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A month on from terror attacks, tourist Paris has little Christmas cheer A month on from terror attacks, tourist Paris has little Christmas cheer
(about 20 hours later)
All the traditional French Christmas fare was there: wild boar paté and escargot with hot wine. The usual seasonal songs were playing, including Johnny Mathis singing that all-time French favourite: “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”.All the traditional French Christmas fare was there: wild boar paté and escargot with hot wine. The usual seasonal songs were playing, including Johnny Mathis singing that all-time French favourite: “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”.
On the Champs-Elysées today, one month after the jihadist attacks in Paris which killed 130 people, it was beginning to look something like Christmas. Not a lot… but at least a little.On the Champs-Elysées today, one month after the jihadist attacks in Paris which killed 130 people, it was beginning to look something like Christmas. Not a lot… but at least a little.
The “Paris village”, a Christmas market of stalls and children’s games which occupies the leafy, Elysées every winter, is usually so thronged that you can barely move. The “Paris village”, a Christmas market of stalls and children’s games which occupies the leafy, Elysées every winter, is usually so thronged that you can barely move. 
This Sunday lunchtime, there was a sprinkling of visitors and even some tourists – a few courageous Britons and a handful of Italians, but no Chinese, no Japanese, and no Americans.This Sunday lunchtime, there was a sprinkling of visitors and even some tourists – a few courageous Britons and a handful of Italians, but no Chinese, no Japanese, and no Americans.
“For three weeks, it has been miserable. No tourists at all, a lot fewer French people than normal,” said Marie, 42, running a stall selling scores of different types of scented soap. “Now, finally, it is beginning to pick up. It’s back to maybe half of what it normally is.”“For three weeks, it has been miserable. No tourists at all, a lot fewer French people than normal,” said Marie, 42, running a stall selling scores of different types of scented soap. “Now, finally, it is beginning to pick up. It’s back to maybe half of what it normally is.”
Even at €20,000 (£14,500) rent for 52 days, a stall in the Paris Christmas village is usually a money-spinner. Not this year. At the escargot stall, Gérard, 56, complained: “Business? It’s been moving like these little creatures do, before I cooked them. Maybe I will sell a few today. Things are maybe a little busier.”Even at €20,000 (£14,500) rent for 52 days, a stall in the Paris Christmas village is usually a money-spinner. Not this year. At the escargot stall, Gérard, 56, complained: “Business? It’s been moving like these little creatures do, before I cooked them. Maybe I will sell a few today. Things are maybe a little busier.”
Members of the public gather to lay flowers and light candles at La Belle Equipe restaraunt on Rue de Charonne in Paris
People lay a memorial to honour victims of the Paris terror attacks at Federation Square in Melbourne, Australia
Soccer fans display the colors of the French flag in response to the deadly terrorist attack in Paris, France before the soccer match between the New York Cosmos' and the Ottawa Fury for the North American Soccer League championship at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, USA
Pakistani Civil society activists shout slogans during a protest against Isis militants near the French consulate for the victims of the 13 November Paris attacks in Karachi, Pakistan
People gather and view messages written on the ground at Place de la Republique in Paris
French flags and a note reading "We will not let you spoil our children's lives" at the site of the attack at the Cafe Belle Equipe on rue de Charonne in the 11th district, in Paris
A rose is placed beside a bullet hole at La Belle Equipe restaraunt on Rue de Charonne following the terrorist attack in Paris. As France observes three days of national mourning members of the public continue to pay tribute to the victims of deadly attacks
People gather for a national service for the victims of the terror attack at Notre Dame cathedral in Paris
Bono and band members of U2 pay their respects and place flowers on the pavement near the scene of yesterday's Bataclan Theatre terrorist attack in Paris
A man kneels as he pays tribute to victims at Place de la Republique near the deadly attack sites in Paris
Tributes to the victims at the Place de la Republique square in Paris
AFP
