris. Following his meeting with Goyal, Saint-Martin also expressed optimism about the ongoing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, anticipating a possible agreement in the coming weeks or months. 'It's important to demonstrate that we believe in free trade, not trade wars,' he stressed. 'Minister Goyal arrived with a strong business delegation – over 50 companies, which is significant. At a time when global trade is facing challenges, we believe it's crucial for India and France to strengthen their ties… The European Union and India are progressing toward a Free Trade Agreement, and as a member of the European Commission, we fully support this… I'm optimistic that we could see an agreement in the coming weeks or months… It's important to demonstrate that we believe in free trade, not trade wars,' the French Minister told reporters. He emphasised the importance of fostering deeper cross-border trade and investments between the two nations. 'At the same time, we must foster deeper bilateral relations between France and India, which means enhancing cross-investments, more cross-border trade… All the friendship that President Macron and PM Modi have will, of course, help our bilateral relations to go deeper now,' he added. Earlier on Monday, the Union Minister held a productive meeting with French Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, Eric Lombard, focusing on deepening the India-France economic partnership with an emphasis on trade, investments, and technology cooperation. The discussions, which took place during Goyal's three-day official visit to France, also reviewed the progress of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, signalling a strong intent to bolster bilateral ties amidst a shared commitment to innovation and economic growth. 'Held a productive meeting with Eric Lombard, French Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty. Exchanged views on deepening our economic partnership, enhancing trade & investments with a special focus on technology and innovation across key sectors. Also discussed the progress of the India-EU FTA negotiations. Looking forward to stronger India-France economic ties,' Goyal said in a post on X. He also expressed optimism that India could finalise its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) ahead of the year-end deadline, citing minimal divergences between the two economic blocs. Goyal also held a series of high-level meetings in Paris with top French CEOs to explore new opportunities for India's growth across key sectors such as renewable energy, automobile manufacturing, electric vehicles (EVs), and consumer products. The minister commenced his three-day official visit to Paris on Sunday as part of his ongoing visit to France and Italy from 1 to 5 June 2025. This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content Also read: US, India to give preferential access to each other's businesses, says Piyush Goyal
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Govt. to implement school fee regulation via ordinance: Sood
The Delhi government will provide immediate relief to parents by bringing in an ordinance to regulate arbitrary school fee hikes, Education Minister Ashish Sood announced on Wednesday, asserting that the interim measure will later be formalisedthrough legislation in the Assembly within six months. The move comes amid growing concern among students and their parents over unauthorised fee hikes and alleged mistreatment of students by private schools. Speaking at a press briefing, Mr. Sood said, 'In the absence of a Delhi Assembly session, we will bring in an ordinance to implement the proposed measures so that parents get relief this academic year. The issue will be revisited in the Vidhan Sabha after six months.' Mr. Sood accused the previous government of neglecting the issue and 'working in tandem with schools' rather than protecting parents' interests. His comments come in the wake of a controversy involving Delhi Public School, Dwarka, which reportedly struck students off the rolls for non-payment. Following a directive from the Directorate of Education (DoE), the school reinstated the students. 'Students have been reinstated. Right now, the holidays are on, and they will return to classrooms afterwards,' Mr. Sood said. However, several parents claim their children are still being excluded from class WhatsApp groups and essential academic updates despite the official order. Smart learning Mr. Sood said that 75 CM Shri Schools equipped with smart classrooms, AI-based learning tools, AR/VR labs, and courses in robotics and data science will be established. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Language Labs will also be set up in 100 schools to offer foreign language instruction in English, French, and German. Mr. Sood said financial aid has been released to all State universities and 12 Delhi University colleges, with ₹275 crore sanctioned as the first instalment for staff salaries and operational expenses. Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Atishi said parents of private schools told her on Wednesday that the government was 'bringing a law through the back door, which is to save private schools'. 'I assured them we will continue to fight with them against this education mafia too,' she posted on X.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Canada steelworkers urge Ottawa to counter Trump
Steelworkers in the Canadian city of Hamilton see President Donald Trump's latest trade war escalation as a wake-up call, insisting US efforts to protect struggling metal producers demand an equivalent national response. Hamilton is known locally as "Steeltown," with expansive industrial plants dominating the view from the main bridge that leads into the city. Hamilton has endured countless setbacks as the steel industry that drove its growth through much of 20th Century declined. Trump's decision to double steel and aluminum tariffs to a crippling 50 percent did not come as a shock to those who have spent decades in the industry. "Steel is like a roller-coaster," said Jake Lombardo, who retired after 38 years at Stelco, one of Hamilton's main plants. Lombardo's career spanned the era that saw automation and cheaper foreign product hollow out Hamilton's steel sector. He voiced a degree of understanding for Trump's efforts to shield US producers from external competition. "I'm not a Trump supporter, but one thing I like what he said, he wants to do things in-house. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that," Lombardo, 69, told AFP. "We should have been doing this a long time ago." Hamilton's steel industry was born in the early part of the last century, hitting its peak in the decades following World War II, when the main local union, United Steelworkers Local 1005, counted more than 12,000 members. That number has since fallen to about 650, said union president Ron Wells. Wells said he wasn't opposed to a future where Canadian producers serve Canadian demand and cross-border trade is reduced. But, like Lombardo, he believes Ottawa needs to create the environment that ensures that Canadian steelmakers thrive. "We've been saying that for, like years, if not decades," Wells told AFP. The union chief said he was encouraged by Prime Minister Mark Carney's pledge to counter Trump's trade war by boosting internal trade and ushering in an era of massive construction across Canada. Asked about the prospect that Hamilton could benefit from Carney's recent promise that his government would "build baby build," Wells said: "we applaud it." "It's better late than never." Carney on Wednesday called Trump's decision to double steel and aluminum tariffs "unjustified" and "illegal" and promised that Canada the largest supplier of foreign steel and aluminum to the United States will respond. But in the short term, Wells said there is cause for concern. Stelco, which was bought by the US steel producer Cleveland-Cliffs last year, had been sending about 30 percent of its output to the United States, Wells said. Those orders largely dried up when Trump imposed a blanket 25 percent tariff on all metal imports in March. But Stelco was still selling to Canadian clients who were making products subsequently sold to the United States, with the American importers absorbing the 25 percent tariff hit. At 50 percent, Wells voiced fear that business could vanish. "People are just pissed off that keeps changing his mind and he's playing chicken with the economy," Wells told AFP. "Our members want to see the tariffs situation get resolved. So go back to full production and we can share the wealth." The Canadian Steel Producers Association, an industry group, said Wednesday that "at a 25 per cent tariff rate, we saw significant layoffs, curtailed investments and a significant drop of shipments to the United States." "At a 50 per cent tariff rate, the US market is effectively closed to Canadian steel, leaving billions of dollars of Canadian steel without a market," it warned. Throughout Trump's trade war, Canadian workers in targeted sectors notably auto and metal have voiced frustration over the president's decision to harm a bilateral trade relationship widely seen as mutually beneficial. "We think they're picking on the wrong foe," Wells said. Tony Mclaughlin, who has worked for Stelco for 47 years, told AFP he "always thought we'd be exempt," from tariffs." "Is he trying to get a new trade agreement?" He asked. "Maybe that's the big plan." bs/nl
