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| Photo by Freeimages.com/Benjamin Thorn |
A major series of terrorist attacks struck Paris November 13, prompting the city to close the Eiffel Tower and other major attractions as part of a national period of mourning, the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau reports.
According to the New York Times, the attacks, which included the suicide bombing of a soccer stadium and the storming of a convert hall in the Bataclan, have killed 129 people and injured about 350 others.
Here's the full list of openings and closures for Monday, November 16:
| Arc de triomphe | Open |
| Catacombes de Paris | Closed |
| Centre Pompidou | Open at 12:30 pm |
| Château de Fontainebleau | Open from 1 pm |
| Château de Versailles | Closed |
| Château de Vincennes | Closed |
| Cité des sciences et de l'industrie | Closed |
| Conciergerie | Open from 1 pm |
| Crypte de Notre-Dame de Paris | Closed |
| Fondation Louis Vuitton | Open from 12 noon |
| Grand Palais | Open from 1 pm |
| Institut du monde arabe | Closed |
| Invalides | Open from 1 pm |
| Maison de Balzac | Closed |
| Maison de Victor Hugo | Closed |
| Musée d'art moderne | Closed |
| Musée de l'architecture | Open from 1 pm |
| Musée des beaux-arts | Closed |
| Musée Bourdelle | Closed |
| Musée Carnavalet | Closed |
| Musée Cernuschi | Closed |
| Musée Cognacq-Jay | Closed |
| Musée Drapper | Closed |
| Musée Delacroix | Open from 1 pm |
| Musée Grévin | Closed |
| Musée Guimet | Open from 1 pm |
| Musée Gustave Moreau | Open |
| Musée Jean Moulin | Closed |
| Musée du judaïsme | Open |
| Musée du Louvre | Open from 1 pm |
| Musée du Luxembourg | Open from 1 pm |
| Musée de la marine | Open from 1pm |
| Musée Marmottan | Closed |
| Musée du Moyen-Age (Cluny) | Open |
| Muséum d'histoire naturelle | Closed |
| Musée d'Orsay | Closed |
| Musée Picasso | Closed |
| Musée du quai Branly | Closed |
| Musée Rodin | Closed |
| Musée de la vie romantique | Closed |
| Musée Zadkine | Closed |
| Orangerie | Open from 1pm |
| Palais Galliera | Closed |
| Panthéon | Open from 1pm |
| Petit palais | Closed |
| Sainte-Chappelle | Open from 2:30 pm |
| Tour Eiffel | Closed |
| Tours Notre-Dame | Open from 1 pm |
All times local
Globus reports that it has confirmed the safety and well-being of all of its travelers. Many have now been escorted to the airport for flights home. For those still in Paris, local authorities have requested residents and tourists alike stay inside, for the time being. In addition Globus is offering on-site and on-call support to its guests for the remainder of their time in Paris.
Globus said it will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide additional updates, as necessary. Those who have questions specifically related to this incident should call 866.397.6593 or email [email protected].
Allianz Travel Insurance is reminding customers that its retail policies do provide coverage for trip cancellation and trip interruption when there is a terrorist event at the customer's destination within 30 days of the day they are scheduled to arrive. That means guests with Allianz policies who are scheduled to arrive in Paris within 30 days of Friday’s attacks can cancel their trip and receive payment for nonrefundable trip costs. Allianz Travel Insurance customers who are already in Paris and wish to return early may receive payment for their unused prepaid expenses and may be covered for additional transportation costs to get home early.
Allianz is based in Paris and has employees ready to help customers who need assistance. Customers with questions or who need assistance should call the number on their travel insurance policy.
SNCF high-speed rail lines and international trains, as well as all Paris metro lines, are running normally, the Paris CVB said. Only the Oberkampf metro station (lines 5 and 9) is closed to the public as a security measure. The Paris CVB advises that travelers allow for longer delays at airports and the Gare du Nord (Eurostar) due to police checks.
Riverboat trips on the Seine are open to tourists, with the exception of Bateaux Parisiens that will reopen on Tuesday, November 17. Addtiionally, the Galeries Lafayette, Printemps Haussmann, Bon marché and Beaugrenelle department stores, among others, have reopened this Monday at the usual time.
Some public parks, gardens and theme parks will also be closed today:
- Disneyland Paris: closed until Tuesday evening
- Aquarium de Paris: closed until Tuesday
- Zoo de Vincennes: closed until Tuesday
The information points of the Paris Tourist Office are open at the usual times, with the exception of the Paris Rendez-vous information point at the City Hall, which will reopen on Thursday, November 19.
Forbes reports that most airlines are offering refunds or changes with no penalty to passengers who wish to change or cancel their trips to Paris over the next few days. Travelers should allow for additional times at border crossings, as emergency measures ordered by President François Hollande have put in place passport or ID checks for all travelers crossing by rail or car.
In hotel news, Marriott International has announced that the company is waiving cancellation fees for guests holding existing reservations at all 15 Marriott properties in Paris through November 28, 2015. The company will also work with its group and special event customers on a case by case basis.
In a statement on its website the U.S. Embassy in Paris is urging U.S. citizens to "maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal security, including limiting their movements to essential activity. U.S. citizens are encouraged to monitor media and local information sources and factor updated information into personal travel plans and activities."
The state of emergency allows the government to prevent the circulation of individuals and to create of zones of protection and security.
According to ABC News, a police raid in the Belgian suburb of Molenbeek ended without the capture of attack suspect Salah Abdeslam.
Travel Industry Responds
The Paris attacks have resulted in an outpouring of support from the travel industry.
"The terrorist attacks in France have shocked peace-loving people around the world," said Zane Kerby, president and CEO of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). "We hope and pray that those families and friends who have lost loved ones are comforted, and that Parisians recover from this violent and tragic episode. We stand ready to assist our 35 ASTA members who are based in and around the Paris area any way we can. With heavy hearts we pray today for peace and the safety of our friends in France and those affected by this horrific attack."
"On behalf of the Global Business Travel Association, let me express our deepest sympathies to the French people and to those directly affected by the attacks. We stand with the people of France today," said Christine Johnson, president of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). "French President François Hollande, understandably, has closed the borders of France, declared a state of emergency, and called for three days of mourning. As a result a number of travelers are stranded in France. As a strong and unified business travel industry, we will do everything we can to provide resources to these travelers in this time of need.”
“Over the next days and weeks, we will learn more about how these terrible attacks were planned and executed,” said Michael W. McCormick, executive director and COO of GBTA. “GBTA stands ready to work with governments, private industry and business travelers to do everything within our power to ensure the future safety and security of our global travel system.”
Keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for further updates to this developing story.