An electronic billboard on a canal show solidarity with Paris in Milan
EPA
People lay down flowers and light candles to tribute victims of Friday's attacks in Paris as the Brandenburg gate is illuminated in blue, white and red in the colors of the French flag, in Berlin
Reuters
A man leaves flowers as a tribute following the deadly attacks in Paris, outside the French consulate in Istanbul
Reuters
People take pictures of flowers placed in bullet holes in the window of a Japanese restaurant next to the cafe 'La Belle Equipe'
AFP
People gather at a makeshift memorial next to the Bataclan theatre in Paris on November 14, 2015,
A woman carrying flowers cries in front of the Carillon cafe and the Petit Cambodge restaurant in Paris
AP
People gather in front of flowers that were laid outside the French embassy in Rome
AP
People react near the cafe 'La Belle Equipe' at the Rue de Charonne
AFP
A young girl places a candle in front of the Carillon cafe in Paris
AP
Flowers placed outside the cafe 'La Belle Equipe' at the Rue de Charonne in Paris, the scene for one of the attacks
AFP
A woman is comforted by others outside the Carillon cafe and the Petit Cambodge restaurant in Paris
The Brandenbourg Gate featuring French national colors is pictured in Berlin, on November 14, 2015 a day after deadly attacks in Paris
Flowers are laid in front of the French embassy in Rome
EPA
A candle is lit next to flowers outside the French Embassy in Berlin
AFP
Paris – and especially tourist Paris – has yet to recover from the Friday 13th attacks. The hotel industry, and especially the four- and five-star end of the market, has been devastated. Just off the Champs-Elysées, four-star hotels which  usually charge €450 a night are offering rooms for €120.Paris – and especially tourist Paris – has yet to recover from the Friday 13th attacks. The hotel industry, and especially the four- and five-star end of the market, has been devastated. Just off the Champs-Elysées, four-star hotels which  usually charge €450 a night are offering rooms for €120.
If you want a cheap winter break in Paris, this is the time to come. Officially, France has lost 9.3 per cent of its hotel bookings since the terrorist attacks exactly a month ago. But that is the figure for France as a whole. In the two weeks after the attacks, cancellations and lost bookings reduced turnover in Paris hotels by between 50 and 80 per cent.If you want a cheap winter break in Paris, this is the time to come. Officially, France has lost 9.3 per cent of its hotel bookings since the terrorist attacks exactly a month ago. But that is the figure for France as a whole. In the two weeks after the attacks, cancellations and lost bookings reduced turnover in Paris hotels by between 50 and 80 per cent.
The mass desertion by tourists, especially those with deep pockets from Asia and the United States, has been calamitous for both the city’s big department stores and its scores of specialist boutiques selling up-market brands.The mass desertion by tourists, especially those with deep pockets from Asia and the United States, has been calamitous for both the city’s big department stores and its scores of specialist boutiques selling up-market brands.
The luxury shops on the Avenue Montaigne and the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré conduct 30 per cent of their annual business in the last six weeks of the year. These streets – and  the western, built-up end of the Champs-Elysées – are still eerily quiet.The luxury shops on the Avenue Montaigne and the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré conduct 30 per cent of their annual business in the last six weeks of the year. These streets – and  the western, built-up end of the Champs-Elysées – are still eerily quiet.
Luxury goods companies such as LVMH decline to reveal the extent of lost turnover. “The big unknown is what will happen in January when Fashion Week comes along,” said one luxury shop manager. “Will the wealthy visitors start to return? I fear not.”Luxury goods companies such as LVMH decline to reveal the extent of lost turnover. “The big unknown is what will happen in January when Fashion Week comes along,” said one luxury shop manager. “Will the wealthy visitors start to return? I fear not.”
At the snail stall in the Champs-Elysées Christmas market, Gérard was philosophical. “The last couple of weeks before Christmas are always our best,” he said. “I think things will start to pick up now. I think so.”At the snail stall in the Champs-Elysées Christmas market, Gérard was philosophical. “The last couple of weeks before Christmas are always our best,” he said. “I think things will start to pick up now. I think so.”