London, Paris teaming up to attract international tourists
LONDON — Long-time rivals London and Paris announced Tuesday that they are teaming up on a joint initiative to attract more international visitors to the two cities.
The announcement came the day before British Prime Minister Theresa May will trigger Article 50, the legislation that begins Britain's withdrawal from the European Union. The United Kingdom voted to leave the 28-member EU in a referendum in June.
As well as the tourism initiative, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo also announced a joint scheme to promote trade and investment between London and Paris that includes helping firms establish themselves, network and and find working spaces.
The cities said in a joint statement that they decided to to focus on partnership, rather than competition. The tourism collaboration will launch in 2018.
“London and Paris are two of the greatest cities in the world and we have so much to gain from joining forces. Never underestimate the incredible benefits to be found when major cities do business together," said Khan in a statement.
"Paris and London share common values and willpower. We want to be attractive to companies all over the world. All these initiatives will create employment, activity and economic growth. It is a very positive dynamic that the Brexit will not change," Hidalgo added.
The two cities have excellent transport links including the Eurostar, a train that connects London and Paris in about two hours. They have both been the victims of recent Islamist terror attacks.
Fearful tourists stayed away from the French capital after 130 people were killed in a coordinated attack in Nov. 2015. Travel experts predicted a terror attack near the Houses of Parliament, one of London's biggest tourist attractions, that killed four people on Wednesday last week would likely have no effect on tourism.
Khan was originally supposed to travel to Berlin, Brussels, Paris, Madrid and Warsaw to make the case that that London is "open for business" despite Brexit. He scaled the trip back to just Brussels and Paris in the aftermath of the terror attack.
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London attack will likely have no effect on tourism
