Europe feels the financial cost of the Paris terror attacks
Europe is feeling the financial strain caused by the terror attacks in Paris this month.  The financial hit to France's tourist industry has been predictably bad, with the French government revealing it has lost £1.4bn so far in earnings since the attacks, in a country that was already struggling following previous attacks in Paris and its surrounding areas in January this year.  A recent wave of cancellations at hotels, airlines and restaurants, has hit Paris particularly.  The trend in cancellations is particularly strong among Chinese, who had booked flihts to Paris.  Chinese visitors are usually the most avid shoppers in Paris, keeping luxury boutiques especially busy, despite weak French consumer spending.  This slowing of France's economy is raising huge concerns about the country's already fragile recovery, since it is heavily dependent on toursts.  Furthermore, the Belgium government says it has lost as much as €51.7m ($55m) a day in Brussels following the sudden closure of its metros, schools and shops; Italy and Germany are also witnessing a significant drop in tourists, as fears of possible terror attacks and bad weather worries hamper businesses. 

The devastating terror attacks in Paris have left France and other European countries's tourism industry struggling as businesses expect a difficult time over the Christmas period.

The French government has estimated that the country has suffered an estimated €2bn (£1.4bn) worth of losses as a result of the terror attacks.

A significant fall in tourism has been blamed for the losses and the government has been quick to try and assist struggling businesses by offering delays for tax payments.

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The French government has estimated that the country has suffered as much €2bn (£1.4bn) worth of losses as a result of the terror attacks

A significant fall in tourism has been blamed for the losses and the government has been quick to try and assist struggling businesses by offering delays for tax payments

Large amounts of emergency aid has also been offered to business owners in a bid to shore up the economy during the recent difficult times.

A wave of cancellations at hotels and a decline in customers in shops and restaurants has deeply affected France, in particular Paris.

The burden of the heightened terror threat has also been seen in Belgium, with the government revealing the substantial cost of putting Brussels into lockdown for six days.

As much as €51.7million (£36million) a day had been lost in Brussels following the sudden closure of the city's metros, schools and shops, according to Belgian broadcaster VRT.

French special forces clear people from the Bataclan theatre where 89 people were killed over two weeks ago

Terror: A body lies in the street after the attack on the Bataclan concert hall in Paris

Horrific: The terror attacks have led to a significant security crackdown in the hunt for the perpetrators of the attacks

A group of police officers stand guard in the street where Salah Abdeslam's explosive belt was discovered

Italy has also felt the force of the terror attacks on their tourism and leisure industry seeing cinema takings in Rome falling by 50 per cent over the last two weeks, according to The Independent.

Similarly Berlin has seen a drop in the number of Christmas shoppers as fears of possible terror attacks and bad weather hamper businesses in the city.

The evacuation of the German national football team at Hanover's stadium added to the concerns that the country could face its own terror issues.

Germany has also revealed it is planning to deploy 1,200 troops to help France in the fight against ISIS jihadists in Syria, its army chief said Sunday, in what would be the military's biggest deployment abroad.

'From a military point of view, around 1,200 soldiers would be necessary to run the planes and ship,' army chief of staff General Volker Wieker told Bild am Sonntag newspaper, adding that the mission would begin 'very quickly once a mandate is obtained'.

Wieker confirmed that any deployments would only go ahead if the the government manages to obtain a mandate.

A soldier and a police officer pictured patrolling Brussels Grand Place when the city was still in lockdown

Belgian soldiers patrol during the opening night of the annual Christmas market in Brussels

Berlin has already offered France Tornado reconnaissance jets, a naval frigate, aerial refuelling and satellite images in the fight against the IS group.

Between four and six Tornados would be deployed to deliver images of the ground, even in poor weather and during the night, Wieker said.

Asked why Germany had shied away from participating in direct air strikes, Wieker said the coalition already had 'sufficient forces and means' dealing with that aspect of the battle.

'What is needed is reconnaissance on the ground, so that these forces can be deployed effectively. Our Tornados can contribute a lot in that area,' he said.

Talks are ongoing with Turkey and Jordan on stationing the planes in Incirlik - which also serves as a base for US jets, as well as in Amman.

Wieker swiped aside any criticism that Germany had opted for 'the least dangerous' tasks, saying: 'This allegation is not justified. What is the difference when you fly a bomber jet or a reconnaisance plane over the same area? The levels of threat and danger are the same.'

Post-war Germany has been traditionally reluctant to send troops abroad, although it has joined UN-mandated missions in the Balkans and elsewhere, and the NATO coalition in Afghanistan.

Germany has not taken part in air strikes against the IS in Syria and Iraq, which have been mainly flown by US and French aircraft.