PARIS: The number of tourists visiting France has dropped seven per cent since January, with foreigners deterred by terror attacks but also by bad weather and transport strikes, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Monday. “Tourist arrivals since the start of the year have fallen by seven per cent across the country,” with Paris worst- hit, said Ayrault, who is also tourism minister. France is the world’s top tourist destination. The sector accounts for around nine per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP). The industry has been struck a severe blow from attacks by Islamic State militants, shuttering festivals and other public events and prompting jittery visitors to stay away. “The attacks partly explain these disappointing trends. The perception of risk has an influence on some clients, notably the wealthiest or those from Asia,” said Ayrault. He said that economic difficulties in countries such as Russia and Brazil have also affected visitor numbers from those countries. Pictures of flood-ridden streets – the result of 50 more days of rain in the second quarter compared to normal levels – and public-sector strikes also played a part, he added. Paris alone has seen an 11.4-per cent drop in hotel nights and a loss of one billion euros ($1.1 billion) in income since January, said Francois Navarro, of the Regional Tourism Board. He said there had been falls of 46.2 per cent in Japanese tourists to the Paris region, 35 per cent in Russian visitors and a 27 per cent drop in the number of Italians. A terror attack in Paris in November last year that killed 130 people led to a drop in tourist numbers.