Famed Paris Tourist Attractions to Close Amid Protests

Protests are putting a damper on tourism in France, with many of the country’s most popular attractions set to be closed this weekend as the country braces for more demonstrations.

According to a report from CNN, many of Paris’ most famous tourist stops such as the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Musee Delacroix and the Paris Opera will all be closed in response to expected protests.

In addition, the government has said that it will deploy about 89,000 security force members across the country, about 8,000 in the capital alone.

The protests have been staged by a group known as the “gilets jaunes” or “yellow vest” movement. They began three weeks ago in response to an increase in fuel taxes but have since spread to take in other issues, including education reforms.

The name is based on the yellow vests that drivers are required to keep in their vehicles for safety reasons, according to CNN.

France’s Interior Minister Christophe Castaner has said he will deploy all the means available to ensure the latest yellow vest protests are not hijacked by what he described as 10,000 people, “a small minority” of the movement who have been “radicalized and fallen into violence and hate.”

Additional areas being impacted by the looming protests include Paris’ famous Champs Elysees, a shopping avenue, where stores have been advised to remain closed this weekend.

Many store owners took an extra step and boarded up their stores on Friday.

CNN reported that the French retail industry has lost about $1.1 billion since the protests began last month.

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