- Hospitality and retail sectors assessed hundreds of millions of euros in damage.
- Around 1,500 businesses were hit by looting and damage.
- Alexandre Bompard indicated his group’s bill would run into tens ofms of euros.
- A tourist office in Lyon was set on fire.
- Over 2,000 arrests and 600 police injuries were reported.
Hospitality venues, retail sectors and restaurants are assessing hundreds ofms of euros in damage following a weekend of violent protests across major cities in France. Looting and damage hit around 1,500 businesses according to industry representatives. The unrest accompanied cost of living protests on 17 October.
Alexandre Bompard, chief executive of Carrefour and president of the Federation of Commerce and Distribution, indicated that the bill for his group alone would run into tens ofms of euros. The wider commercial sector faced a far larger figure. Hotel and restaurant leaders reported that many establishments had to close or saw sharp drops in custom because premises became inaccessible.
In Lyon a tourist office was set on fire adding to the impact on the local visitor economy. The nationwide demonstrations over the high cost of living erupted into riots over the weekend. Fringe groups targeted major city centres resulting in the torching of historic city halls, the vandalism of public monuments and clashes with police that led to over 2,000 arrests and 600 police injuries.
Alexandre Bompard shared “the bill for his group alone would run into tens ofms of euros, while the wider commercial sector faced a far larger figure.”
