Monaco - Another Own Goal

Monday, February 2nd, 2009 

The phrase ‘It wouldn't have happened if his father was still the Prince' is one increasingly used in Monaco, and it would appear that it's not just the Palace that doesn't know what it's doing lately, but her government departments too.

Take for example the official Monaco tourist internet site. It comes as a surprise to many that there is such a thing. It's either very underfunded or run by people who do as much work as the people at the Palace.

In any case it can't want or expect many British, Canadian, Australian or American tourists in Monaco as it looks like it's run by people who don't speak English that well, and certainly don't understand Britain.

Clicking through on their site where it says ‘consult all the press releases' it looks like the last one was May 2008 - in fact there were five in May 2008, and then none. Did someone retire? Was someone sacked?

But it does appear someone is working at visitmonaco.com - this week at least. Maybe Monaco wheeled someone out of retirement?

And what or who has stirred this waste of money into action?

Piers Morgan. Yes, Britain's very own Piers Morgan. And Piers has done well in the last couple of years as he's pretty well known in the US too where he's a regular on prime time entertainment shows.

Piers has made a film about Monaco to be shown on ITV1 this Thursday February 5 at 9pm. Reviews have already been in the Daily Mail, another Monaco blog ( click here ) and Piers has been on some British TV programmes promoting the three week series he has done that covers Dubai, Monte Carlo and LA.

If anyone knew anything about British culture at visitmonaco.com they would know that Piers is more Alan Whicker than Panorama, and makes a programme watchable with his combination of wit and well informed observations.

But visitmonaco.com has put out a press release saying you don't have to be a millionaire to visit Monaco.

According to travelbite.co.uk the press release says ‘Piers Morgan may lead travellers to believe Monaco is only for millionaires on his new programme, but there is plenty in the Principality for modest wallets.

There are also lots of ways to stretch budgets, argues VisitMonaco - the official tourist portal for the Principality. ‘

What caught our eye was this line:

Bypass the designer boutiques and try the Fontvieille Shopping Centre or Les Puces de Fontvieille - a small but funky flea market on Saturdays.

Funky? Could whoever wrote that have last visited England in the early 70's?

Come on guys, if you want to reach the British tourist market at least have someone in your office who understands a bit about Britain and welcome Piers' programme as positive PR for Monaco!

‘It wouldn't have happened if his father was still the Prince'