Chinese tourists told to be 'alert' in Paris

[File photo: IC]

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has warned its citizens to be on alert in Paris following a spate of crimes against Asian tourists.

Spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry Hua Chunying said that the Chinese Government would ''take even more effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in France.''

Her statement followed the targeting last week of four Chinese travellers close to their hotel. Several bags of luxury items were stolen. 

The French police have been encouraged to 'crack the case' and solve this crime, along with others.

This is not the first time that we've reported on problems for Chinese tourists in Paris.

Chinese tourists are frequently targeted in Paris, as robbers believe that there is a high chance they will be carrying luxury items to take home.

In January, we wrote that Paris was at risk of no longer being the magnet for foreign visitors that it once was.

At the time, the President of the Chinese Association of Travel Agencies in France, Jean-François Zhou, had told Le Parisien newspaper that terrorism, violence and theft were turning his countrymen away.

''(They) are robbed in the palace of Versailles, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, in front of their hotel, as they leave the coaches...''

His statement is further confirmation of figures that we reported during 2016, that show that terrorism alone cost the Parisian tourism economy some €750 million (£650m).