Travel agencies closely watching European protests

• By Shelley Shan / Staff reporter

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Taiwanese travel agencies yesterday said that they were closely monitoring protests in European countries and might consider adjusting itineraries to avoid affected areas.

Protests have intensified in France, Italy and Albania, driven by grievances over the cost of living, public services and government policies. In France, student-led demonstrations over school conditions and staffing shortages have expanded into broader protests over rising prices and declining public services, with some rallies escalating into clashes with police, looting and arson.

In Italy, demonstrators in Milan, Bologna and other cities over the weekend clashed with police in protests against government policies, reduced public services and rising costs.

A man takes photos of a smashed window at a Ralph Lauren store in Paris on Sunday, a day after clashes during a national day of demonstrations against the cost of living and rising fuel prices.

Photo: Reuters

In Albania, student-led protests against perceived government corruption, poor education condition and a lack of jobs have grown into a broader anti-government movement demanding the resignation of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, with violent confrontations reported in Tirana and other cities.

Lion Travel said its tours in Paris were proceeding as scheduled and were not affected by the ongoing protests.

However, it said that it would closely monitor the situation and adjust travel itineraries accordingly, adding that safety is its top priority.

SET Travel said it had no tour groups in France, while its other European tours were proceeding as scheduled.

Tour guides would continue to monitor local conditions and avoid areas affected by protests, it said.

Cola Tours said its tours were also operating as usual and that it would continue to monitor the situation, with passenger safety its top priority.

As of noon, France, Italy and Germany remained under Level 1, or “gray,” travel advisories on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ travel advisory Web site.

The Tourism Administration said it had received no reports from travel agencies of members of their tours being injured.