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France Weighs Ban on Child-Free Hotels as Senator Demands Parliamentary Debate

A bill follows the launch of a government award to promote child-friendly venues, raising uncertainty over enforcement, economic fallout, potential tourism flight

Overview

  • Socialist senator Laurence Rossignol has submitted legislation and called for a parliamentary debate to outlaw age-based exclusions in hotels, campsites and restaurants as discriminatory practices
  • High commissioner for childhood Sarah El Haïry introduced the 'Family Choice' award to spotlight venues that welcome children and has criticized adult-only resorts as contrary to French cultural values
  • Hospitality trade union UMIH reports that adult-only hotels represent just 3–5% of France’s tourism market and warns that a ban could drive adult travellers to book holidays in destinations like Spain, Mexico or Thailand
  • University of Limoges researcher Vincent Lagarde finds that guests choose child-free resorts primarily for rest, couple retreats or a perception of luxury rather than animosity toward children, with many patrons being exhausted parents
  • Legal experts highlight that French anti-discrimination and trade statutes offer no clear precedent on age-based exclusions and note that no families have yet filed suits over child bans, leaving enforcement uncertain