Around 4,400 Parisians flocked to the Champs-Élysées within the French capital on Sunday for an enormous picnic on a 216-meter-long red and white checked blanket within the shadow of the Arc de Triomphe.
Needless to say, it was not spontaneous. The big field picnic was organized by a committee of companies geared toward bringing locals back to the realm, which has change into primarily a tourist destination in recent many years.
Firas Abdullah/Anadolu via Getty Images
The guests, randomly chosen from over 240,000 applicants, were treated to free culinary delights provided by surrounding restaurants, including the renowned Fouquet’s, on the picnic blanket and on specially arrange long benches.
Firas Abdullah/Anadolu via Getty Images
Although there is no such thing as a shortage of tourists on the Champs-Élysées, the composition of the road has modified significantly as property prices have risen and shops and cinemas that were geared toward locals have been displaced. LVMH, for instance According to reports paid over 1 billion euros (1.08 billion dollars) for the Louis Vuitton flagship store on the corner of Champs-Élysées and the celebrated Avenue George V.
JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images
In addition to luxury boutiques, cheaper but still tourist-friendly chains akin to McDonald’s and Disney Store have also arrange shop.
Victor Boyko/Getty Images
Residents also complained about increasing crime and anti-social behaviour on the avenue, which is positioned on the intersection of several Paris metro lines. As an iconic, central location, the Champs-Élysées has also been the scene of large-scale yellow vests Protests that began in 2018.
Pierre Suu/Getty Images
The Big picnic was not the primary attempt by the organizing committee, Comité Champs-Élysées, to bring locals back to the district: lately it has hosted a huge spelling competition and open-air cinema. It also comes as rival European capital London tries to revive its famous Oxford Street from its seemingly ubiquitous American candy and Harry Potter merchandise stores.
The challenge is that the high prices of real estate limit the choices available. Retailers and restaurants that aren’t particularly profitable, or at the very least not large enough to justify a location just like the Champs Élysées as a loss-making showcase for his or her online offering, are being squeezed out by these prices.
Firas Abdullah/Anadolu via Getty Images
Tourists have money, so it should come as no surprise that the most costly areas adapt to them. In fact, the one way for authorities and businesses to win back local customers is to host more picnics. It’s unlikely that Parisians would complain.
