German politician invites entire country on naked holiday
A German politician has invited all of Germany to join him on a holiday with a difference in the South of France.
Julien Ferrat, a city councillor in the city of Mannheim, says he hopes to promote 'niche tourism' in his Municipality by encouraging citizens to drop their inhibitions, along with their clothes, and take a holiday with a difference with him and other like-minded sun seekers.
In a move seen as radical by some, but ingenious by others, the representative from the political party 'Die Mannheime' says his plan is to host a 'steamy vacation' for 'curious and open minded citizens'. Julien Ferrat, city councillor of Mannheim.
Ferrat says the trip will be an eight night visit to a naturist village in the Cap d'Agde in Southern France, well known as a paradise and a haven for nudists and swingers in the French countryside.
But to ensure no participant is caught 'on the hop' or 'unprepared', a 'training camp' will be held beforehand on the Friesenheimer Insel in Mannheim.
Julien Ferrat, who has elected himself as 'player coach' for training purposes, hopes to 'combine theory and practice', but he stressed the training camp will exclude the media to protect the privacy of the people attending.
Ferrat explained: 'In Cap d'Agde, sex on the beach is taken literally. And anyone who's always wanted to shop naked in the supermarket can easily indulge that desire there. Naturists grocery shop in Cap D'Agde circa 1980. Pic: Sonia Moskowitz/Images/Getty Images
According to the councillor, a 'great deal can be learned' from the project village, which is now a leading naturist resort on the Mediterranean coast with professional swinger clubs and privately-run nude restaurants, bars, and a beach.
The seaside nudist resort was designed in the 1970s and has since grown to become one of the most important income sources for the region of d'Agde – even receiving some state funding to support it through the leaner months of the year. Cap d'Agde in France. Pic: Shutterstock
In Cap d'Agde, he plans to have discussions with the tourist office and local business owners, including hotel operators.
It won't be a surprise to anyone that Ferrats proposal has been met with heavy opposition from fellow leaders, including the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), currently Germany's strongest political party.
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