Tourism in Nice gains a new identity

Being only the second town to be given this "trademark" after Valberg, officials in Nice have declared their intention of using this title to seduce more tourists from across the world, with an obvious emphasis on families and children.

Aurélie Kedinger of the National Assocaition of Mayors of Classified Resorts and Tourist Communes, said that the ‘Famille Plus’ label, awarded by three locally elected associations, proclaimed Nice to be "a warm vacation spot suited to tourists travelling as a family".

The major criteria a place must fulfill for to garner this particular title is being affordable to families. This including being able to provide them with discounted offers on hotels, hotspots and events.

The Office of Tourism and partnership hope that their certified family-friendly status will increase professional awareness in the region.

However, some restaturant owners have voiced their doubts, claiming that they cannot seem to envision the benefits of this new identity. Many have complained that the task of dealing with an increased influx of families could prove to be harder work for them.

"It is quite difficult to keep an eye on children while their parents are seated. We [restautant, café and bar owners] will need a room or a garden to keep the kids occupied," said Hubert Boivin, the president of the Association of Cafe and Restaurant Owners in the Alpes-Maritimes.

Other commercial sectors such as hotel mangement, are quite happy to have their city be counted amongst the few to have obtained the Famille Plus.

"For quite sometime, our hotel has been popular," Barbara Kimmig, Director of Hotel Villa Rivoli explained. "However now, the town has given us a hand in making quite clear what we have to offer."

AA