Middle East shoppers shun France over burqa ban

Middle Eastern travellers are likely to shun France for their summer holidays this year, following a nationwide burqa ban in the European country.

As a result, shops in the UK have reported an increase in the number of international visitors — with high-end stores Liberty and Selfridges reporting increases of 45% and 40% respectively compared with last year, and numbers across the West End expected to increase by up to 15%, according to British newspaper The Independent.

Middle Eastern shoppers spent on average £1,800 per shopping trip, compared with £120 by UK shoppers.

The last two weeks of July, during the pre-Ramadam period, is the busiest time for visitors from these regions, with sales expected to exceed £200 million.