Hollande budget cuts: Will the city of lights go dark?

French President, Hollande, has apparently ordered all French shops, offices and public buildings to extinguish their nightlights between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. as of July 2013, causing businesses dependent on tourists to wonder if the city is being penny-wise and pound-foolish with these cost cutting measures.

81.4 million people visited France last year, spending about $191 a day.   The tourist industry accounts for some 6.5% of the country’s GDP and employs around 900,000 people. “Visitors and locals follow the light, from one spot to another, all night long,” says French chef and culinary consultant Didier Quemener. “My clients don’t want to be in the dark in the City of Light.”  We agree!  Hopefully there will be enough that protest this measure and it will be withdrawn.

Read the full story by Craig Copetas at Quartz.