THIERRY HENRY’S infamous handball did more than just cost Ireland a place in the last World Cup, according to the new edition of France’s best-selling travel guide.
The chief editor of Le Guide du Routard, the influential travel guide of the French-speaking world, believes hundreds of his fellow countrymen changed their travel plans out of fear of how they would be received in Ireland.
The former France striker notoriously robbed Ireland of a chance to qualify for the 2010 World Cup when he intentionally handled the ball in a play-off in Paris to set up a decisive French goal.
But editor Pierre Josse has urged readers not to worry about the controversy, insisting tourists have no reason to be anxious about repercussions from Irish fans.
Josse, who has visited Ireland more than 40 times, said he believed many French nationals were initially put off visiting these shores in the aftermath of the 2009 controversy.
And he admitted that had the roles been reversed, he doesn’t think his fellow countrymen would be quite so welcoming to Irish tourists.
He said: “I am urging French readers not to dwell on the Thierry Henry incident at all. I think many changed their travel plans immediately after the World Cup play-off and went elsewhere.
“But time is a healer and besides that my message is that Irish people are extremely fair and forgiving and will not hold a grudge.
“I want French people to know they needn’t worry in the slightest about it. If the situation was reversed, though, I have to say that I think French people would still be upset and angry about it.”
The new Irish guidebook, which will be published in March, is likely to help boost visitor numbers from France – the fourth largest market for visitors to the island of Ireland.
Even as things stand, incoming tourist numbers were up by 7 per cent overall in 2011 according to the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation. Visitors from the Continent rose by 10 per cent.
Josse, from Brittany, said he would be urging readers to visit now, as he believes the recession has made Irish people far more welcoming than they used to be.
“I personally love Ireland and know the country very well . . . But I found people, particularly in Dublin, pretty rude and vulgar during the Celtic Tiger. They lost their spirit.”