In a bold move to capitalize on one of its most enduring national traditions, France has officially launched ‘Protest Tourism’, a new government-backed initiative that allows visitors to experience the thrill of a genuine French demonstration.
With tourism revenues fluctuating and the cost of living rising, the French Ministry of Culture and Tourism has decided to monetize civil unrest—turning the country’s world-famous strikes, marches, and street occupations into a must-do activity for foreign travelers.
What’s Included in the Experience?
For just €99 per day, tourists can join a fully immersive protest, complete with:
✅ Personalized protest signs – Choose from classics like “Non à la réforme!” or “Macron Démission!”, or customize your own complaint for that authentic touch.
✅ Slogan-chanting crash course – Taught by professional demonstrators with decades of experience in shouting with conviction.
✅ Street battle simulations – Learn how to dodge tear gas, outmaneuver riot police, and flip over a parked scooter for dramatic effect.
✅ Striking Worker Photo Ops – Pose with real SNCF and Air France employees, who will gladly explain why your flight got canceled.
For VIP guests (€249 per day), an exclusive “Front-Line Experience” is available, offering:
- A one-on-one confrontation with an unimpressed gendarme.
- Complimentary yellow vest rental.
- A chance to throw a symbolic baguette at an imaginary government official.
Why Now?
Tourism officials argue that this initiative is a win-win for both the economy and national identity. The Minister of Tourism, Jean-Pierre Manifeste, stated:
“For centuries, people have come to France for art, wine, and romance. But why stop there? Our protests are as iconic as the Eiffel Tower! It’s time we turned them into a revenue stream.”
With the Paris Olympics approaching, the government believes that Protest Tourism could help soften the impact of inevitable transport strikes by allowing visitors to simply join the chaos rather than complain about it.
International Interest
The concept has already attracted attention from other protest-heavy nations:
- Greece has announced a “Molotov Cocktail Tasting Experience” as part of its own tourism expansion.
- Germany is considering a “Bureaucracy Protest Package,” where tourists can queue for hours to demand slightly faster paperwork processing.
- The UK, however, has rejected the idea, with critics pointing out that British protests are just as common but significantly less stylish.
Conclusion
As France once again reinvents itself, the world watches with admiration—and perhaps a bit of envy. After all, in no other country can you sip a café au lait in the morning and overthrow the system by lunch.