Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.

Polish Tourism Industry Seeking to Attract French Visitors
----------------------------------------------------------


(http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=E04D46:3919ACA

Poland's tourism campaign addresses earlier claims that under EU
constitution, Polish plumbers would flood France France's rejection of
the European constitution last month resulted in an unusual scapegoat:
Polish plumbers. Anti-constitution campaigners warned the charter
would bring an influx of Polish and other low priced Eastern European
labor to France.

It seems odd that Poland's official tourist office in Paris would take
up the cause of its native plumbers. But that, essentially, is what
its new promotion campaign is all about.







Ad by the Polish National Tourist Office in FranceFeatured on the
office's Internet sight is a picture of a good looking, blond-haired
Pole dressed in plumbers togs, with a hose wrapped around his chest.
He is flanked by images of historic Polish cities. The tagline reads:
"I m staying in Poland: You are welcome to come."

But that is only part of the message, explains tourist office
spokeswoman Elzbieta Janik.

Ms. Janik says obviously the Internet advertisement is a veiled
reference to what she describes as a slanderous campaign against
Poland. The campaign in question took place during the weeks leading
up to the French vote on the European constitution on May 29.

Polish plumbers working in France, where they allegedly underprice
their French counterparts, were considered symbols of what was to come
if the European constitution was passed: That is, a flood of cheap
labor from new European Union member states.

France is not the only Western European country slighting Polish
immigrants. In neighboring Germany, farm and construction workers from
Poland and other Eastern European countries have also been blamed for
stealing German jobs.

But in France, the tourist board's campaign appears to be having an
effect.

Ms. Janik says since it was launched last week, the plumber promotion
campaign has sparked a deluge of positive responses by e-mail and by
phone. She said many of the respondents congratulated the Polish
tourist office for its sense of humor and courage for taking a stance.

Besides plumbers, the campaign is also promoting tourism in Poland.
But Ms. Janik says its too early to say whether it will bring a spike
of French visitors to her native country this summer.


.