France declares war on adults-only hotels: "They are violence against children."
The government is studying measures to curb establishments that prohibit entry to children.
Paris"A haven of calm and serenity." This is what a rural accommodation complex located in the heart of France's Loire region offers, featuring a swimming pool and jacuzzi. Here, guests can enjoy the facilities without hearing screaming children. The establishment clearly advertises itself as accommodation adults only, as children are prohibited from enteringA campsite in the Dordogne also prefers to exclude minors. "Unlike family campsites, popular for their constant entertainment, our child-free campsite offers a peaceful alternative," its website states.
In France, hotels booked exclusively Adults are still marginal, and have not experienced the boom that they have experienced in recent years in areas such as Ibiza and the Canary Islands. However, it is a growing phenomenon that worries policymakers, to the point that the government is considering legal measures to ban them. "We will not allow this model to take hold in France," warned the French government's High Commissioner for Children, Sarah El Haïry. "My legal services are analyzing the situation," she assured at the beginning of the summer.
Hotels and other types of accommodation adults only They only represent 3% of the total in France—according to data from the hospitality industry union Les Entreprises du Voyage—and are widely distributed throughout the country. Most are in rural areas, where they offer a natural setting, peace, and tranquility. In large cities like Paris, many of the hotels that don't accept children are luxury establishments or hotels whose clients are couples who want to experience a typically romantic experience in Paris.
Promote family-friendly hotels
While considering legal measures against these establishments, the French government has announced an initiative that aims to be a political reaction to the proliferation of hotels. adults onlyThis is a platform that will bring together hotels, restaurants, campsites, and all types of hotel and tourist establishments in France that promote the presence of families. According to the High Commissioner for Children, these establishments will be awarded a label "to promote a counter-trend." pro kidsand that families with minors know where they are welcome.
The growing trend of adults-only hotels and restaurants is causing a lot of division of opinion, even among couples with children. These establishments "are violence against children," says El Haïry. adults only However, when booking a room, they only allow reservations for adult guests. ARA has contacted three such accommodations in France to try to make a reservation that would include children—in one of which the prohibition was not explicitly stated—and in all three cases the response has been negative.
No reservation option
"Unfortunately, our house is not suitable for children under 14. The people staying with us have made their reservation knowing that there will be no children," respond the managers of a rural hotel located in Castellnou dels Aspres, in Northern Catalonia. At another accommodation, located in Amboise (Loire), they make it clear that children are not allowed in: "Our establishment is reserved for adults, that is, people over 18 years of age."
In France, there is no explicit law that prevents minors from being barred from entering accommodations, but the Penal Code does generally prohibit any discrimination "based on age or family status" and provides for penalties of up to three years in prison and fines of up to 45. However, can this be applied to hotels and restaurants? Legal experts disagree. There are no reports of families with children not being accepted into accommodation. adults only and, therefore, there is no jurisprudence on the subject. Nor is there any specific legal text regarding tourism or commerce that protects minors.
According to what is stated in The Parisian Tourism law expert Jonathan Bellaiche argued that sanctioning hotels for prohibiting children from staying "would go against a fundamental freedom: the freedom that allows a business to offer a specific service, in this case, allowing adults to rest." However, tourism lawyer Laurence Jégouzo argued on BFMTV that the general prohibition against discrimination based on age included in the French Penal Code can also be applied to hotels.
